Kade couldn't breathe.

He tried to open the door but it had been locked from outside and his goddamn family was being annoying as hell. He stood alone in the hospital room where Alec was laid out behind him, his presence stronger than a hurricane. Kade dropped his head against the door in defeat. For days, he avoided coming here because all his heart wanted was be by Alec's side, but he knew he couldn't do that. He was the one who put Alec here. Kade didn't deserve to be here.

Taking in a shaky breath, he turned and faced him. But before he approached Alec, he went to the window and shut the blinds so none of the others could see them alone. It was as if the whole world was locked away outside and Kade only existed in this lonely moment with the one he considered his enemy.

Kade approached the bed where Alec slept these past few days all alone. There was a white bandage wrapped around his torso where he had gotten injured. He held a frown between his brows as if he was thinking about something demoralizing right now. Kade leaned over and ran his thumb between Alec's brows lessening the tension and easing the thoughts he must be thinking right now.

"What am I supposed to do? Kade asked as his fingers shifted the dark strands of Alec's hair. "There's all this hatred in me that turned my blood black and poisoned my mind. I can't even sleep anymore. Lucas Waldorf is dead and I set out to kill you but... I couldn't do it-" Kade's eyes drank the sight of Alec as the black wall around his heart crumbled away- "How can I kill you?" his voice tightened with the tears that burned in his eyes. "When I-" he choked on his words- "when all I find myself breathing for is you. I see you. I feel you... I... want... you." Kade leaned over Alec, bracing his hands on either side so he stared directly at him. "All I am left with is this aching desire to mark your body." His heart crushed under the truthful confession he finally admitted to himself. "I can't forget my hatred towards your father, but I'm losing myself whenever I am near you and it makes me utterly and completely defenceless against you."

Mark him. Make him yours, his wolf howled.

Kade slipped off his father's ring that he always had on him. He took the heavy gold ring and slid it onto Alec's finger binding them together forever. He couldn't escape this anymore. His heart was already with Alec and as long as he slept, so did Kade. He wasn't alive and he craved to hold his mate and take him home.

Kade sat on the bed. "Wake up, Alec," he whispered gently to his mate. "Please, I'm sorry. I need you. I can't breathe if you're not by my side." He picked Alec off the bed and embraced him in his arms tightly. "Please, come back to me. Come back, Alexander."

You have to mark him, his wolf commanded.

Kade held his mate in his arms wondering what he should do. He can't mark Alec without his consent. On top of that, what if Alec didn't want to mate him after the accident?

He died for us, his wolf said. Mark our mate, Kade. Save him right now!

Kade tilted Alec's head back, far enough so he could latch his sharp teeth onto his neck. He bit down ferociously, claiming his mate as his own forever. His wolf howled inside him and he felt satisfaction blaze within him. It was as if he was reborn and complete this time. His heart healed and his body knew its purpose now. He'd live to love Alec and die protecting him forever.

"I love you," Kade whispered. "You're mine. You were born just for me. You're not a Waldorf. You're a Guerriero-" Alec coughed surprising Kade. He pulled Alec back and gaped at his blue eyes that stared up at him. "Let me get the doctor-"

"Don't leave," his voice was gruff. He struggled to move.

"Stop," Kade warned. "You're injured-"

"Shut up and kiss me-" Alec said viscously as he pulled Kade back onto the bed. They locked lips in a heated urgency to feel each other.

Finally, Kade's entire body felt that one word as he surrendered himself completely to Alec. He tried hard not to put strain on Alec's wounds, but control was the last thing on his mind after spending weeks restraining himself. Their hands roamed and their lips never parted, not even for a breath. Everything came pouring out after being subdued for so long.

Kade combed his fingers into Alec's soft hair and gathered him closer, needing him to press the lines of his body against his own. He deepened the kiss and grew possessive of the sultry taste of his mate. The desire to claim and dominate overcame Kade, he wished he could strip them of their clothes and finish their mating right here and now. But he knew that wasn't possible with Alec's injuries.

"We should stop-"

"Don't stop-" Alec bit Kade's lip enticing him further. The kiss consumed them both, he couldn't take his hands off his mate and the desire to never leave him was powerful.

Kade grabbed Alec tightly against him, their bodies closer than ever and he couldn't get enough. This whole time he was lying to himself thinking that he could survive without his mate. There was no way in heaven or hell that he could live on this planet without the taste of his mate on his lips. He craved Alec like a hypnotic drug injected into his soul branding him as an addict forever.

