Chapter 291: Chapter 291

At that, a soft smile bloomed on her lips, her heart fluttering as Xenon guided her toward the shallows, the water thinning around their legs until it barely brushed her calves, picked up their clothes, and led them back to the cottage.

Heavens, she was looking forward to the next few days with this man.

The next few days in the cottage consisted of Xenon and Rayena just being together and acting all cuddly. Xenon couldn’t physically stand being apart from Rayena, even if only for a few meters, and strangely, he seemed to be more lethargic as well, laying down and dozing lightly whenever he had the chance.

When Rayena grew concerned and tried asking what was wrong—because this was unusual—Xenon responded that he couldn’t be sure, as he was also baffled by the heaviness. Usually, on the days leading to his rut, he would become restless, needing to expend energy. She also noticed his sniffing and breathing her in had gotten intense, and he was constantly touching her wrists, spine, and neck in an attempt to anchor himself.

“Maybe my beasts are just trying to meet me in the middle,” he’d mumbled once with a faint, tired chuckle, his face pressed against her belly as they lay together near the fireplace.

Rayena hadn’t thought much of it afterward.

But on the day of the full moon—after a hearty lunch and a long nap—Rayena woke to an unfamiliar emptiness.

Xenon wasn’t beside her.

That unsettled her, because in the past he was always wrapped around her. Rising from the couch where they had fallen asleep on, she searched the rooms, calling his name softly at first. When she didn’t find him, she assumed he’d gone for a walk. The day was unusually warm, and she’d woken damp with sweat, so she decided to bathe while she waited.

But when she finished and he still hadn’t returned, unease sharpened into worry.

She changed into a fresh dress and brushed out her hair until it dried, falling freely over her shoulders with a faint sheen. Then she stepped out, intent on finding him herself.

“Xenon?” she called as she made her way toward the grotto.

No answer.

Her pulse quickened. She left the cottage and stepped into the forest beyond. The sun had begun to dip, casting its final golden rays through the trees. Above, the moon was already rising—round and full against a turquoise sky.

“Xenon!” she called again.

Only echoes answered her. Birds cawed in the distance, but there was no sign of him.

Worry filled her chest, and she moved deeper. “Xenon!” she called over and over as she walked further into the forest, but all she heard was her voice echoing back at her and the deathly silence of her surroundings. As she walked, the air shifted, and she could pick up on the faintest rumble of thunder in the distance.

She didn’t pay much attention to it, however, still focused on finding him.

“Where could he be?” Rayena muttered in frustration when she realized she’d walked quite a distance and there was still no sign of Xenon anywhere. This was completely unlike him.

The breeze picked up, becoming colder, filled with a scent that sent shivers down her spine, her skin prickling.

That’s when she felt it.

Her back grew ramrod straight, shivers racing down her spine, every hair on her nape and body standing on end.

Someone was watching her.

Awareness rippled through her, and she shuddered.

Rayena flicked her gaze around, trying to find who it was, but came up with nothing.

A growl sounded from behind her.

Her blood turned to fire.

Rayena froze. One instinct flared within her soul.

Run.

Without thinking, Rayena bolted into a dead race, weaving through tree trunks and roots, her hair flying wildly. She could never see who was chasing her, but somehow she knew they were hot on her heels.

Rayena gathered all her energy and ran even faster, the fear in her chest quickly fading, a new emotion rising in its wake.

Excitement.

She was being hunted like prey, but instead of dread, all she felt was glee. Her mate was chasing her—he wanted to claim her.

A chuckle burst from her lips as cool air brushed her face, the distant sounds of thunder growing louder…

The cottage came into sight. But Rayena didn’t stop to rest or ascertain if she was still being followed. Instead, with all the strength she had, she ran into the cottage, not bothering to close the door behind her, sprinting all the way to the grotto.

Only when her back hit stone did she stop, breathless and flushed, cornered at last.

She lifted her chin, heart racing—not with fear, but anticipation—as Xenon strode in, eyes gleaming and shifting colors, body taut with tension, a dominating aura radiating off him in waves.

“Caught.” His voice came out in a guttural growl as he stalked toward her, while she tried to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her ears. One arm rested on one side of her head, and Rayena could see there was more hair on his body than usual.

His rut was here, all right—but there was also something different about it. His eyes kept flickering from green to gold, and she stiffened when he buried his face into the crook of her neck, breathing her in.

Rayena’s lips parted slightly, a low moan spilling from her lips.

At that sound, Xenon’s control slipped, and he pinned her against the wall of the cave, clawed hands digging into her waist. Rayena winced, but she didn’t pull away from him. Instead, she buried her fingers into his hair, cradling his head closer to her.

“Chasing you was fun…” he murmured against her skin, sticking out his tongue to lick the spot where his mark was. Rayena moaned, shivers running down her spine. “But now I want you.” He groaned, a low vocalization that was neither a growl nor a howl, humming in his throat.

A strange scent permeated the air, and Rayena whined as it filled her nose, arousal slamming through her like a lightning bolt. She pressed her body against his, back arched, feeling the unmistakable bulge of his arousal.

Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled.

He pulled away from her suddenly, his hands holding her neck in a firm grip—not enough to cut off her breath, but enough to show her who held the power. His eyes gleamed yellow instead of the cerulean blue she’d come to love, and she realized he was riding on the instincts of his beasts.

“Submit,” he growled.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes… yes…” she hurriedly spoke, watching as some of the tension bled off him at her easy admission and submission.