The observation stung more than it should have. Part of him—a pathetic, desperate part—had wanted her to storm his chambers. To tell him he was being an idiot. To wrap her arms around him and promise that she wouldn't ever let him fall apart.
But Maple was too smart for that. Too independent. She'd probably spent the night analyzing what had happened with the same methodical precision she applied to her archaeological work and come to the logical conclusion that he was emotionally unavailable.
Good,he told himself as he yanked on his boots.That makes this easier.
But nothing about this felt easy as he strode from his chambers and made his way toward the grand staircase. The mansion felt different with her presence in it—warmer, more alive. Her scent lingered in the corridors like a ghost, citrus and roses that made his dragon pace restlessly beneath his skin.
He was so lost in his internal struggle that he didn't notice Ben until they collided at the top of the staircase. The archaeologist stumbled backward, catching himself on the ornate railing with the reflexes of someone accustomed to unstable terrain.
"Oh, good morning," Ben said, his tone carefully neutral. There was something in his expression—a knowing look that made Rune's jaw clench.
Rune's eyes immediately swept the area behind Ben, searching for the familiar cascade of dark hair and sharp green eyes. When he found nothing but empty space, something that felt close to panic flared in his chest.
"Where is Maple?" The question escaped before he could stop it, rough and more demanding than he'd intended.
Ben's eyebrows rose slightly, and Rune cursed himself for revealing so much with three simple words. The man was clearly putting pieces together that Rune would rather keep scattered.
"She went back to her room after you didn't show up for breakfast," Ben said slowly. "Said something about figuring out who's after the claim marker."
The panic crystallized into something sharper and more immediate. He'd been so focused on avoiding her that he'd forgotten about the very real danger that had nearly killed them both yesterday. Someone was hunting the artifact—and by extension, hunting Maple. The thought of her putting herself at risk while he wallowed in his own emotional cowardice made his dragon roar with protective fury.
"Tell her not to go anywhere until I get back," Rune commanded, his voice carrying the unmistakable authority of an Alpha. "Don't leave the mansion. Just... look after her."
To his relief, Ben didn't argue. The man simply nodded, his expression growing serious as he seemed to grasp the gravity of their situation.
"I'll look after her and make sure she doesn't leave," Ben promised. Then, with the kind of direct honesty that Rune was beginning to associate with Maple's inner circle, he added, "So, what exactly happened last night?"
The question hit like a punch. How could he possibly explain the catastrophic loss of control? The way he'd claimed Maple on a dining room table like some kind of primitive beast, then fled like a terrified child? The fact that he was fighting a bond that felt as natural as breathing because he was too much of a coward to risk his heart?
"Nothing," Rune said flatly, turning away before Ben could read the lie in his eyes.
He took the stairs two at a time, his boots echoing against the marble as he made his escape. The sooner he got to Bram andfigured out how that claim marker had survived his systematic destruction, the sooner he could find a way to protect Maple without losing himself in the process.
His private garage was a sanctuary of chrome and leather, housing a collection of vehicles that most men could only dream of owning. The mangled remains of his Lamborghini had been towed away sometime during the night, leaving an empty space that served as a stark reminder of yesterday's violence. He slid behind the wheel of his Porsche, the engine purring to life with a satisfying growl that echoed his dragon's restless energy.
As the garage door rolled open to reveal the sun-drenched canyon beyond, Rune pressed the accelerator and shot forward into the desert morning. The wind through the open windows carried the scent of sage and red rock, but underneath it all was the persistent ghost of citrus and roses that had somehow worked its way into his very skin.
You can't run from this forever,his dragon whispered as the hidden town appeared in the distance.
Ten minutes later, the Porsche's tires screamed against asphalt as Rune yanked the wheel toward the curb outside the town council building. The engine's growl died with a sharp twist of his wrist, leaving only the desert wind and the thunderous pulse of his own heartbeat. Every muscle in his shoulders pulled taut beneath the black henley as he slammed the door and stalked toward the entrance, his dragon clawing at his ribs with restless fury.
She's safe in the mansion,he reminded himself.
The mate bond pulsed beneath his skin, growing stronger with each passing minute. Even now, miles away from her, he could feel her emotions like his own—her confusion, her hurt, her desire, but underneath it all, a fierce determination.
What is she so determined to do?
The building's corridors blurred past as his boots struck marble with military precision. He didn't bother slowing as he approached Bram's office, his hand already reaching for the ornate brass handle when voices drifted through the heavy wood.
"—situation that happened yesterday on the canyon road?—"
Kade's voice.
What the hell was his second-in-command doing here?
Rune didn't knock. The door crashed open under his palm, revealing both men seated across from each other like conspirators. Bram's weathered face remained impassive behind his massive oak desk, but Kade straightened in his chair, his green eyes immediately assessing Rune's barely controlled fury.
"We were just about to call you," Kade said, his tone carefully neutral despite the tension radiating from his Alpha. "To discuss the situation that happened yesterday. The accident where somehow your Lamborghini got totaled and an SUV was charred with two bodies recovered from it."