He leaned closer, taking his warm lips and memorizing the feel of them against his own. Kade trembled from the heat and ice that combined themselves in Alec's scent. The heat was from the desires that throbbed through both of the them and the ice was his pheromones that made him drunk with ecstasy.

Getting further on the bed, he pinned Alec to the bed and straddled his legs. Both of them eager to feel each other's body. Kade ran his hand down Alec's bare chest and abdomen, his mate moaned lustfully as he ached into the touch yearning for more. Alec's fingers combed into Kade's hair, the sensation shot down to his groin and he felt himself losing his mind.

Kade sucked on his tongue taking it into his mouth and bit down on his bottom lip drawing blood; the metallic taste drove his wolf to the brink of insanity with the ache of their bond finally coming together.

Kade moaned into Alec's mouth; a sound he never made before because he never felt this level of pleasure. He was coming undone in Alec's arms and he wasn't afraid. Instead, he let himself devour these sensations because his wolf waited his whole life for this moment. Kade never thought about it before, but he had waited for his soul to be complete. Alec was his life, the breath in his lungs, the blood in his veins. Alec was his soul. Alexander was his mate. His everything.

Kade softened the kiss, taking his time to memorize the way Alec's body yielded to his touch alone. Alec wrapped his tongue around his, slowly caressing him, drawing out his desires by reminding him that he was under Kade's control. He drank his taste into him and hoped to never lose it again. Breaking the kiss, he leaned down laying his lips on the mark he left as a claim. He sucked on the raw skin hoping to leave these marks all over his mate's body.

Alec winced in pain.

Kade pulled away in urgency. "Are you okay?" he asked looking at his wound. The white bandages had bright red splotches marking it. "Your stitches-"

Alec held his arm. "Leave it," he said gruffly.

Kade clicked the emergency button on the side of the bed. "Don't be stubborn with me. I'm not losing you again," he said.

Alec let out a chuckle. "God, I missed your bossy temper," he said as he paled from the bloody wound.

Dr. Stone rushed inside now and she alerted her staff to help. Kade stayed in the room despite the doctor telling him to step out. There was no way he was leaving now. He stood cross-armed as Alec's stitches were being treated, the nurses were wary of him as he glowered at them to treat him properly. He almost punched the one nurse who pulled Alec's bandage too tight causing him to wince in pain.

"I'm fine," Alec calmed Kade.

Kade glared at the nurse who handled it much nicely this time.

After Dr. Stone completed her tests and patched him up again. Everyone was allowed to see him. Kade didn't even know that the alphas of the city were here. Vadik was the first to storm in and he stood by his brother's side.

"Glad to see you back," Gabriel said.

"Good to be back," Alec said. "But I think I have you to thank for that-" his eyes landed on Zero who was standing behind Zachariah and Isaiah.

Zero gave a smile to him. "It was your mate who brought you back," she said.

"The world was simpler when people died and didn't get back up from the grave," Isaiah remarked.

"You're not scared of ghosts, are you?" Zachariah asked.

"Pfft, no," Isaiah retorted crossing his arms. "Why would I be scared?"

"Kinda feels that way," Zachariah said.

Isaiah glared at him. "I don't give a damn what you feel," he remarked. "Alec, good job not dying."

Alec laughed but held his aching wound drawing concern form Kade. "I can't believe I was gonna leave you all behind," he said.

"Can't let that happen," Gabriel remarked.

"I mean, we all have to die one day, we should prepare," Isaiah remarked.

"What is wrong with you?" Zachariah asked.

Isaiah shrugged a shoulder. "A lot," he muttered.

Zachariah shook his head. "I'm not coming to your funeral," he said.

"You don't need to, since you'll be buried next to me," Isaiah commented.

"Okay, you two, cut it out before you start crying," said Zero. "We should let Alec rest." She ushered them out.

Gabriel laid his hand on Alec's shoulder irking Kade. "I'm glad you didn't die," he said. "Rest up."

Alec smiled at him warmly. "Yeah," he answered.

Kade and Gabriel met eyes. "Take care of him," Gabriel told him.

"I know," Kade said.

After they all left, Mia, Dario and Nikolai entered the room.

"How are you feeling?" Mia asked.

"Sore," Alec said as he rolled his shoulder back before locking eyes with Kade. "And hot."

"Should I open the window?" Nikolai asked.

