The Forest of Giant Trees wrapped the Scout Regiment in its deep green shadows. The trees stood like petrified titan guards, their interlocking branches blocking out the sunlight and creating an atmosphere of eternal dread. The humidity was suffocating, and the scent of damp moss mingled with the smell of exhausted horses and the cold iron of the Omni-Directional Mobility (ODM) gear. Elina led her horse on the right flank, but her eyes never left the back of Levi, who led the vanguard with his usual icy composure. His green cloak fluttered behind him like a banner of inevitable death.
Since that night in the office, and the cold confrontation in the courtyard, they hadn't exchanged a single word outside of strict military orders. Yet, the silence between them was screaming. Every time their eyes met for a split second amidst the dense forest, Elina felt the heat of that night surging through her body, defying the stifling chill of the woods. The mark of possession he had left on her neck throbbed, reminding her in every heartbeat that she belonged to him—and that she had agreed to play with fire.
Suddenly, Commander Erwin Smith gave the signal to halt for a brief rest before entering the "Red Danger" zone. The soldiers dismounted, spreading out to secure the perimeter and check their gear. Elina took the opportunity to slip away toward a small spring she had spotted between the massive roots; she needed to cool her face, which was flushed with forbidden thoughts and a creeping fear of the unknown.
Not two minutes had passed before she felt that presence—the one that made the hair on her neck stand up. She didn't hear his footsteps; he moved like a ghost through the woods. But she smelled him: the scent of strong soap that had become her only addiction, now mixed with the aroma of bitter tea and military leather.
"I told you not to show weakness," his voice came from behind her, low and sharp as a razor blade, yet carrying a masculine rasp that made her heart leap. "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 a massive tree trunk, 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 dizzy. He looked like a god of both death and desire.
"Levi, Hange notices everything," she whispered, stepping closer until her chest almost brushed the buttons of his shirt, defying the safety distance required by military discipline. "And Erwin... his gaze follows us. We are playing with fire in a forest ready to ignite, and you still insist on provoking me."
Levi gave a side smirk—a smile no soldier had ever witnessed—full of defiance and a dark, insatiable lust. In a swift, sudden, and violent motion, he pulled her behind the massive tree trunk, away from the prying eyes of the soldiers. He pinned her back against the rough wood, trapping her with his solid body which radiated scorching heat despite the freezing forest air. Their ODM gear let out a faint 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, his lips grazing her warm skin. "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 role of the cold Captain while your scent still clings to my clothes?"
He leaned in to kiss her—a kiss far more violent than those in the office. It was a kiss that tasted of danger, mixed with the scent of the forest, earth, and gunpowder. His rough hands, accustomed to gripping blades, did not stop at her waist. They began exploring her body beneath the leather armor of her uniform with a boldness that knew no bounds. Elina let out muffled moans, trying to suppress cries of pleasure and shock that threatened to expose them in the deadly 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 caresses that burned away every ounce of her military discipline.
"Let them hear," he growled, sucking on her neck forcefully, leaving a new mark of possession—clearer and deeper than the last, one she wouldn't be able to hide this time with a scarf or a collar. "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 before a Titan could swallow them whole. Levi wasn't practicing romance; he was practicing "absolute possession." He wanted to prove to himself and to her that she was his, even if it cost him his head—even if it cost the entire Regiment.
Suddenly, the thread of pleasure was severed by a familiar and annoying voice from afar, a voice carrying a tone of madness and lethal curiosity. "Levi! Where did you disappear to, you tiny Captain? You must have found a very interesting specimen of fungi here! Or perhaps... a specimen of another kind?"
It was Hange Zoë.
Levi pushed Elina gently but with lightning speed behind the tree, adjusting his cravat and shirt with an astonishing mechanical motion that hid any trace of emotional chaos. He turned with his usual coldness, his face as frozen as ice, to face Hange, who had suddenly appeared from between the giant shrubs, her eyes gleaming behind her glasses with a suspicious and mischievous spark.
"What do you want, Hange?" Levi said in a low, resonant voice that dripped with venom. "I was checking the perimeter for any ambushes before we move."
Hange looked at Levi, then slowly shifted her gaze—with a wide and eerie grin—toward the tree where Elina was hiding. She saw the tip of a military boot protruding slightly. Hange's grin widened. "Oh, ambushes? Yes... the forest is full of 'emotional' ambushes these days, Levi. Be careful; some ambushes leave scars that never heal... and expose your secrets to everyone."
Levi didn't wait for a response. He walked away toward his horse with total indifference, saying sharply to the surrounding soldiers, "End the break. We move now. No room for negligence."
Elina remained behind the tree for a few more seconds, trying to catch her scattered breath and fix her shirt, which had been disheveled under his bold touch. She knew that Chapter 4 was not just a passing encounter; it was a declaration of silent war. A war against logic, against the Regiment, and against themselves. As the horses set off once again into the unknown, she realized that the monster she had awakened in Levi would never rest, and that the journey toward the 50 chapters would be paved with pleasure, pain, and the watchful eyes of Titans and Hange Zoë.