Kade couldn't wait at the party anymore. He told Dario that he was leaving through a message and to get the others safely home. He went to his car that the valet brought to the front and ditched the banquet all by himself. He didn't want to abandon his sister, but she'll be safe with Dario and Nikolai. Besides, Mia adored Lady Veronica and could stay the night there with them. The only thing he knew was that if he stayed anywhere near Alexander Waldorf then he wouldn't be able to resist the temptations of his own body.

Speeding through the streets, he came to a halt at the red-light when lights flashed behind him. He looked through the mirror and saw a blue Bugatti. He didn't need to guess who that was because he could see Alec through the glass. He revved his sport's car behind Kade and challenged him to keep running away. Furiously, Kade let out a stream of curses; some in Italian.

The light's changed green and Kade stepped on the gas to get away from Alec. He didn't really know where he would go but he didn't stop driving. Alec wasn't giving up and chased him down the roads. They definitely broke over a dozen traffic laws and ran many lights in their chase.

Kade's phone rang and it was Alec again. He didn't answer and knew that this man may be relentless but he'd give up soon enough.

Both of them jumped another red-light while taking the left turn onto the next street that was empty, when suddenly, a black van drove on the wrong side of the rode. Kade was too slow to change direction now and he anticipated the impact of the van that was heading straight for him. The bright lights blinded Kade and his car swerved. He heard a loud crash ahead of him and he hit the brakes hard, his tires screeching on the road leaving its own black marks. Loud sirens went off and Kade blinked wondering what the fuck just happened.

Immediately, he knew that he was being targeted because this attack was calculated. However, when he looked up out the glass, he saw the blue Bugatti bent in an abnormal angle from where all the impact was taken.

Blood drained from his face and he felt the world go black around him. "Alec," his name a prayer off his lips.

Kade opened the door of his car, he couldn't believe his eyes as the metal of Alec's car was destroyed. The attacker was probably dead from the impact because he must have not seen Alec block him.

He went to the car unsure of what to even do. He grabbed the door that was hanging off already. Alec was in the seat, blood dripping from his forehead that hit the steering wheel, there was large glass shards imbedded in his neck and arm, blood splattered out of him from everywhere onto the rich leather of the car.

Kade's hands trembled as he approached Alec. He didn't know where to touch him or how to save him. There was nothing he could do.

"Alec," his voice quivered as he realized that he lost another person. He never should've gotten close to him. This was Kade's twisted fate.

"Fuck, that hurt," Alec coughed blood.

"Why would you-" Kade couldn't speak.

Alec held a smile despite everything. "Because I protect the people I love," he said. "I always will."

Everything collapsed and Kade found himself at the mercy of Alec's confession. "You love me?" he said when Alec coughed more blood and his eyes shut voluntarily. He grabbed Alec in his arms. "Come on, open your eyes," he said. "You can't die. You can't leave like this-" but there was no response. Kade laid his fingers on Alec's throat and there was no pulse.

He pulled him out of the car onto the pavement, when his eyes caught the huge piece of metal stabbing his stomach.

"Why?" Kade choked out as tears unconsciously pooled in his eyes. "Why would you die for me? I'm your enemy." He gathered Alec in his arms and couldn't move. Everything around him vanished and he sat all alone with the guilt of everything bearing down on him.

This wasn't what was supposed to happen, he thought. Kade was never supposed to let anyone near him die because he fought too hard to make himself the monster that people feared.

"No, no, no, don't do this to me," he wrapped his arms tightly around his mate while the pain numbed everything inside Kade.

Suddenly, another pair of headlights blinded Kade and he knew that more attackers were here to finish the job. But he didn't care, nothing mattered anymore. He just held another person in his arms that he'd have to grieve over. He thought he escaped this, but this was the truth of their reality. Death was inescapable for everyone.

Someone got out of the car, he didn't bother holding a weapon. He couldn't move a limb with Alec in his arms. He looked up at who approached them ready to get shot or maimed himself.

