The Forest of Giant Trees wrapped the Scout Regiment in its deep green shadows, where the trees looked like petrified titan guards. The humidity here was suffocating, the scent of wet moss blending with the smell of exhausted horses. "Elina" led her horse on the right flank, but her eyes never left Levi's back as he led the vanguard with his usual coldness, his green cloak fluttering behind him like a banner of inevitable death.
Since that night in the office, they hadn't exchanged a single word outside of military orders. But the silence between them was screaming. Every time their eyes met for a split second amidst the forest, Elina felt the heat of that night surging through her body, defying the chilly air.
Suddenly, Erwin gave the signal for a short break before entering the "Red Danger" zone. Everyone dismounted, and the soldiers began spreading out to secure the perimeter. Elina took the chance to walk slightly toward a small water spring; she needed to cool her face, which was flushed with forbidden thoughts.
Not two minutes passed before she felt that presence that made the hair on her neck stand up. She didn't hear his footsteps—he moved like a ghost—but she smelled him: the scent of strong soap that had become her only addiction.
"I told you not to show weakness," his voice came from behind her, low and sharp as a razor blade. "I see you trembling, soldier. Is it the Titans, or the memories of the night before last?"
She turned quickly to find him leaning against the massive trunk of a giant tree, one hand in his pocket and the other toyed with his white cravat. His steel-gray eyes scanned her body with a boldness that made her feel dizzy.
"Levi, Hange notices everything," she whispered, stepping closer until her chest almost brushed the buttons of his shirt. "And Erwin... his gaze follows us. We are playing with fire in a forest ready to ignite."
Levi gave a side smirk, a smile no soldier had ever seen, full of defiance and dark lust. In a swift motion, he pulled her behind the massive tree trunk, away from the soldiers' eyes. He pinned her back against the rough wood, trapping her with his hard body. The ODM gear they wore made a slight metallic clink with every movement, heightening the tension of the moment.
"Let Hange notice, and let Erwin suspect," he said, burying his face in her neck, inhaling her scent wildly. "I am Humanity's Strongest, Elina... but before you, I am just a hungry man who cannot be satisfied. Do you think I can play the cold Commander while your scent still clings to my clothes?"
He leaned in to kiss her, a kiss more violent than those in the office. It was a kiss that tasted of danger, mixed with the smell of the forest and earth. His rough hands didn't stop at her waist; they began exploring her body beneath the leather armor of the military uniform with a boldness that knew no bounds. Elina let out muffled moans, trying to suppress the cries of pleasure that threatened to expose them in the silence of the woods.
"Levi... they will hear us..." she groaned weakly as she felt his hand sneak under her shirt, touching her warm skin with touches that burned every ounce of her military discipline.
"Let them hear," he growled, sucking on her neck forcefully, leaving a new mark of possession she wouldn't be able to hide this time. "If any of them try to approach, I'll cut them to pieces before they even see your face."
The moment was saturated with a bold desire that defied the death surrounding them. They were making love on the edge of the abyss, every touch feeling like the last. Levi wasn't practicing romance; he was practicing "possession." He wanted to prove to himself and to her that she was his, even if it cost him his head.
Suddenly, the string of pleasure was cut by a familiar and annoying voice from afar. "Levi! Where did you disappear to, you tiny Commander? You must have found a very interesting specimen of fungi here!"
It was Hange.
Levi pushed Elina gently but quickly behind the tree, adjusting his cravat and shirt with an astonishing mechanical motion. He turned with his usual coldness to face Hange, who suddenly appeared from between the bushes, her eyes gleaming behind her glasses with a suspicious spark.
"What do you want, Hange?" Levi said in a voice as cold as ice. "I was checking the perimeter for any ambushes."
Hange looked at Levi, then slowly shifted her gaze toward the tree where Elina was hiding, seeing the tip of a military boot protruding slightly. she smiled a wide, eerie grin. "Oh, ambushes? Yes... the forest is full of 'emotional' ambushes these days. Be careful, Levi; some ambushes leave scars that never heal."
Levi didn't wait for a response, walking away toward his horse as he said sharply, "End the break. We move now."
Elina remained behind the tree, trying to catch her scattered breath and fix her shirt. She knew that Chapter Three was not just a passing encounter; it was a declaration of war. A war against logic, against the Regiment, and against themselves. As the horses set off again, she realized that the monster she had awakened in Levi would never rest, and the journey toward the 50 chapters would be paved with pleasure and pain.