After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 190

Chapter 190

hour passed and the night deepened.

Elaine and Lucas had found a spot further up the beach, where the sand was soft and the wind less chilling. They’d need a proper shelter, but tonight both of them were far too tired.

“Packaged peanuts?” Lucas offered as he tossed her a damp plastic bag. The kind they give out on aircraft as snacks.

Elaine caught it from where she sat, leaning against a tree. She looked down at it. “Because a pack of peanuts will solve starvation,” she noted.

“At least for tonight.”

The light–hearted comment came with the weight of knowing their difficulties were only just beginning. Elaine hugged herself, watching the waves crash against the shore.

She thought back to that trip to the beach she’d taken with Liam, so many weeks ago now. How he’d gotten her up and actually playing in the water. A faint smile touched her lips before it faded into far more solemn.

She tore the plastic packaging open, taking out the handful of peanuts. This wasn’t going to help much, but was better than nothing. Her chest began to ache.

Elaine’s eyes widened as the feeling overcame her. Of all the places….

“We should search the beach some more.” Lucas had already finished his handful and stood up again.

His words snapped her out of her thoughts and she jerked, remembering where she was. The pain in her chest began to intensify but she kept the strain out of her voice.

“There’s a first–aid kit not far down.” Elaine said and pointed in the direction she’d left it. “I can go grab it.”

“I’ll head the opposite direction, then. See if there’s anything else useful,” Lucas said with a nod before heading off.

Elaine watched him longer than she should have before she stood up. Her head was pounding but she pushed through the feeling to head back for that kit. She trudged through the sand.

The feeling in her chest did not fade away. It intensified. Elaine found the kit and fell to her knees beside it, coughing violently. Blood splattered against the ground.

She took several ragged breaths before covering up the blood with a sweep of her hand through the sand. Then she grabbed the kit and stood back up. She was about to turn to leave when she noticed something. Further along the beach, up on the shore, pale and white.

Fabric.

Elaine walked toward it. They could use that as a blanket or maybe extra bandages. Or…

She got closer and slowed down, realizing what this fabric was. A parachute. It wasn’t the one that belonged the dead man in the water. This one was further up the beach, caught on an old fallen log. It fluttered useless in the

wind.

Elaine noticed the strings of the parachute had been cut. A clean cut from a blade. That wasn’t exactly a good sign.

The pilot must have used this. Had he gotten off the plane just in time? Was he still alive? Elaine reached out to take the fabric, untangling it from the log and heading back toward Lucas.

179

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Chapter 190

+20 BONUS

He had already returned to the spot they were going to make their camp for the remainder of the night.

Booked like he found his suitcase on the beach, though it was busted up and everything inside soaked. He’d laid out the clothes over a branch to begin drying and it looked like he was gathering sticks.

For a fire, perhaps? As if he could get one started.

“What’s that?” Lucas asked.

Elaine set the first–aid kit down before spreading out the parachute. “I found this on the beach, not far from here I think it’s the other pilot’s…”

Lucas stilled, staring at the white fabric. His gaze trailed over to the strings that had been cut. He took a deep breath. “The captain. He’s on the island.”

“Maybe. I didn’t see any tracks or signs he’s around. But he might have survived the crash…” Elaine said.

“Might have.” Lucas took the parachute, turning it over in his grip, unfolding. “Blood here.”

Elaine saw the red patch, splattered across the side of the fabric. It wasn’t much but enough to confirm a wound. Could be injured.”