Chapter 13 : Rune's Mark and the Primal Shift
The scandal from Seraphina's outburst trapped me in a web of whispers and glares throughout the manor—everyone buzzing about Kael's supposed secret lover, but I knew my emerging Luna scent was the ticking bomb underneath it all. I couldn't stay put; Caspian might explode if he caught wind of Kael's mark, and Kael himself would just scheme more. Rune, the silent shadow, had shown me those private tunnels once, hidden veins snaking under the estate. I slipped away at dusk, heart pounding, ducking into the damp darkness.
"Keep moving," I muttered to myself, footsteps echoing off stone walls. "Get clear, then figure this out."
But deep inside, the fever spiked without warning—vicious, like the seal was clawing back control. Pain ripped through my chest, legs buckling. I collapsed in the shadows, body convulsing, breaths coming in ragged gasps. "No... can't die here," I whimpered, vision blurring hot.
A massive figure emerged from the gloom—Rune, his red-gold eyes wide with raw panic. He dropped to his knees beside me, hands hovering uncertainly.
"Rune?" I choked out, tremors shaking me violently. "How—did you find me?"
"Tracked you," he grunted, voice rough like grinding rocks. "Scent. Seal... killing."
"Help," I begged, teeth chattering. "It burns—everything burns."
He didn't hesitate, instinct taking over. His huge hands tore at my clothes—ripping shirt, yanking pants away in desperate pulls, leaving me bare and exposed to the chill air. "Heat," he muttered. "My heat."
"What are you doing?" I gasped, but he stripped his own shirt off, revealing that sculpted, scarred chest, then pulled me flush against him, skin to scorching skin, arms locking like iron bands.
The contact surged through me—his Alpha warmth battling the fever's inferno, stabilizing the chaos. I arched into him, gasping. "Rune... it's working. Don't stop—hold tighter."
"Steady," he growled, one hand splaying wide on my back, the other cradling my head against his throat. His earth-and-stone scent flooded my senses, grounding and raw. No cold calculations like Kael, no forceful claims like Caspian—just pure, protective mate drive.
My body ignited further, fever twisting into desperate need. "Closer," I demanded, legs wrapping around his waist. "I need more of you."
"Feel me," he rumbled, lips brushing my ear. His hands roamed possessively—cupping my breasts, rough thumbs circling nipples that hardened instantly under his touch.
"Oh gods," I moaned, hips grinding against his hardness. "Rune—touch deeper."
"Mine," he said, voice low and fierce. Fingers slid down, dipping between my thighs, finding me slick and ready. "Wet. For me."
"Yes," I admitted, slapping his shoulder in frustrated hunger. "Don't tease—just take."
He growled approval, slipping two thick fingers inside, pumping slow and deep. "Take it all."
"Harder," I urged, bucking against his hand. "Make the pain stop—protect me."
"Guard," he vowed, curling fingers to hit that perfect spot, thumb pressing my clit hard. Pleasure overrode the agony, building fast.
"You're so strong," I panted, reaching down to feel his straining cock through his pants. "Let me feel you— all of you."
"No," he batted my hand away gently, eyes burning. "You first."
The intensity peaked—raw, unfiltered. I came hard, clenching around him, crying out into the tunnel. "Rune—yes!"
He drew every shudder out, relentless, until the tremors faded. Then he flipped me carefully onto my stomach, his body still covering mine like a shield. "Mark," he whispered, breath hot on my neck.
"Mark me?" I twisted to meet his gaze, seeing the vulnerability in those red-gold depths.
"Claim." His sharp Alpha tooth grazed the back of my neck—scraping territorial lines into the scarred tissue, infusing his scent without drawing blood. Pain mingled with lingering ecstasy, my body arching back into him.
"Do it," I urged, pushing against him. "Make me yours."
"Mine," he said, voice cracking as he scraped deeper, hips grinding his hardness against my ass. "Mine to guard. Never leave my sight again."
The full sentence hit like a slap—possessive, unbreakable vow. I stared into his eyes, heart twisting. "You mean that? After all the silence?"