"I don't think that will solve it," Alec remarked.

Kade bit back his pleased expression and tried not to stare at his mate like an eager animal hoping to catch his prey soon.

"Did Dr. Stone discharge you yet?" Vadik asked.

"Even if she doesn't, I'm not staying," Alec said. "I hate hospitals."

"You're coming home with me," Kade spoke then.

All eyes landed on him.

"Alec's going to live with us?" Mia asked.

"Yes," Kade said.

"What about him?" Dario pointed at Vadik.

"He's not included," Kade remarked.

"Why?" Vadik retorted. "I'm the fun one."

"You should come with us," Nikolai put his arm over Vadik's shoulders. "We'll have fun bothering the hell out of our brothers."

Kade rolled his eyes and went to Dr. Stone to tell her that he was taking Alec with him. She wasn't happy with the ultimatum but gave in anyway because she knew not to step between two newly mated wolves.

"You can take him," Dr. Stone approved as she flipped through some papers on a clipboard. "But you can't have sex."

Kade gaped at her. "What?"

"You saw what happened, Alec's stitches will tear again," she said. "Unless, that's what you want?"

He stiffened. "No, I don't," he told her.

"Then at least for today, refrain from any strenuous activities," she warned.

That sentence alone was like a chain around Kade's throat leashing a ravenous animal. But Dr. Stone was right, he needed to let Alec rest and heal before they could finish their mating, despite everything in his body wanting to do the exact opposite.

Holding it all inside him, he returned to the room and everyone was ready to leave for home. He helped Alec himself and took him to his car to drive together.

Just before he closed the door after Alec got in the car, Kade noticed a shadow shift behind the entrance door. He recognized the broad figure, white hair and dignified demeanour, it was Mikhail Waldorf. He must have come to check on Alec.

"What's wrong?" Alec asked as he stared at him from inside the car.

Kade looked at him. "It's your uncle," he answered. "I think he paid you a visit."

Alec leaned out of the car staring where Kade's eyes were earlier. "I thought he returned to Russia," he said.

Kade remembered when they talked to Mikhail that day and he showed concern for his nephews. He probably was worried after hearing the news of Alec since the whole world knew about the Waldorf alpha being hospitalized. Kade shut the door and got in the car himself and drove them home.

Alec wasn't accepting help from anyone when they returned to his estate. Vadik was being stubborn to help him into the house and to their room, but neither of them would listen to reason.

Kade grabbed Alec's hand forcing him to lean against him. "He's staying in my room," he told Vadik and they went off alone.

"I can walk on my own," Alec protested.

"I wanted an excuse to hold you. Are you going to take it from me?" he remarked.

Alec laughed briefly before he leaned more of his weight on Kade and accepted the help. He didn't show it, but he was tired. They walked to the elevator that would take them to the third floor.

Kade took his mate to his own bedroom and shut the door letting them finally be alone. This wasn't the first time they were together in this room. And even to this day, Kade could feel the mind-numbing tension circulating between them as if they both couldn't deny the other's presence or need for their touch.

But Kade needed to calm down because Dr. Stone said that they couldn't do anything that could harm Alec. "Do you want to freshen up first?" he said then realized what that could entail. "I mean, do you want to go to bed?" He stumbled over his own words yet again. "Obviously, alone."

Alec turned with a smile. "Alone?" he said.

"Yes, alone," he affirmed because if they got in bed together Kade was going to lose his mind.

Alec tilted his head. "Why?" he asked. "Aren't you going to sleep with me?"

Kade was standing a few steps away from Alec and all he could feel was his mate's bonding scent emitting like a storm through the room. "No," he answered even though he didn't want to say it.

Alec stared at him with those blue eyes that were still the same from the night he almost died. "Do you regret marking me?"

"No!" he answered immediately.

"Then why are acting strange?" Alec stepped closer.

Kade stepped back. "Stop," he barked. "I'm trying to keep my distance from you because if I get too close I will rip your clothes off and take you to bed."

"Great, that's what I intend to do too," Alec answered.

Kade raked his hair out of lack of control. "You're not making this easier," he gritted out.

Alec closed the space between them. The scent of his mark on his mate's skin was raw and potent, it filled Kade's senses and turned all of his ambitions blind. Alec caressed Kade's neck, he was inches apart, his mouth right in front of his own.

"Dr. Stone said that your stitches will tear," Kade grumbled as he found himself losing all control in front of his mate's temptations.

