Fated is overrated

Zane POV

"W... What are you suggesting? That I mark Lola, or that she marks Zeke when she wakes?" I ask the doctor in disbelief, probably sounding a little harsher than I intended to. I can understand his reasoning from a medical point of view, but marking someone without gaining their consent is a big deal.

Not only are you taking away their free choice (although I know Zeke would love to be marked by Lola), you are taking away the most sacred moment mates can share between one another. Marking your mate is a little like a human marriage, but so much more. The mark is for life and it can't be erased, unless either of the mates pass away. The mark entwines your souls and you will be able to feel the other's emotions through the bond, as the bond and pull to one another gets much stronger.

Not to mention that the moment is supposedly euphoric, especially when conducted during mating (s*x). He scratches the back of his head, before hesitantly replying "I am not suggesting either, your highness.

I merely wanted to share the information with you, in case either of them might not be able to pull through". I run my hands across my face, burying my face in my palms. I wasn't even going to entertain the thought, but what if she doesn't ever wake up, or not in time to decide if she wants to save Zeke by marking him? What will I do if Zeke is running low on time?

"You don't have to decide anything right now, your highness. Perhaps she will wake up shortly, there is no way of telling. Just.. Keep it in mind. Not just for her, but in turn also for your brother. Considering his current condition, she may be his only chance" he speaks solemnly. Well f*ck. As if there wasn't enough pressure on my shoulders already.

I know pressure is a "part of the job" for a future King, but this just took pressure to a whole other level. "Thanks, doc. I will think about what you've said".

The doctor nods and steps out of the room, and I decide to mind-link Mom and Dad to let them know I am in the hospital with Lola and which room we are in. Not long after shutting the link, the door bursts open to reveal the worried faces of my parents. My mom's eyes water instantly and her breathing turns ragged upon seeing Lola's unconscious body, and I stand up to give my mom a reassuring hug. "It's not as bad as it looks, mom. Her vitals are all good.

The doctor doesn't know why she is unconscious, perhaps she is just drained" I whisper to her softly. My mom seems to calm down a little, as her breathing slows down slightly. "Thank goddess" she sighs into my embrace, while my father pats her back soothingly. I continue to tell them about how I found her and what the scene looked like. They both seem deep in thought, before my dad speaks up "let's hope she is just drained, son.

Goddess forbid, I would be too if I fought an entire army of vampires and dragons". I chuckle humorlessly at his words. On any other day I would have laughed at the thought of 1 girl wiping out thousands of vampires and numerous dragons, but today I am finding it hard to laugh at anything at all.

But, I do believe she is going to wake up unharmed eventually, and that she is indeed just drained. "Dad... I need to tell you something" I speak up, looking for the words on how I am going to tell them this. He raises an eyebrow in response, willing me to continue. "Well.. Ehm.. The doctor said something. And I am not sure how I, or any of us in this room, feel about it" I drop my gaze to my feet, like the coward I am right now. I can't face them when explaining that Lola marking Zeke might be his only chance.

We all know Lola is nowhere near any of us marking each other, and especially Zeke since she was still at odds with him. But I have to bite the bullet here.

"He erhm... He told me that Lola marking him might be his only chance..". My mom gasps, but my dad is just looking at me solemnly, like he already knew. I raise my eyebrow to him, and he sighs before replying"

I know, son". He glances over at Lola's unconscious frame, before gulping visibly. "Whatever her decision will be, we will have to respect it. Tying your soul to someone for the rest of your life isn't a decision to be made lightly".

I can tell my mom is more conflicted. I know she loves Lola, but she loves her sons too. And she always firmly believed we would patch things up one day. I glance over to Lola, before replying to my parents

"I guess we will know after she wakes. Once Zeke is out of surgery, they will move him here, so Lex and Liberty can draw strength from one another".

We stay in the room for a few more hours, before Zeke is moved into the room.

The sight of him has my mom sobbing in my dad's chest, and I see tears dropping from my dad's eyes as too. I have to choke back a sob myself, and I feel tears threatening to spill from my eyes as well.

He is hooked on all sorts of machines, and he is as pale as a sheet. We can't see his body as it is covered by blankets, but I'm sure the sight of that is even more horrendous.

The doctors and nurses attending to him all have grim expressions on their faces, and it only intensifies the pit I feel in my stomach. I wish I could trade places with him. The guilt I feel for being perfectly fine while he is clinging to life is eating at me. I wish it was me who got hit instead of him.

It was my teleporting that brought us there, after all. After the doctors and nurses clear the room, none of us can find the words to speak. We sit in silence for hours on end, all of us deep in thought, with not a single sound in the room other than the beeping machines.

At one point, my mom and dad decide to head to another room to get some sleep. And I decide to lay on the bed beside Lola, holding her unconscious frame close to me, hoping Lance can lend Liberty some strength. I close my eyes to rest, but sleep doesn't come to me. Not that I was expecting it to. I replay everything that has happened in the past years in my head, from when we met her up until now.

My thoughts linger mainly on the last weeks, as this is where we were finally getting closer to her. Just when my mind drifts back to that blissful kiss she gave me, I feel something stir beside me. 'Mate is waking up!!' Lance yells in my head, and I am suddenly wide awake and on high alert again.