"Always," he replied, scraping firmer, one hand pinning my hip. "Guard you."
"Prove it," I challenged, slapping his thigh hard. "Fuck me—seal the vow."
"Fever—" he hesitated, concern flashing.
"It's breaking—because of you." I slapped again, sharper. "Now, Rune. Don't hold back."
With a primal snarl, he shed his pants, positioning behind me. "All mine." He entered slow—huge, stretching me to the brink, filling every inch.
"Fuck—Rune!" I gasped, hands scrabbling on the cold floor.
"Feel the claim," he commanded, thrusting deep, rhythm building steady and powerful.
"Harder—guard me with every thrust," I demanded, pushing back to meet him.
He pounded faster, skin slapping echoing in the tunnel, hand reaching around to rub my clit roughly. "Never leave."
"I won't," I promised, pleasure coiling tight again. "Yours—only yours."
We came together—he roared, spilling hot inside, collapsing over me as the fever shattered completely.
Panting, I felt it—his earth-and-stone scent settling deep into my skin, overwriting Kael's cool rain, suppressing Caspian's aggressive fire. I carried Rune's physical mark now, the silent enforcer's territory etched forever.
"Rune," I whispered. "That vow—it's everything."
But heavy boots thundered suddenly—Lord Thorne's armored guards bursting into the tunnel, weapons drawn, faces masked under helmets.
"Freeze!" one barked. "Hands up—now!"
Rune tensed over me, shielding instinctively. "Back off," he growled.
"No chance," I snapped, scrambling up beside him. "You tracked the power spike? Thorne sent you?"
"Orders," another guard said, advancing. "Capture the girl. Kill the traitor if he resists."
Rune stood tall, naked and unyielding. "Touch her—die."
The leader laughed. "Big words from the mute. Stand down, Rune Thorne—or we end this."
I slapped the air toward them defiantly. "You think you can take us? He's marked me—protected me from your boss's seal!"
"Marked?" The guard sneered. "Makes you both targets. Move!"
They charged, cornering us against the wall. "Surrender!"
Rune shoved me behind him. "Guard."
Panic surged—claimed by the brother least suited for politics, now trapped with him. "Rune—what now?"
"Fight," he said simply.
But as blades glinted closer, suspense gripped me tight—how do we escape this?
The fever's echoes demanded more intimacy even in the afterglow, pulling us back before the guards fully closed in. Rune's arms stayed locked around me.
"Again?" he asked, voice husky.
"Yes—strengthen it," I replied, kissing him fiercely—our first deep one, tongues clashing primal.
I moaned, hands stroking his cock back to hardness. "Inside—quick."
He entered missionary-style, thrusts protective and urgent. "Safe with me."
"Faster," I slapped his back. "Before they come."
He accelerated. "Never sightless."
We climaxed fast, his scent deepening further.
Then—boots louder.
"More," I panted. "Oral—seal it."
He knelt, tongue diving in roughly. "Taste claim."
"Rune—gods!"
"Come for me."
I did, shuddering.
Then I returned the favor—sucking him deep. "My turn."
"Good," he grunted.
Fucked again—doggy, pounding echoes masking approaching steps.
"Vow holds," he said mid-thrust.
"Forever," I gasped.
Orgasms synced.
Mark pulsed alive.
Guards nearer—voices clear.
"Why me, Rune?" I asked, still joined.
"Instinct—mate."
"From brothers too?"
"All." Thrust deeper.
"You're talking."
"For you." Came hard.
Fever gone for good.
Scent absolute.
Armored figures appeared.
"Weapons down!" I yelled.
They advanced. "Thorne wants you alive—mostly."
Fight imminent—dread suspended.
Another quick round—me riding him against the wall.
"Feel guard?" he asked.
"Always."
Climax rushed.
Then full confrontation.
Cornered, his claim fresh—hook tense as ever.
Slaps exchanged in heat: "Harder!" I slapped his ass.
He growled, complying.
Vow echoed in every moan.
Guards: "Power spike here!"
Suspense peaked—they lunged.