Eli padded softly through the thick forest, his white hair blending almost unnaturally with the pale fog that hugged the ground. His blue eyes scanned the borders of his pack's territory, alert for any sign of intruders. At nineteen, small and thin, he was far from the imposing warriors he trained alongside, but what he lacked in size, he made up for in speed and cunning.
He crouched low behind a cluster of birch trees, his senses straining. Another pack had been encroaching lately and Eli, ever independent and reckless, had decided to take a look. A whisper of movement in the corner of his vision made him freeze.
"Curious little wolf," a deep voice drawled from the shadows.
Eli spun, immediately on guard, and froze. Standing tall and broad-shouldered, a figure stepped out between the trees. Dark brown hair fell slightly into sharp yellow eyes that glinted in the morning light. The air around him felt heavier, charged with dominance.
"I wouldn't wander here if I were you," the man said, voice calm but teasing. "Not unless you like trouble."
Eli's tail twitched. He'd heard stories of the neighboring pack's alpha, Kael.
Aggressive, arrogant, and dangerously confident. His instincts screamed to bolt, but something stubborn flared inside him.
"I'm not afraid of trouble," Eli said, chin lifted. "And I certainly don't take orders from strangers."
Kael's lips curved into a slow, amused smile. "Bold for someone so small. I like that. You'd make a very… entertaining plaything, I think."
Eli blinked. "Excuse me?"
Kael stepped closer, the shadows emphasizing his height. "I said," he repeated, voice silky and low, "you'd make a very good plaything."
Painfully, instinctively, Eli's hackles rose. He stepped back. "I don't belong to anyone," he said sharply. "And I'm not yours, not now, not ever."
The alpha's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before returning, sharper this time. "Such fire," Kael murmured, circling him slowly. "I expected… less resistance from someone so pretty."
Eli's claws dug into the dirt, and his voice was ice. "Pretty doesn't mean obedient. I'm not yours. Got it?"
Kael stopped, only a few feet away, his yellow eyes boring into Eli's blue ones. "Hmph," he said finally, clearly intrigued despite himself. "You're infuriating. I like that."
Eli's chest heaved, heart pounding, but he refused to back down. He knew the alpha could overpower him physically, but he wouldn't give him the satisfaction of fear. "And I like being left alone. Try again, and you'll regret it."
Kael tilted his head, studying him with a smirk. "Oh… I think this is going to be very fun."
Kael's smirk widened as he took a deliberate step closer, closing the small distance between them. His presence pressed against Eli in a way that made the air feel heavier, warmer. Eli could feel the faint heat radiating from Kael's broad shoulders, smell the sharp, musky scent of him mingling with the forest.
"Careful, little wolf," Kael murmured, leaning just enough that Eli could feel the brush of his hand against his arm. "If you keep staring at me like that, I might think you enjoy my attention."
Eli stiffened instantly, instinct flaring. His tail twitched violently behind him, ears flat. "Don't—don't you dare," he spat, shoving against Kael's chest with all his small strength.
Kael chuckled, low and amused, the sound vibrating through the quiet forest. He pressed a bit closer, letting a finger trace lightly along Eli's jaw. "Is that fear I see? Or are you just pretending you don't like it?"
Eli jerked back, snapping, "I said back off!" His claws scraped the dirt as he shoved again, eyes blazing. "I'm not… I'm not some prize you can claim!"
Kael's grin widened, his yellow eyes glinting dangerously, a spark of hunger in them. "Good," he whispered, voice husky. "I don't want obedient. I want… defiance."
Eli growled, showing teeth, shoving Kael one last time with a sharp edge of frustration and indignation. "Well, you're not getting it from me. Ever."
Kael's laugh rang low and teasing as he finally eased back just enough to give Eli space—but the tension lingered, thick and charged, leaving both of them aware that this was far from over.
Kael didn't move away completely. Instead, he tilted his head, eyes scanning Eli like he was savoring every detail—the pale curve of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders, the way his small hands curled into fists at his sides.
"You're impossible," Kael murmured, stepping forward again, letting a single finger brush along Eli's forearm. The touch was light, almost casual, but it sent a shiver up Eli's spine.
Eli's blue eyes flashed dangerously. "Impossible? You think that's clever?" he snapped, shoving Kael back with both hands. "I said leave me alone!"
Kael chuckled, leaning in closer, letting his breath ghost against Eli's ear. "Oh, I think you like it… even if you won't admit it."
Eli's tail lashed, his body stiff with irritation and something else he refused to name. He shoved again, harder this time, pushing against Kael's broad chest with all his strength. "I don't! I don't like you. Not a bit!"
Kael's smirk widened, and he crouched slightly, lowering himself so their faces were nearly level. "Hmm… stubborn. Feisty. I like that. You're small, but you have fire." His thumb brushed the line of Eli's jaw, careful, deliberate, teasing. "So, you're saying you don't ever want me?"
Eli ground his teeth, snapping, "Never!" He shoved him one last time, but his chest heaved, and his heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Kael straightened, still close, his gaze piercing, unwavering. "Good," he said softly, almost a growl. "I wouldn't want obedient anyway. I want a challenge."
Eli's stomach twisted, a mix of defiance, anger, and… something else he didn't want to acknowledge. He took a step back, brushing off Kael's touch, chin raised, voice steady. "Then you're wasting your time. I'm not yours, Kael. And I won't ever be."
Kael's grin lingered as he finally let his hands drop. "We'll see about that, little wolf," he said, voice low, dripping with promise. "This is only the beginning."
The tension between them didn't break, thick as the mist around them. Eli's body burned with irritation, yet he couldn't deny the thrill of standing his ground against the alpha who clearly wasn't used to being refused.