Chapter 141
Ellie POV
My brows pull together.
Lucas just said he could… mark me.
The hospital lights flicker overhead, buzzing faintly above us. For a second, I wonder if I heard him wrong.
“Yeah, sorry—what?” I ask, staring at him from my bed.
Lucas takes a careful breath, like he knows every word matters.
“If an Alpha marks you,” he says slowly, “any Alpha… it could sever your bond with Dominic completely. It could stop the physical deterioration. Stabilize you.”
My heart pounds harder.
“Stabilize me?”
He nods. “Protect you. Keep your body from tearing itself apart every time you reject him, or he leaves.”
My fingers tighten around the blanket.
“You mean…”
The words stick in my throat.
“You mean I’d be yours.”
His expression changes immediately.
“Not like that,” he says quickly. “Not romantically. Not unless you wanted it. Ellie, this wouldn’t be about claiming you. It would be about keeping you alive.”
I stare at him.
But my thoughts are already spiraling.
Because I understand what he’s saying.
And I understand what he’s not saying.
“But if you marked me,” I whisper, “that wouldn’t just be temporary.”
Lucas goes quiet.
“That’s not a treatment. That’s not a bandage. That’s a life choice.”
I swallow.
“We’d be bonded. Married. I’d be your Luna.”
My voice grows sharper.
“How is that free?”
Pain flashes across his face.
“I know.”
His voice is softer now.
“I wouldn’t have brought it up if I didn’t think it was another option for you. I just… I don’t want you choosing Dominic because you feel like he’s the only way to survive.”
I look away.
“And I appreciate that.”
I mean it.
I do.
My hand reaches out, resting lightly on his arm.
“I really do, Lucas. Thank you for trying to find another way.”
My body aches beneath the hospital sheets, reminding me exactly why we’re having this conversation.
Why does every option feel like a cage?
“But…”
I take a shaky breath.
“I can’t do it.”
Lucas stiffens.
“Ellie—”
“No.”
My voice is quiet but certain.
“I won’t trade one bond for another just because I’m scared.”
His jaw tightens.
“I won’t let Tate push me into a different corner before I’ve even tried to find another path.”
“Ellie, you could die.”
The words hit harder than I want them to.
“But this could save you.”
I flinch.
“So could accepting Dominic.”
The words come out harsher than I mean.
I immediately regret it.
I soften my voice.
“But I’m not ready for that either.”
I look down at my hands.
“I don’t want to submit. To anyone.”
My voice breaks slightly.
“Not if there’s even a chance I can find another way.”
Silence fills the room.
“I just need time.”
Lucas exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair.
“I wasn’t trying to trap you.”
“I know.”
I look back at him.
“I’m not angry. Really.”
A small, sad smile pulls at my lips.
“Thank you for caring enough to look for another option. If you find anything else… please tell me.”
He studies me for a long moment before nodding.
“If you change your mind,” he says quietly, “about anything…”
He hesitates.
“Call me.”
“I will.”
Lucas stands, but he doesn’t leave immediately.
For a moment, he just stays there, like there’s something he wants to say.
Something he’s afraid to.
Finally, he turns toward the door.
“You deserve a choice,” he says.
His hand rests on the handle.
“No matter how complicated this gets.”
Then he leaves.
I stare at the closed door.
Two bonds.
Two Alphas.
Two paths I never wanted.
And somehow, neither one feels like freedom.
A few seconds pass before the door opens again.
Lucas is still there—
No.
Not Lucas.
Vivian stands in the doorway.
My stomach twists.
“Oh,” she says lightly, stepping back like this is some adorable coincidence.
Her eyes flick toward where Lucas disappeared, then back to me.
“Leaving already?”
Lucas gives her a polite nod.
“Yes. She needs rest.”
Vivian smiles.
“Of course. Thanks for stopping by.”
He hesitates.
His eyes meet mine.
A silent question.
Are you okay?
I give him the smallest nod.
He leaves without another word.
The door closes.
The room suddenly feels colder.
Vivian and I stare at each other.
I haven’t seen her since I got sick.
She never came with the family.
Never checked on me.
Not even enough to pretend.
