Unsevered Ties

16. Of Marking

Art by Marie.desu

Chapter 16: Of Marking

Tree after tree passed, each more similar than the last, green tops with great brown trunks lifting up their more vibrant halves. The forest on the edge of their territory looked sparse, but spread quite wide and stretched a few miles. It was not the best place to be running from two foul creatures hot on his tail.

Like wild beasts, they howled behind him, their calls telling him just how close they were. He could hear vividly the sound of heavy paws running over the packed earth, the heavy thumps sounding in his ears as loudly as his racing heart.

His own paws hurried over the ground, his haste evident in his every movement. He never stopped. He couldn’t stop; his future depended on it. Every glance he took was only a second’s worth. If it wasn’t what he looked for, then he could not afford to give it his attention.

Each howl sent a shiver down Naki’s spine, his sparkling silver fur standing on end. They were doing it on purpose, warning him that they came for him and promised that he could not escape... But he would. To avoid being trapped forever, he had to make an escape. If he didn’t keep running, more than just howls would catch up to him. More than those howls, he feared where they came from and what they were trying to tell him.

As if they sensed his fears, the resonances grew closer, and Naki’s heart dropped. Someone was hot on his trail, but he was too afraid to turn and see who. The only thing he wanted to see was his destination. The moment he reached it, he would be free of this terrible mistake. How the world had twisted his decision into something so farfetched was beyond him.

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Sega’s legs crossed over land with a fluid stride that seemed casual compared to the hurried speed Naki ran. By now, he could have caught Naki in a blink of an eye. He had already gained momentum from his battle with Aiden and although he didn’t get to reach his full potential, the buildup from before was still within him. In this race, however, he would win fairly. Even without his bloodline’s trait, he could run far faster than almost any wolf, especially Aiden.

The other male’s girth alone stopped him from being too agile. For Aiden to even think he would reach Naki first. Sega snorted at both of their silly notions of winning. Even now he could see Naki ahead of him, purposely giving him hope like a rabbit being hunted down. It felt oddly exciting, watching him run so desperately for freedom. He wanted to capture him and show him that he always got his way. Yet... The thrill of the chase was too good to give up so soon.

He sent up another howl, letting Naki know that he’d better move faster, but it was more of a goading call to Aiden to let him know just how close he was to victory. The mere thought of holding the win over Aiden was enough to cause him all the more glee. If the Gods were to interfere, then he would have to find ways to compromise things in his best interest. Divine beings or not, the mere notion and fables of ancient creatures would not instill fear in his heart. He’d had enough of that already.

Sega felt determined to make Naki his. The idea of sharing was not only unappealing but also unacceptable to him. He did not share, he never had to and never planned to. Damn whatever forces saw fit to interject themselves into his plans.

Still, for now, there would be no other way but to share. He had not heard of many dual matings, but one thing was for sure: one of them would have to be the ruling alpha in the entire situation, and that would be him. Aiden would have to learn to bow his head down to him or face the consequences.

Done with his taunting, Sega felt ready to catch and brand Naki. He would show them both that he always came out on top and he would immediately put anyone who challenged his authority in their place.