Yet, he felt no danger from the woman who crossed the road to them. Clad in layers of slick leather, she held herself with authority that commanded the air around her. A long black trench-coat hung behind her like a cape as she stared at the situation with unfazed silver eyes, that matched the moon in the sky. But when she neared him the silver in her eyes turned to cobalt-blue, it was surreal.

"Maya," his mouth prayed.

The woman's cobalt blue eyes looked directly at him. Her eyes had the strength of an entire army. It had been so long since he saw that type of power. "I'm Zero," she corrected as she bent to one knee in front of Alec. "Let me see him."

Kade recognized that name immediately but he never believed that he would see her with his own eyes one day. This woman was the rogue alpha, the executioner, the saviour of the world, she had many names that were given to her by the people that worshipped her. She protected everyone with righteous duty that was unshakeable despite facing the many evils on this planet. She had been resurrected by Maya, their goddess, herself. Zero was honourable and her word was law. No one dared to question her because she was the strongest of them all. But what was she doing here? Why would she care about this matter of all things?

"What are you doing?" Kade asked.

Zero's eyes shined a great silver. "I'm going to save my friend," she said.

Kade blinked. "Friend?"

Zero's hand that was covered in leather revealed, she peeled off the glove and laid her strong hand on Alec's chest. "He still has time," she said sternly. "Elijah." She held her hand up.

Kade hadn't even noticed the man that emerged unspoken from the shadows behind Zero. He wore a clean suit, his stone blue eyes stern and rigid almost soulless. The tattoos on his body were exposed and he had dark, golden hair that was cleanly raked back. He took three strides to Zero and handed her a blade.

"What are you-" he saw the long silver blade with a ruby on the end glint from all the light of the cars. He held Alec from her, protecting him from her blade.

"Protecting a Waldorf," she amazed. "Don't you think it's bit late for that?"

Kade's chest tightened. "He's not a Waldorf, he's my mate," his voice was assured.

Zero graced a smile. "Then let me save him," she said before she took the blade and sliced her own wrist before his eyes. The blood wasn't red, but it was a silver like she had melted metal in her and not blood.

"What the hell," he astounded.

The man from behind her held her sleeve away as she brought her wrist to Alec's mouth. The silver liquid poured onto his lips and through his teeth. Just before Kade's eyes, a miracle occurred because the colour returned to Alec's face. His blue lips warmed and slowly his chest started to rise and fall again. Alec coughed as he gasped for air and came to life right in front of Kade.

"Alec! Alec!" Kade called out. "How is this possible?" He couldn't believe what just happened.

"We need to seal your wrist, Zero," the other man warned.

"I'm fine, Elijah," Zero shrugged him off and let her wound bleed like it wasn't a bother to her at all. "Let's get this one to the hospital right now. Alec's life is still in danger."

Elijah bent to help Alec. "Don't touch him!" Kade snapped. "I mean- I'll do it." The man backed away and Kade lifted him off the ground taking him to his own car. He set Alec in the seat and shut the door.

Suddenly, the man from the van who crashed into them toppled out of the vehicle. He probably regained consciousness, but not for long. Kade stalked over to him, taking his own gun out of his holster, he brought the barrel at the man's thick skull and emptied all the bullets into his head without hesitation. The blood of his enemy splattered onto his face but he was fucking satisfied.

Kade jumped into his car and rushed Alec to the hospital. When they reached the emergency doors, Dr. Stone who had already been alerted by Zero and she was waiting for them. He stopped the car at the front and everyone rushed out.

"He died for a few minutes," Zero told her.

Dr. Stone and her team put Alec on a stretcher taking him inside the emergency doors. "He's lost a lot of blood," she said just from looking at his paled skin.

Zero's eyes landed on Kade. "You will give him yours," she said. "Your blood as bonded mates will heal him faster."

"But we haven't marked each other neither are we bonded," Kade stumbled on his words.

