Chapter 314 Wake Up Call
Author
Elara could barely hear what Alpha Hunter was saying anymore. She mumbled a few responses and ended the call.
She sat in Alpha Dominic’s leather chair, staring at his handwriting until the words blurred together.
Her fingers traced the date in the journal. September 10th, 2022. The last entry before everything went to hell.
I can’t do this anymore. I need to tell her.
The pen had pressed so hard into the paper that she could feel the indentations on the next page.
He’d been angry. Frustrated. Desperate.
He’d been coming to find her. To finally say what he’d been holding back.
And he’d nearly died.
That’s why he never talked about the accident. Why he’d go quiet whenever she brought it up.
Because it reminded him of the day he almost lost his chance with her forever.
"You stubborn asshole," she whispered, clutching the journal.
Her vision blurred. All this time, she thought she’d been so smart. So good at reading people.
But she’d missed the most important thing of all.
She thought about all those random moments that suddenly made sense. Vincent showing up when her car died. Flowers from "secret admirers." The health department shutting down that restaurant.
It had all been him.
And now he might not wake up.
"I’m such an idiot," she said to the empty room.
The babies kicked, as if they agreed.
She looked at the clock. 8:35 PM. Visiting hours were almost over, but she needed to see him. Needed to tell him she knew.
She grabbed her keys and headed for the door.
--
Mercy General Hospital, ICU
Day 3, 8:47 PM
Vincent had to practically bribe the night nurse to let him in.
He suited up in the paper gown and plastic gloves, feeling like he was about to perform surgery.
The ICU smelled like antiseptic and sadness. Machines beeped everywhere.
Alpha Dominic looked like shit - pale as the hospital sheets, tubes running out of his arms.
"Alright, you dramatic asshole," Vincent said, dropping into the visitor’s chair. "Time to stop milking this for sympathy."
The heart monitor kept beeping. Same steady rhythm it had been doing for three days.
"Look, I’ll level with you. Elara’s a mess. She’s been living on hospital coffee and those gross cafeteria sandwiches. She looks like hell."
Vincent leaned back in the uncomfortable plastic chair.
"And that dickwad Alpha Zack? Still hanging around like a bad smell. Keeps ’checking in’ on her. Bringing her food. Playing the concerned friend." His voice got harder. "You know what that means, right?"
Nothing. Just the steady beep-beep-beep.
"I’m telling you, Dominic , if you don’t wake up soon, some other guy’s going to step in. Play daddy to your kids. Sleep in your bed." Vincent’s jaw tightened. "You really want your twins calling some other asshole ’Dad’?"
He rubbed his face. Three days of sleeping in waiting room chairs had left him looking rough.
"I fucked up my chance at this, you know? Had my shot at the whole white picket fence thing. Blew it. Now I’m thirty-five, single, and my idea of a home-cooked meal is microwaved pizza."
His voice cracked slightly. "Don’t be an idiot like me. Don’t throw away the best thing that ever happened to you."
"Jesus, Vincent ," came a raspy whisper. "You’re more depressing than a Lifetime movie."
Vincent nearly fell out of his chair.
Alpha Dominic ’s eyes were barely open, but he was smirking. That same smartass expression that had been pissing Vincent off for years.
"HOLY SHIT!" Vincent jumped up. "NURSE! GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE!"
He ran to the door, yelling down the hall. "HE’S AWAKE! Page Dr. MacDonald! NOW!"
Alpha Dominic ’s voice was weak but clear. "Did you just... compare yourself to a TV movie?"
"Shut up." But Vincent was grinning like an idiot. "You scared the shit out of us."
"Sorry to... disappoint you."
"Don’t apologize, you bastard. Just don’t do it again."
Medical staff started flooding in. Vincent stepped back as they swarmed the bed, checking vitals, shining lights in Alpha Dominic ’s eyes.
But Alpha Dominic was back.
And Vincent had never been so happy to be called depressing in his life.
Vincent stepped out into the hallway while the medical team swarmed around Alpha Dominic’s bed. His hands were shaking as he pulled out his phone.
He scrolled to Elara’s number and hit call.
It rang once. Twice.
"Vincent?" Her voice was hoarse. "Is everything—"
"He’s awake," Vincent said, his voice cracking. "Elara, he’s awake."