After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 303

The forest was dark and Elaine could hardly see. While the moon was out, the trees blocked it’s light from the forest floor. And she was guessing on where to place her feet.

Branches from the brush around her tore at her clothes, catching her skin and leaving faint red lines. She simply had to ignore it and keep pushing forward. Even though her chest only tightened further and further and she began to feel light-headed.

She didn’t dare run directly on the road in fear of being spotted. So she ran beside it, where the brush could cover her escape well enough. At least she hoped so. She wasn’t certain if anyone was following her but she wasn’t going to take the risk.

Elaine suddenly tripped. She managed to catch herself against a pine tree, but heaved in a breath that rasped in her throat. She coughed.

Blood came up and splattered against her hand as she covered her mouth. Red stained her lips and chin. Elaine wiped it off best she could and looked behind her. So far no pursuit.

She coughed again, wheezing in her next breath. This time she didn’t bother remaining by the tree. She pushed off of it and stumbled up to the road instead. The dirt path compacted and much easier to traverse than in the brush.

Elaine fell to her knees on the road, coughing again. More blood. A ragged inhale burned her throat and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Through the haze that consumed her forethoughts, she heard something. A yell that pierced the din of her ringing ears. She looked up, squinting against the headlights of a vehicle that skidded to a stop.

Was it someone from the lab? Selim? Mia?

Or perhaps the masked woman. Had any of them caught up to her? Surely they would have by now.

But the voice didn’t sound like any of those from the lab. Not the grating rasp of Selim’s tone, or the giggling sweet words of Mia. Not even the more thoughtful tone of the woman from the office.

This voice was familiar in another way.

She reached out a hand. “Liam…?”

Her vision blurred at the edges once more. Her hand reached for nothing. Movement in her sightline. Then something warm took her hand, fingers wrapped tightly around the knuckles. Liam.

His other hand went to her shoulder as he came into sight. She hadn’t even really seen his approach.

“Elaine!”

His panicked voice filled her ears but was soon drowned out by the ringing. She fell forward. Liam caught her, turning her over in his arms and looking down at her pale face.

“I have your medication, Elaine. Please, just look up at me,” Liam said, then turned to Bjorn. “The meds. Now!”

Bjorn had only made it a few steps away from the car before he turned to go back and get them.

Liam looked back down at Elaine. She wheezed. “Are…they…?”

He looked up and back the way she can come. He didn’t see anyone. “No one is following you,” he assured her, looking back down.

Elaine’s eyes rolled back. Liam tensed.

“Elaine! Don’t you dare close your eyes. You stay awake!” he demanded yet she wasn’t exactly hearing his words.

Her consciousness lolled and she could feel herself fading. She’d pushed herself too hard. Had gone too long without the meds.

Bjorn reached their side and handed him the bottle. Liam took it and desperately screwed the cap off. He dumped more than he should have in his palm but only took one pill, the rest forgotten on the ground.

He sat Elaine up best he could. “Elaine, I need you to take this. Please!”

No response. His hands trembled as he tried to reposition her, resting her head against his shoulder as he freed up both hands. He lifted one to try and get her mouth open.

“Liam,” Bjorn said, stepping forward. “We need to get her to a hospital.”