After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

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Chapter 21

Someone caught her, strong arms around her shoulders and waist. The figure above her was familiar. Lucas? The mouth was moving, but she couldn’t hear the words.

Then everything went dark.

Bright, sterile lights pulled Elaine from unconsciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, and a pounding headache welcomed her. She groaned, turning her head to the side to avoid the light above her.

“Are your eyes sensitive? I’ll turn it off,” someone said. Elaine turned her head to the side, blinking away the blur that clouded her vision.

She was in a hospital.

The last thing she remembered was the bathroom. She couldn’t recall anything between then and now.

The bright lights overhead clicked off, the only source now coming from the window. The glow much softer now.

“Are you okay?”

Elaine looked over at the speaker, half-expecting Lucas to be there. He’d been the one to find her, hadn’t he?

It wasn’t Lucas.

It was Liam.

Elaine sat up a little straighter. “Liam…”

“You collapsed,” he said, not bothering to hide the concern. “Elaine, I need to know. Please. What’s going on with you–‘

The door to the room opened, and a thin man with graying hair walked in. He wore a white coat and held a clipboard in his off-hand.

“Dr. Howard,” Elaine said and sat up a little straighter. It was the same doctor who’d diagnosed her.

“Elaine,” Howard replied warmly, crossing over to the monitor on her other side, checking her vitals.

Liam glanced back at her, suspicion growing at her familiarity with the doctor. He looked back. “Dr. Howard,” he said respectfully. “What’s going on? Why did Elaine collapse? No one would tell me anything when we got here.”

Elaine felt a pang of guilt. He sounded genuinely worried, but she still didn’t want Liam to know what was going on. Not yet.

“Well, you see…” Howard caught Elaine’s look and the subtle shake of her head. He cleared his throat. Dehydration.”

“There was blood,” Liam stated.

“I hit my face on the sink,” Elaine answered before the doctor could. “Bloody nose.”

Liam looked at her doubtfully, but before he could open his mouth, his phone began to ring. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the number.

Elaine straightened to see who it was. Her brow furrowed. Lucas.

“I’ll be right back. We’re not done talking about this.” Liam gave her a pointed look before leaving.

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Chapt

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Elaine let out a quiet breath. “Thank you,” she murmured to Dr. Howard.

“It might not be my place, but you shouldn’t be keeping this a secret. I advise you to tell your loved ones and your friends what is going on.”

“You’re right,” Elaine said as she pulled the wires taped to her hand off. The heart monitor began to beep. “It isn’t your place.”

She turned and walked to the door, softening her steps as she neared it. She could hear Liam’s voice muffled on the other side. Carefully, she opened it. 61

“…away from her.”

“Stay away from her? What would you have had me do, leave her passed out on the bathroom floor?” Liam snapped into his phone. “You weren’t there, Lucas. In fact, I’ve noticed how little you are there for her.” (2