Zero's tall form stopped in front of his hazed eyes that lingered on Alec's body that was being taken away from him. "You've marked him with your soul, Kade," she said. "And I can tell from your eyes alone that you two bonded a long time ago."

He stared at her with an ocean of shame. "I rejected him," he muttered.

Zero's righteous eyes saddened. "Well, here's your chance to change it," she said.

"We need blood now, Mr. Guerriero," Dr. Stone hurried in a dire tone.

He straightened to his full height. "Take as much as you need," he said and went with her to a room where they extracted as much blood as they could that would save Alec from danger.

A while passed before Kade had any sense of recognition of where he was or what was happening around him. He sat in a dark room alone, his arm a bit sore from having a needle inside it for a long time. He flexed his wrist and fingers before Zero appeared at the threshold of the door.

"Dr. Stone sealed his wounds," she informed. "He's resting but under surveillance."

Kade's eyes widened. "When will he wake up?" He didn't expect her to answer because he was asking that question to himself.

"That depends on you," she answered.

Kade didn't understand. "How did you find us in the first place?" he asked then.

"I know where everyone is," Zero answered.

Kade raked his hair back that had been tousled messily. "And your blood," he baffled. "How could it save him?"

"My abilities only revived him," she said like it was a normal occurrence. "Your blood will save him."

Kade ran his hands on his face as he breathed out the exhaustion in his body. "He died for me," he admitted.

"That's just who he is," Zero said. "He'd put his life on the line for anyone he cherishes." A light filled her eyes as she towered in the doorway. "Alec hid away all his demons so they wouldn't hurt anyone. He's soft and loves deeply. I always found it funny how the ones who are tortured by vile demons end up being the sweetest protectors. They never bleed their poison onto others because they'd rather let it kill them. Alec never showed the pain that exhausted him every second of his life-" her eyes saddened as empathy filled them- "I know that feeling too well. You may not understand my words right now, but family doesn't end in blood, Kade. Family is who we choose to protect and serve and honour with our lives. You're too blinded by that veil of vengeance that covers you from the truth-"

"Zero-" Elijah appeared with a phone in his hand- "it's Severin."

She took the cellphone and put it to her ear. "Yes, honey," her voice gentle. "You know, the usual, hunting people, saving lives-" she looked over at Kade with a smile before she left the room to talk privately.

Elijah who stood by the door waited for her to return. Kade wondered how someone like him met Zero and now even served her. As far as Kade knew, Zero had no relatives. She mated a billionaire a while ago, but that's all he knew about it.

"Sorry," Kade said.

Elijah looked over at him. "For what?"

"I didn't mean to snap at you earlier," Kade said. "It's just-"

"It's fine," Elijah responded. "I understand seeing your mate hurt could cause a lot of pain." Kade caught the anguish in Elijah's blue eyes.

Kade slumped against the chair, his head resting against the wall. Alec was hurt because of his stupidity. This was all his own fault and he couldn't even look at himself right now.

Zero returned giving the phone back to Elijah. "Have you informed Vadik?" she asked.

Kade groaned because he completely forgot about everyone else. "No," he said.

Zero and Elijah shared a look. "I'll get in contact with him-"

"I'll call Dario, he'll bring Vadik here-" Kade interrupted. Besides, he needed some air instead of this stifling room that was making him feel as if the world was crumbling apart around him.

Kade walked out of the room and outside where there was a garden behind the hospital. He sat on a square slab of concrete as he called his friend.

"Kade, where are you?" Dario spoke when he answered the call.

"At the hospital," Kade said.

"Well, you aren't dead if you're talking to me on the phone," Dario said. This man never lost his cool.

Kade rubbed his hand over his face. "We got into a car crash, Alec almost died," he said. "Bring Vadik to the hospital. He should be by his brother's side while he's-" his voice fell as it tightened like someone choked his throat.

"Okay," Dario said then cut the phone.

