Chapter 141
Ellie POV
My brow furrows. Lucas just said he could…mark me?
The hospital light flickers.
“Yeah, I’m sorry-what?” I say, stunned, solid on the bed.
“If an Alpha marks you,” Lucas explains carefully, “Any alpha, it can sever your bond completely from Dominic, stop the physical degradation. It could… stabilize it. Protect you. Keep your body from tearing itself apart every time you push him away or he leaves.”
My heart slams against my ribs.
“You mean-” I stop, breath catching. “But… you mean I’d be yours.”
“Not like that,” he says quickly. “Not romantically. Not unless you wanted it. This would be about survival, Ellie. About keeping you alive but free.”
I stare at him, my thoughts tangling into knots.
“But if you marked me,” I say slowly, “that wouldn’t just be temporary? That’s not a bandage. That’s a life decision. We would wed. I’d be your Luna. That’s not free?”
“I know,” he says softly. “I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t. I just want you to know it’s an option.”
“And I-“I added breathlessly. “I mean, Lucas, this doesn’t change anything. I’d still be bound, just… differently. Wed to another Alpha. Another set of rules. Another cage.”
Lucas flinches. And I feel a bit bad.
“I didn’t think of it like that,” he admits. “I was just trying to help. I just don’t want you saying yes to a guy you feel like is the only way to live.”
“I know,” I say a bit softer, and I mean it. My hand moving to his arm. “I really do, it’s just…”
My pulse is loud in my ears. My body aches, reminding me why we’re even having this conversation in the first place.
“I won’t do it,” I say finally. “I can’t.”
Lucas stiffens. “Ellie-”
“No,” I repeat, firmer now. “I won’t trade one bond for another just because I’m scared. I won’t let fate shove me into a different corner when I haben’t eben tied other routes.”
“Ellie, you could die. But this could save you–”
“So would accepting Dominic,” I snap, then immediately regret the sharpness. I soften my tone. “But I’m not ready for that either. I don’t want to submit. To anyone. Not if…if I can find any other way. I just need a bit of time.”
He exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t trying to trap you.”
“I’m not mad Lucas,” I say. “Really, thank you, I mean it. For caring enough to look for another option. If you find anymore, please let me know.”
He studies me for a long moment, then nods.
“If you change your mind,” he says quietly. “About anything. Call me.”
“I will.”
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He stands, lingering like he wants to say more, then thinks better of it. At the door, he pauses.
“You deserve a choice,” he says. “No matter how messy this gets.”
My lips pull thin.
Two bonds. Two Alphas. Two paths I don’t want.
And somehow, neither of them feels like freedom.
Lucas lingers by the door like he wants to say something else and doesn’t trust himself to. Something sad flickers across his face, but he gives me a small smile anyway. Then he turns and pulls the door open-
And nearly collides with… Vivian.
My stomach tightens.
“Oh,” she says lightly, stepping back like this is some cute accident. Her eyes flick to Lucas, then to me, wide and adoring. “ Leaving already?”
Lucas nods. “Yes, she needs rest.”
Vivian smiles sweetly. “Of course, thanks for stop by!”
He hesitates, glances at me like he wants to ask if I’m okay, then leaves without another word. The door shuts behind him, and the room feels colder for it.
Vivian and I lock eyes. It’s silent for a moment.
I haven’t seen her since I got sick. She never came with the rest of the famly. Not even fake concern.
She shifts the potted of flowers in her arms.
For a second, I can’t believe she even brought me any. Then I see the flowers. Black Dalphia’s.
Not exactly get well flowers.
She closes the door and sits down in the chair Lucas just vacated, crossing her legs neatly. She plops the flower on the table next to her, looking around.
She looks… pleased. Not happy. Not relieved. Pleased, like a problem has finally started solving itself.
“Gods, this place is a dumb.”
I lean back against the pillows with a sigh. My headache just got so much worse.
“What do you want, Vivian?”
She scoffs like she’s offended. “Can I come visit my sick sister?”
“Step-sister.” I correct deadpanned.
She smirked. “You know, I gotta say, I love that I don’t need to pretend to look up to you anymore. Talking to you has been so much easier since taking off the mask.”
“You mean when I saw though it,” I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t take off jack.”
She shrugged, “Who cares? Besides, I would day I’m doing fairly better then you. I can’t say I’m surprised,” she says, glancing over me. “This is what happens when you spit on the moon goddess too many times.”
“If I gave into her way, you’d loose out on your oh-so-precious-Dom. You should be grateful.”
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“Oh, I am,” She held up the pot of flowers with a grin. “See? I’m here.”
I stare at her. “You’re not here to check on me or bring flowers. You want something, don’t you?”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“Vivian.”
Her lips curve. “Honestly? I can be here for many reasons. Curiosity. And maybe a little gratitude. I mean, you’re not letting Dominic mark you,” she says easily. “Like you said, a win for me.”
My fingers curl into the sheets. “And what else?”
She tilts her head. “I told you, you did me a favor, I’m doing the same?”
I narrow my eyes. “You bring flowers for that?”
She looks genuinely amused now. “Oh no. These aren’t thank you flowers.”
Something in my chest tightens. “Then what are they?”
She leans forward slightly, elbows on her knees. “Condolences.”
The word doesn’t land right.
I slowly push myself upright despite the protest from my body, pain flashing white behind my eyes. “What… do you mean?”
Vivian watches me struggle like it’s entertainment. “Since you’ve been cooped up, you haven’t heard. And, gods it’s such a bummer-”
“Vivian!”
“Jeezz, okay. Your mother’s been arrested.”
The room tilts.
I can’t even breath. My heart monitor spikes.
“W-what?” The word barely makes it past my throat. “That’s… not funny. You’re playing some sick joke.”
She snorts. “I’m not joking.”
“What…did you do?”
“Me?” She scoffs, “I’ve been at school? I told. I’m letting you know as a favor.”
“Where is she?” I demand. “Where is my mom?”
Vivian stands, smoothing her skirt. “Um, duh, jail.”
The sound that leaves me isn’t a word. It’s something broken.
I try to swing my legs over the side of the bed. “You’re lying! My mom cries when she sees animals outside for the winter! She feeds the homeless! She would never do anything against the law! She wouldn’t-she couldn’t-”
“My father uncovered it,” Vivian says over her shoulder. “She didn’t need to hurt anyone to do it. Debt fraud. Embezzlement Like mother, like daughter, I suppose. Yuck.”
Rage cuts through the pain like a blade. “That’s not true,” I shout, tangled in the sheets. “You know it’s not! He did this. He had to have did this!”
I lunge for her, fingers brushing air-
And then my body gives out.
The floor slams into me hard, breath punched from my lungs as pain explodes everywhere at once. The monitors start shrieking, alarms blaring as I clutch at the tile, vision swimming.
“Where is she?” I scream, throat raw. “What did you two do to her?!”
Nurses shout. Footsteps rush closer.
Vivian pauses at the door.
She looks back at me on the floor-shaking, gasping, breaking-and smiles.
“How pathetic,” she says lightly. “Remember, this was a favor. Later.”
Then she leaves.
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