"Dr. Stone told you that," Alec backed up. "When?"

"At the hospital," Kade answered. "She said to give you a day to heal and I intend for you to have a full recovery."

"I'll be fine," Alec shrugged away the concern.

Kade wrapped his arm around Alec's waist and pressed them tightly together, their bodies perfectly melting into each other. He laid his forehead against Alec's breathing in that beautifully spiced scent. "I'm not going anywhere," he said softly. "Please, just heal and get back to full strength."

"I should've jumped in front of a car sooner," Alec remarked.

Kade lifted his head and stared at him grimly. "Not funny," he grumbled.

Alec laughed. "Kinda funny," he said.

"Go freshen up," he said.

"I'm going to need help," Alec said. "I can't get the bandages wet."

Kade narrowed his eyes on his mate. "You're really testing my last nerve," he said before he took Alec to the massive bathroom that had a standing shower and tub too.

He shrugged off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves as Alec stripped out of his clothes. He couldn't help but watch as he peeled off the t-shirt off his powerful torso, the lines of his muscles flexed and the white bandage around his abdomen were secured in place. Tattoos were scattered over his broad back and there was one on his hip.

"Fuck," he growled under his breath.

Diverting his attention, he went to the tub and turned the faucet to the right, letting warm water fill the marble basin mid-way. This way, Alec wouldn't be in the water that it'd soak his bandages. He grabbed a small white towel off the table behind the tub and he could use this to clean him.

Kade knew the moment Alec was stripped fully because he came up to him and put a foot in the tub. He tried his hardest not to look and he stayed virtuous by keeping his eyes on the marble wall.

Alec winced.

Kade turned his attention straight to him. "What's wrong?" He looked at the wound and it wasn't bleeding. "Are you hurt?" He stared at his mate who was smiling down at him with a smug expression. "You're enjoying this way too much."

Alec got down and took a seat back in the tub, his back against the edge. He wasn't showing it but Kade knew that he was exhausted from moving around with that wound. Sitting in the warm water, Kade wet the towel and wiped Alec's arms and chest.

Alec watched as his eyes grew drowsy. "I noticed this at the hospital," he said. Kade followed Alec's eyes to the golden ring that was on his hand now. "Why did you give this to me?"

"Because you're mine," Kade answered straightly. "You always were." Even though, he didn't want to admit it to himself.

Alec touched the mark on his neck. "I never thought you'd mark me," he said.

Kade never thought he would mark the son of his greatest enemy. But now that he thought about it, he took way too damn long to do it. Alec was his mate from the day he saw him tied up in the cellar.

"When do I get to mark you?" Alec smirked as he touched Kade's neck with his wet hand.

"Whenever you want," he replied.

The back of Alec's fingers skimmed down the pulsing nerve on Kade's neck, it instantly jumped from the sudden contact and he let that sensation linger on his body as arousal pumped through his veins. Kade tried to focus on the towel in his hand that skimmed down Alec's biceps and then to his forearm. His skin was warm and brushed with the memories of scars. Kade could lean down and kiss each and every one of them.

"Did you find out why Giovanni attacked you?" Alec asked as his hand lingered where it wanted.

"No," he answered sternly.

"It's because you protected me at the club," Alec informed.

"None of that matters," Kade said. "I'm going to kill Giovanni for hurting you."

Giovanni Romano signed his death warrant after he fucking dared to attack Alec. There was no way that Kade was going to forgive that man. He wanted a war and that's exactly what he'd get now because Kade was pissed.

"Are you going to clean my legs?" Alec asked.

Kade shifted to do that when he realized what else was down there. He kept his eyes averted as he soaked the towel again and wiped Alec's long legs.

"You're really not going to look," Alec asked.

"I'm trying to be polite," Kade retorted as they locked eyes and he fixated his gaze onto Alec. But he could still clearly see when Alec's hand trailed down over to his shaft. Kade gritted down on his teeth as he held his eyes up and not down.

"You're making this really hard," Kade gritted out.

Alec smiled, it lit the room. "I've been hard from the moment you started touching me," he remarked.

Kade's own body betrayed him since he was aroused from the moment the man stripped out of his clothes. Damn it, the lack of control he had when it came to Alec was unfathomable. "Fuck, I really want to kiss you," he sighed as he found his resolve crumbling away.