Kade sat alone taking in the cold air that blew around him, it cooled the heated rage burning inside his heart. His hand that held the gun when he pulled the trigger killing their attacker still ached from the sensation of taking a life. He didn't regret killing that man at all. He only wished he could do it again, so he'd burn off some steam.

He got to his feet and returned inside with heavy feet that didn't want to move. He found himself alone near Alec's door, Zero and Elijah nowhere to be seen. He took that quiet moment, watching Alec laid back on the white bed, attached to wires. He was soundly asleep, his expression calm rather than in pain, which eased Kade's worry.

Kade leaned against the glass wondering how he got tangled in this twisted game of fate. He should leave because he didn't deserve to be here. But, his body didn't move. He couldn't understand how his mate was Alec, it was a cruel joke. He told himself that over and over again but his heart didn't listen. His heart was with Alec in that room.

But he knew one thing, he was a man that only knew pain and Alec deserved better.

"Kade," Dario's voice caught his attention.

Kade wondered how long he stood here without realizing that thirty minutes passed. He turned and saw Niko, Dario and his sister all rushing towards him with Vadik in front of them.

"Vadik," Dr. Stone appeared.

Vadik stopped dead in front of the window that let him see his brother.

"How is he?" Mia asked.

"He's gone into a coma," Dr. Stone said.

Mia and the other two had the same alarmed expression.

"What happened?" Nikolai asked.

"We were ambushed," Kade answered as the ache in his temples throbbed painfully that even the dim lights around them was overbearing. "Someone tried to attack me with their car when Alec jumped in front of mine-" his eyes sought Vadik to see what he'd do but he stayed focused on his brother.

"Do you know who it was?" Dario asked.

"No," Kade said before he turned to Vadik. "Vadik, I'm sorry-"

Vadik shoved Kade furiously, toppling him back from the brute force. "I don't want your fucking apology," he growled with rage consuming his eyes. "My brother has been nothing but kind to you and this is how you repay him."

Kade understood Vadik perfectly. "I-" he couldn't find the words to explain himself because there weren't any. What he did was unforgivable.

"Vadik," Zero's stern voice took their attention now.

Vadik's anger wasn't soothed at all, it only exploded. He grabbed Kade by the lapel of his jacket. His eyes fuming with revulsion. "You say you hate my father, but you resemble him the most," he seethed. "He intended to kill Alec as well but you were the one who did it. I hope you're fucking happy now." He dropped the lapel and glared at Kade. "Leave."

Kade drew in a shaky breath as his eyes trailed over to Alec, but Vadik quickly covered his brother with his own body. He didn't blame Vadik, his brother was likely going to die.

"Vadik, please," Mia spoke gently.

"We should go," Dario intervened.

Nikolai and Dario guided them two out of the hospital and they left.

Kade, with a heavy heart returned home while remembering Vadik's last words to him. He resembled Lucas Waldorf because they both intended to hurt Alec. He succeeded in hurting the greatest enemy of his life yet he felt disgusted with himself.

"Kade," Mia called out to him when they walked into the house.

"I want to be alone," he said as he left them all and went to his room.

He shut the door behind him and went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. He stared at his reflection, his suit sullied with all of Alec's blood. Vadik's cold voice haunting his ears. "You say you hate my father, but you resemble him the most. He intended to kill Alec as well but you were the one who did it. I hope you're fucking happy now."

Everything was ruined. Kade destroyed himself as he hungered for revenge. He became his enemy and hated himself for it. He lost this battle again. He succumbed to the greatest evil and hurt the ones he was supposed to protect.

Kade stared at the mirror but saw Lucas Waldorf smirking back at him.

Out of anger, out of hatred and overwhelming grief, he fisted his hand and punched the mirror, shattering it into a million pieces onto the counter and floor around him. His knuckles busted open and started to bleed. But he didn't care for the wound. He'd never forgive himself for what he caused. He could never face Alec again because Kade wasn't worthy of him.

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