Chapter 5
1660 Words
Rune's POV
“Oh, shut up!” He snapped, taking large steps towards me, like a predator hungrily moving towards its prey.
The truth is, I didn't even mean what I said. I didn't want to be Alaric's Luna. Theo was going to toss me into it and I didn’t want that either. Since he felt like always shoving our parents’ death to my face, knowing fully well how much pain and guilt it made me feel, I decided to hurt his pride a little.
“You heard right, Theo. All you've done since we lost mum and dad is to constantly drag me to pain, guilt, and isolation. I haven't gone mad because you made me believe that everything was to protect me!” I yelled. “Since you consider giving me up to a cold and ruthless Alpha as part of your protection, I'll go for it. I will marry him and you will watch me become his Luna,” I pointed at his chest with each word that left my lips.
“So you're going to throw yourself at him now?” he spat in utter mockery.
“Yes, I will. Besides, it's just a matter of time before you give me up to him and tell me that it's for my safety, right?” I snorted.
“Clyde of Blackwood pack will be visiting us in three days. I want an alliance with him, and he has asked for nothing in return other than for you to be his Luna—”
I interrupted him with a bitter laugh, turning my back to him so he wouldn't see the tears that left my eyes.
“Does what I want ever matter to you, Theo?” my voice cracked through a sob.
“Although Clyde is Alaric's cousin, he is more responsible than him. Just see it as a contract marriage. You'll be back when everything is done. It's not like I'd ever let anyone claim you as theirs,” his voice was both domineering and pleading. Clearly, there was no point trying to reason with him, so I stood my ground for the first time.
“None of the Alphas are my mate, Theo, and you won't toss me around like a dice just because you can. Taking what Alaric wants and giving it to his cousin is asking for war. Not even Clyde will protect you from it. I will choose whoever I want and you will give me all the details I want about both of them!”
I walked out on him before he could even utter another word. I went to the garden where Ivy was waiting already. I furrowed my brows at her in suspicion, but she just shrugged.
“I heard noises and tried to see what was going on,” she admitted. Her blunt and very honest nature was both annoying and safe. I threw my body at her, embracing her with all my strength. She didn’t utter a word but hugged me back.
“He wants to give me to Alpha Clyde now,” I lowered my voice in exhaustion, sitting on a small pavement while she just stood there in shock.
“Give? Alpha Clyde?Why?”
“Alpha Alaric seemed to be so interested in me. He threatened him that if he doesn't bring me in three days, he'd bring war to him.”
“Go to him then. No one can stand the wrath of Alaric, and to make matters worse, this pack is the smallest of the three in this clan.”
“He wants to give me to Clyde on the third day. It sounds stupid, and I'm not sure I know Theo anymore. He doesn't even care what I want. I don't know if he's doing it for the reasons he tells me or if there's something more to it,” I picked on my finger, only looking up once to see the disgusted look on her face.
After taking a deep breath, she just squatted in front of me and raised my chin up so I'd be able to meet her gaze.
“What do you want?” she asked carefully. “I believe you've been suppressing a lot since your parents’ death, and that might be giving your brother the impression that he can do anything he wants with you. For you to break through that, you have to walk a bit on clarity's path.”
“I want him,” I blurted again. Suddenly, my heart began to race and I couldn't wrap my head around it. The only thing I felt aside from exhaustion and pain, was that familiar electricity and a strong force tugging at my chest.
“Who?” She looked with wide eyes.
“Alpha Alaric,” I blurted firmly, surprising myself more than I surprised her.
She stood back up and took a few steps away from me.
“What's wrong?”
“It's nothing,” she stammered. “Just your eyes… forget it, it's nothing,” she blinked and shook her head.
“I'll be going to the Clan’s court today. Please keep an eye on Theo for me and inform me when it's safe to leave.”
“I will.”
With that, I went back to my room, focusing on nothing but my cotton material and embroidery yarn. Still I couldn't get Alaric off my thoughts. Today was the first time since my parents died that I had dared to take a path on my own against my brother's will. Maybe this weird feeling was just an aftermath. I just hope the moon goddess grants me enough strength to thread this path after the ritual.
“Rune.”
I jolted up only to realise that it was night already.
“Your brother just left. Now might be our best chance to leave,” she whispered.
I nodded, before rubbing my eyes. “Get everything ready for the rite. We'll be leaving through the secret passage, and please make sure no one knows. I'll get dressed now,” I told her cautiously, only for her to smirk in response.
“This isn't the first time, Rune. Everything is in place.”
With that, I quickly changed into a dark outfit and leather boots. We took the hidden tunnel out of the packhouse and successfully made it to the Clan’s court without being caught.
Looking at the ancient walls reminded me of the first time I visited these walls ten years ago. I took slow steps towards the entrance as my memories ran a tour on that day.
I had visited the holy of the holies eight years after my parents’ death. Their death had brought so much grief to the entire clan and that was also part of my guilt. I was responsible for their deaths as well as the grief of the clan.
Therefore, on that very day, ten years ago, I asked the moon goddess to transfer the greatest grief in the clan to me and free its bearer. To me, it was enough punishment for eighteen years ago. It was enough that some of those grieves no longer belonged to the bearer, but to me. I returned to the court once every two years to repeat my vows and ask the moon goddess for the strength to carry on.
It was also the first and only time I met someone I'd ever felt an attraction towards. I only saw his side profile then, but I had never seen him anywhere else until today.
I heard painful grunts and the sound of clinking metals as I walked further into the ancient building. I snapped my head in Ivy's direction to confirm if she was hearing the same thing. She nodded.
“Sanctum of the moon,” I whispered. “That's where we're going.”
Before she could argue, I picked up my pace and ran through the cold walls. My back burned as though someone was slashing through my skin, and I could already feel my blood boil. The knot in my stomach tightened as I got closer and closer. My wolf was restless, barely letting me breathe as I paced through the walls.
“Rune, stop!” I heard Ivy from behind.
“Rune.”
I froze in an instant, turning to the direction I heard my name.
I stared in shock at the image in front of me with wide eyes, quivering lips, and trembling hands. I took one step back, unsure if this was even happening, but then he looked up at me with those piercing green eyes. He was battered yet they didn't stop slashing his back with chains. Bloody hell! He didn't even flinch despite the heavy impact of the chains against his skin. Was he even alive?
“Stop!” I roared, feeling my claw grow on instinct.
They all looked at me in shock, except one who was in no doubt disgusted by my audacity.
“And who do you think you are to meddle in our business?” he raised a brow mockingly.
The question threw me off balance, and I let out a low growl, only to be spun by Ivy.
“Rune, listen,” she panicked. “You don't have to do this or be here right now. Something is wrong with you and your eyes,” she gasped. “Please let's just go home before things get worse—”
“I dare you,” I sneered when I sensed one of them try to raise his chain again over Alaric's back. He did it, regardless. I launched at him with all the speed I could muster, pinning him to the ground before the god forsaken chain met with Alaric's back. I raised my hand, ready to finish him off until…
“Rune,” Alaric breathed my name again, stopping me from my first bloody murder. “P-p-lease… don't.”
- Writer