Alec was the one who closed the space between them and grabbed Kade into a heated kiss that was messy and hot. They were both dying to be in each other's arms. All the hatred and guilt that shrouded Kade disappeared as his lips connected with Alec. Nothing from his past flashed in front of his eyes. The demons of all his failures were gone. He found himself through Alec and nothing mattered anymore. Alec was safe and alive. He was marked by Kade's wolf and it fulfilled them. As their kiss slowed into a beautiful sensation of their hearts connecting and souls binding to one another, Kade let himself slip away.

Their bond fused together and all he could sense was Alec's wolf. He took over and deepened the kiss, his tongue twirled against Alec's and he moaned into him; the sound shot straight to Kade's cock, it hardened in his pants and pressed against it painfully. Neither of them hid their arousal, it wasn't hard to miss.

"What do you need?" Kade asked.

"Anything, just touch me," Alec pleaded.

Kade was swift after hearing the plea come from his lips. He got Alec out of the tub and into the bedroom, so he could feel him and touch him properly. But he knew that he couldn't lose control. He had to hold himself back if he didn't want to hurt his mate.

He laid Alec back on the bed with himself on top. Their lips didn't part and he didn't even care to breathe. He didn't need to when all he could feel was his mate's body lush against his own, their hardened shafts throbbing against one another. His clothes got wet but none of that mattered. He had Alec vulnerable underneath him and he needed to soak in this long-awaited moment.

He took Alec's hands in his own, lacing their fingers together, his family's ring glinting on his finger letting Kade and his wolf know that Alexander Waldorf would always be their mate.

He kissed him tenderly but with the same amount of dominance to let Alec know that nothing would come between them. Alec grabbed the buckle of Kade's pants and pulled open the restraints letting his cock fall free. He groaned out in relief and sharp agony as Alec fisted both of their shafts together in his fist.

"Fuck, Alexander," he growled against his mate's mouth. It took both of Alec's hands to hold them together as he rubbed their cocks with his palms.

The tantalizing pleasure grew into an explosive storm inside both of them. Kade's cock was about to burst and he couldn't understand how his body was being devoured by this man underneath him. Pleasure never came easy with Kade. In fact, he hated when someone touched him. But right now, all he knew was that if Alec's hands weren't on him then he'd die.

Both of them ached and were overcome with pleasure. Alec's shaft was thick and hard under his own and he fucking loved the sensation. He kissed down Alec's throat, biting and sucking as he went. Alec's soft moans were enough to kill Kade. He braced himself on top of him as he felt his release building.

"Mark me," Kade growled. "Make me yours." He brought Alec's face right into the crook of his neck because he couldn't breathe knowing that he wasn't marked yet. The bond needed to be completed for Kade to think straight.

Alec licked his neck and then viciously bit down. Both of them ruptured apart and came hard.

Breathlessly, Kade didn't fall on top of his mate. He turned and laid on his back but grabbed Alec to lay on top of him now. The weight of his mate pressing onto him was heavenly as they took the quiet moment to calm down. Kade was satisfied as he laid with Alec, they were finally marked as mates.

"I love you," Kade whispered and he heard Alec's breath catch.

"Say it again," Alec asked.

"I love you," Kade said slowly. "I've loved you from the moment we met."

"You wanted to kill me when we met," Alec remarked.

Kade chuckled at the memory, which felt like just yesterday. "I did," he answered, "but I also wanted to fuck you." He turned over pinning Alec to the bed.

Abruptly, there was a knock at the door.

"Fuck off!" Kade snapped behind him.

"Fuck you!" Vadik snapped back leaving Kade astounded. "I need to speak to my brother."

Alec laughed. "Hold on," he said.

Kade stared at his mate. "Tell him to leave," he demanded.

Alec tempted Kade with a soft kiss that melted all of his temper away. Taking in Alec's tongue into his mouth, Kade moaned with a primal urge to never let him leave. He held his mate in his arms and had his lips against his own which felt like a victory that he'd cherish forever.

Alec kissed down Kade's neck, licking his mark and sucking on the skin. With that alone, Kade was amiable and moved helping Alec onto his feet so he could meet Vadik. Alec quickly got dressed in the black t-shirt and grey sweatpants, that Kade procured for him.

Alec opened the door and Vadik looked grim standing there with his arms crossed and his expression dark.

Kade felt as if he was intruding. "I'll be in the-" he pointed to the room adjacent to his own, which was just a study. He couldn't sit down, so he paced in front of the large window as the Waldorf brothers discussed private matters alone. 

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