Chapter 7 The Choice that burns
"I only accelerated it, I did not do anything." He said with a shrug and a smirk which had remained on his face.
"You are going to get people killed."
"They were going to die anyway." He replied again.
"That does not make it right!" I shook my head disapprovingly.
"No," he agreed. "It makes it inevitable."
The door breaks open as the steal tore in half. The guards trooop in with their weapon raised and aimed in our direction.
"DOWN!" one of them shouted. Marco did not make any move, he did not flinch.
Suddenly there is a shift in the atmosphere. Every wolf in the room room growled low and then Vince walked in.
He still had blood stains on his shirt and his eyes remained cold, without any emotion.
"Leave," Vince ordered.
The guards looked at each other and hesitate.
"Now!" He barked.
They nod and walked out, sealing the door behind them. It was just the three of us inside the room.
The Alphas gazed in my direction and then back at each other. It was a battle of two Alphas, the first wants to bind me, while the second wants to take me.
"You crossed my border." Vince said.
"I did not just crossed your border, I walked through it." Marco replied with a smile on his face.
Vince's jaw tightened, his hand folded into a fist.
"I have to admit, I am impressed." Marco added. "Your system is almost perfect."
"Almost?"
"It still allows for ghosts in." There was a long stretched silence which made the room heavy with tension.
Vince stepped closer, "You are not leaving this place with her."
Marco tilted his head to the side. "And you think you can stop me?"
"I know I can." Vince replied confidently. His hands connects with Marco's jaw, forcing the latter to stagger backwards.
"Isabella," Rafael's voice suddenly came through the comms. "Don't let either of them..."
The signal is cut out, Marco's eyes turned to my direction. Vince's hand closed around my wrist very firm and possessive.
"Stay behind me." Vince ordered.
Marco laughed softly. "There it is," he said. "The cage."
I yanked my hand free and move back. "I am not standing behind anyone!"
Both of them looked in my direction, a look of surprise in their eyes.
"I am not a tool nor a prize to be thrown around,"
The building shook harder this time and several secreams echoed down the corridor.
More Alphas we're coming and I realized in that moment that this wasn't just about me anymore. This was already happening whether we liked it or not.
Marco took a step closer. "Choose," he said.
Vince's voice cut through the air. "You don't need to."
"Yes, she does," Marco replied.
They locked eyes again and a loud growl came from both of their lips. My heart slammed hard in my chest. For the first time in a while, I realized that if I don't choose, they would choose for me.
The walls begin to crack open and from underneath the ground smoke rose, blocking both Vince and Marco out of my sight.
"Move or you die with them." Rafael's voice cut through the darkness.
The smoke moved throughout the air and somewhere down the hall, a very heavy object collapsed which was followed by a screams.
"Isabella," Vince yelled through the smoke. "Stay where you are."
Marco laughed softly, "Yes. Stay. Let him decide for you."
A hand grabbed mine. It was not rough but gentle. I turned around and as the smoke vanish, Rafael was standing next to me.
"Come with me if you want a choice," he said.
"I .."
The wall behind us shattered with Debris flying everywhere. A body is slammed through the stone causing blood to flood the floor.
Before I could blink, Vince rushed towards Rafael, tackling him to the floor. His body blocked mine while he fights.
"Stay down!" He ordered.
Marco did not duck, he simply stepped forward. His eyes were burning while his wolf took over.
"You brought war to my house." Vince yelled as Marco walked closer.
"You built a house in a battlefield." Marco replied.
Venice launched forward and they clashed again. The impact of their claws slamming against each other was so loud.
I could not breath. This wasn't about fighting, it was about dominance.
Rafael yanked my hand again. "Now!"
"I can't....."
"You can," he cut in. "Or you can stay and he claimed by the one who wins."
Deep down, I knew he was right again. This was the best opportunity to leave while they are distracted.
Rafael pulled me through the broken corridor and we ran very fast. Our legs moved through the hall that was filled with smoke. On the ground several bodies lay dead, some of the guards tried to hold lines that were already breaking.
"What is happening?" I shouted.
"Multiple packs breached," he replied. "They are not even hiding it anymore."
"And this is all because of me."
"Yes." He replied.
We turned to a corner to hide and the door slammed shut behind us automatically. For a second it was quiet and only our breathing can be heard.
"I did not choose this," I said.
Rafael looked at me with knowing look. "I know" he turned his frame towards me, "Do you want to choose?"
His question caught me off guard.
"Stay and Vince will bind you. The system survives, but you won't."
"And if I go with Marco?" I asked.
"The system does and everyone with it." He replied.
My stomach turned at the weight of his words. "And you?"
His eyes held mine. "I will offer you something else."
We heard another explosion rock the place and this time it forced us to the ground due to the impact.
"They are breaking through the defenses," Rafael muttered, trying to get back to his feet.
"Your offer," I pressed. "Say it."
He stepped closer and help me up to my feet. His eyes lingered on mine for a moment and said with lowered voice,
"Come with me."