The only option

The only option
VINCE

“I'm not. For once, I'm in my fucking mind and thinking clearly.” Declan insisted.

“You wouldn't have said something that ridiculous if you were in your fucking mind.”

“Be serious, Vince. Don't you see it? Your elders were there to keep you from making peace with me. And these elders are here to stop me from making peace with you. So it's never been about the rogues and you. It's always been these elders and their sick who need to control everyone. We might be Alphas, but these elders hold the real power. They're the puppeteers and we're their damn puppets. They influence our decisions, make us do what they want, and change us when they feel we might revolt against them. You successfully got rid of yours at the detriment of your reputation. Your people are gonna start cussing you out soon. I can't do that, I can't take the villain turn you took. I can't afford to lose the love and devotion of the few people under my care. But I don't wanna die either. And I definitely don't wanna hand over the rogues under my authority to these elders. They are like a fucking cult. It shouldn't be you against me. It should be us against them.”

“Us?” I scoffed. “Boy, there is no us. There can't ever be an us.”

“Why not? We're not as deeply enemies as we think we are, Vince. Aside from the fact that you killed my family and that I developed an insane and unnecessary obsession for your woman, there's really no beef between us.”

“Why the fuck would you even develop an obsession for her to begin with? You're supposed to hate her.”

“That's not the point here. What I'm trying to say is that we don't have enough reasons to be enemies. Matter of fact, we have so much in common, it's insane.”

“The only thing we have in common is the nasty blood flowing through our veins and the fact that we both grew an obsession for the same woman. Nothing else. I can't be in a team with a boy who raided my friend's Pack and almost killed my other friend's family.”

“You killed my family! Of course, I wanted revenge.”

“Then keep doing that. Keep seeking your revenge. Don't complicate things.”

“It's already fucking complicated. The moment I brought her here, I signed my fate. Those elders are gonna come for me. They're gonna turn the sorcerers and my people against me. I'll be toast if that happens.”

“I'm not interested in joining whatever fight you might have with your elders. If you think I owe you for bringing Elena here, then you should know I'm paying you back by letting you walk out of here unharmed. But that's just it. Nothing more.”

“Why do you gotta be so difficult, Vince? I'm asking for your help here.”

“I don't think we have the kinda relationship that permits you to so casually ask for my help, Declan.” I finalized.

He didn't say more and I didn't hang around to listen to more either. I walked into the house and instructed the men at the door to make sure he leaves in the next two minutes. Before I change my fucking mind about leaving him unharmed.

I went upstairs to my bedroom. Leo had taken her there. I got the shock of my life seeing Claire on the bed, sobbing next to Elena. Richard was in the room too. He had his hands resting on Claire's tiny shoulders.

My angry gaze went quickly to Leo. “I gave you a simple instruction.”

“She was downstairs. She followed you. There was no way I could hide Elena from her.”

“Daddy,” her puffy eyes came to me, melting away my anger. “Is Mummy gonna be alright?”

“Yes, baby. She will be.” I walked to her and scooped her into my arms in a smooth move. I walked to Leo and dumped her into his arms.

“I wanna stay with Mummy!” She protested with a shriek.

“Go to bed, Claire. Your Mummy needs a doctor. You'll be with her the minute she regains consciousness.”

“No!” She was fighting and hitting Leo, trying to get out of his hold. She's damn feisty!

“Take her out of here,” I said to Leo. That kicked her into a more aggressive tantrum. She was clawing at his face now. Where did she learn that?

“I'll take her instead.” Richard opted, heading to them.

“Thanks.” I breathed out. He took her and her cries dwindled. She was scowling at me with those teary eyes as Richard left the room with her.

Something about those eyes looked familiar. They reminded me of Elena's furious gaze when she's about to numb my face with a slap.

“She's gonna grow up to hate you, man.” Leo teased.

“Tell me about it.” I sighed, rubbing my throbbing temples. “Doctor Drake…”

“I already called him.”

“Thank you.”

“What did Declan want?”

“Can we not discuss that absurdity right now? I promise I'll tell you everything. Just not right now.”

“Sure. Whenever you're ready.”

“Alpha Vince?” The knock on the door and Dr. Drake's familiar voice kicked in an excitement inside me.

“Come right in.”

He opened the door and stepped inside. He knew exactly what he was here for and got right into it immediately.

Leo and I watched him from the corner until he was done. Except, he was done a little too quickly than I expected.

“Can we talk, alone?” He asked. Leo took that as his cue to leave. My anxious ass could barely wait for him to get through the door before I blurted out my question.

“What's wrong with her?”

“Nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious? She's unconscious.”

“It's not that deep. She'll be fine. She just needs a reawakening.”

“A what?”

“You.” Dr. Drake had a slimy grin on his face. I couldn't reciprocate that. I was still kinda confused.

“Yeah. Declan mentioned she's suffering from withdrawal symptoms or shit like that.”

“Yes.” Dr. Drake affirmed.

“So what do I need to do exactly? Hug her? Kiss her?”

“She needs the mate mark to be reawakened.”

He was being polite but his dirty grin was saying otherwise. And then it hit me.

My mouth opened and snapped shut. I glanced at her unconscious body and back at him. My mouth opened again, but thankfully this time, words came out.

“You're kidding.” I scoffed out an empty chuckle.

“I'm not.”

“She's fucking unconscious. You want me to do that to her in that state?”

“She needs it to regain consciousness. That's the only way. It's out of my hands.”

I was still befuddled. I might be a sick, obsessed bastard who does really unethical and dirty shit. But the thought of making love to an unconscious Elena is giving me the ick. I don't wanna do that. I need her to be a bit conscious before I touch her.

“What if I hurt her?” I asked him.

“You're gonna hurt her when you mark her again. It's inevitable. Aside from that, you don't have to worry about anything else.”

I was still hesitant. “Isn't there any other way? Like a drug you'd give her to be a bit conscious. I don't wanna feel like I'm making love to a damn corpse.”

He laughed. He dared to laugh. I'm not sure what part of my distress is hilarious.

“It's the first time I'm ever seeing you really scared and hesitant about doing something. It's quite a sight.”

“I'm being serious.” I didn't like that he was teasing me about this. This is a sensitive issue for me. Elena's a sensitive issue. With her, I'm always gonna be hesitant. Scared. Protective. Anxious.

“I'm assuring you that it's completely safe. The only pain she's gonna feel is when you mark her again. After that, she's good. I swear it.”

I nodded but my fingers were jittery. I looked at her perfect, pale body and I could finally feel a twitch in my dick.

Maybe I can do it. But fuck, why did this have to be the only option?!