She walks inside, carrying a small pot of flowers.
For a moment, I almost believe she brought them because she cares.
Then I see them.
Black dahlias.
Not exactly flowers meant to wish someone well.
She places them on the table and sits in the chair Lucas left behind.
Her smile is strange.
Not happy.
Not relieved.
Satisfied.
Like she’s watching a problem finally fix itself.
“Gods,” she says, looking around. “This place is awful.”
I close my eyes.
My headache somehow gets worse.
“What do you want, Vivian?”
She looks offended.
“Can I not visit my sick sister?”
“Step-sister.”
She smirks.
“You know, I actually love not having to pretend anymore.”
She crosses her legs.
“Talking to you is so much easier now that I don’t have to wear a mask.”
I roll my eyes.
“You mean after I saw through it.”
She shrugs.
“Whatever.”
Her gaze moves over me.
“I have to admit, I’m not surprised.”
My fingers curl against the blanket.
“This is what happens when you keep spitting in the face of the Moon Goddess.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“If I followed her wishes, you’d lose your precious Dominic.”
I look at the flowers.
“You should be grateful.”
“Oh, I am.”
She lifts the pot slightly.
“See? I’m here.”
I stare at her.
“You’re not here because you care.”
Her smile widens.
“You want something.”
“Maybe.”
“Vivian.”
She sighs dramatically.
“Fine. I’ll admit it.”
She leans back.
“Your refusing Dominic’s mark has worked out pretty well for me.”
My stomach tightens.
“A win for you.”
“Exactly.”
“And what else?”
She tilts her head.
“I told you. You helped me. I’m returning the favor.”
I glance at the flowers.
“You brought those as thanks?”
A small laugh escapes her.
“Oh no.”
Her eyes drop to the dahlias.
“These aren’t thank-you flowers.”
A chill runs through me.
“Then what are they?”
Vivian leans forward.
Her voice lowers.
“Condolences.”
The word feels wrong.
Cold.
I slowly push myself upright despite the pain screaming through my body.
“What do you mean?”
She watches me struggle.
Almost enjoys it.
“Since you’ve been stuck here, you haven’t heard.”
A pause.
“And honestly? It’s such a shame.”
“Vivian.”
She rolls her eyes.
“Fine.”
Her smile fades into something cruel.
“Your mother was arrested.”
Everything stops.
The room tilts.
My heart monitor immediately begins racing.
“What?”
My voice barely comes out.
“No.”
I stare at her.
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
“That’s impossible.”
She shrugs.
“Believe what you want.”
My breathing becomes uneven.
“What did you do?”
She scoffs.
“Me?”
Her expression turns innocent.
“I’ve been at school. I’m just telling you because I thought you should know.”
“Where is she?”
My voice rises.
“Where is my mom?”
Vivian stands, smoothing her skirt.
“Obviously? Jail.”
Something breaks inside me.
I throw the blanket aside and try to stand.
“You’re lying.”
My legs shake.
“My mom cries when she sees animals suffering. She feeds people who have nothing.”
My voice cracks.
“She would never do anything illegal.”
Vivian turns toward the door.
“My father found out everything.”
“No.”
“She didn’t have to hurt anyone.”
She looks back.
“Debt fraud. Embezzlement.”
Her lips curl.
“Like mother, like daughter, I guess.”
Rage cuts through my pain.
“That’s not true!”
My voice echoes through the room.
“You know it’s not!”
I try to move toward her.
“He did this.”
My breathing turns frantic.
“He did this. He had to have done this.”
I reach for her.
My fingers catch nothing.
Then my body gives out.
The floor crashes into me.
Pain explodes everywhere.
The monitors scream.
Alarms fill the room.
I clutch the tile, barely able to breathe as my vision blurs.
“Where is she?”
My throat burns.
“What did you two do to her?!”
Footsteps rush toward the room.
Nurses shout.
But Vivian doesn’t move.
She stands at the doorway, looking down at me.
Shaking.
Broken.
Desperate.
And she smiles.
“How pathetic.”
The words are quiet.
Almost gentle.
“Remember.”
She steps out.
“This was a favor.”
Then she leaves.