After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

+20 BONUS

Chapter 20

Elaine clutched her chest, struggling to contain a gasp of pain that threatened to escape her. She didn’t even remember getting up from her chair or leaving the main room. Her footsteps echoed through the hall as she fled from the gala.

No one could see her like this.

The pain inside her burned. Like someone took part of her soul and was crushing it between their fingers. 15

“Elaine!” a voice from behind.

Panic seared through her, but Elaine managed to, somehow, school her features with an uneasy exhale. She lowered her hand, hiding it behind her back to conceal the blood. She turned to face Liam as he jogged up behind

her.

“Not now, Liam,” she said, glancing over her shoulder for somewhere to be alone. The bathroom. She started to make her way toward it.

“Elaine, wait.” Liam reached out to gently take her wrist and stop her from retreating. “What’s wrong? You practically ran out of the gala.”

He could see the paleness of her face, the strained expression clouding her features. He’s not used to feeling such concern for someone else. Usually, he didn’t try to get close to any woman. But for her? He couldn’t turn away.

Elaine snatched her hand away from his grip before he could notice the red smeared there. “Nothing’s wrong, Liam.”

She couldn’t tell him the truth. She had no interest in pity or sympathy for her failing health.

“You’re nearly shaking. Don’t lie to me, please.”

“I’m just….” Elaine hesitated. He wasn’t going to leave this be, not if he thought something was seriously wrong. She had to come up with something. So blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, “I’m on my period.”

Liam blinked. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Yes. It’s…nothing serious. Not really,” Elaine said, hoping he couldn’t read straight through her. “Please, excuse me.”

He didn’t stop her this time as she turned and left quickly for the bathroom. He remained still for a moment more,

at a loss for words.

The way she’d left the gala, the look in her eye, Liam had been certain it was something else. If it really was just her time of the month, then he’d still help.

What did women need during this time?

Chocolates? Pain medication? Heating pad? Liam ran his fingers through his hair, exhaling softly. Tampons. That’s it. Something to help… with that.

Decided, he turned and hurried down the hall.

Elaine slammed the door behind her as she reached the bathroom. A gasp of pain finally escaped her as she stumbled to the sink, grabbing the edges with a white-knuckled grip. She could barely feel it. Her wolf.

Was it even there anymore?

She closed her eyes, brow furrowing as she tried to search for it. The wolf was buried so deep she couldn’t even

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Chapter 20

+20 BONUS

call to it anymore. When she tried, the pain in her chest flared.

Instinctively, she hunched over the sink, coughing violently. Her throat burned as blood came up. It splattered over the white porcelain, draining slowly, yet staining.

Elaine looked down in mute horror.

Each drip of it down the pipes sounded like the tick of a clock. Her time was limited. Rapidly ticking down. Only a few months to live. Yet as she listened to the faint drip drip drip, she refused to believe her time was running out.