After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Dacas storms in the room. “Elaine, what is the meaning of this?” Any concern he’d felt for her own safety was quickly evaporating at the sight of her hitting Ayla.

Ayla took another staggering step back, clutching at her face. Elaine saw the movement of her jaw. Just barely noticeable. Ayla bit down on the inside of her cheek, a moment later, blood dripped between her lips.

“Lucas, she hit me! I was just trying to see if she was alright, and she hit me!” Ayla whined, going to Lucas’ side. She stumbled again, faltering. Lucas grabbed her arms, propping her up as she tucked herself against his side. ” feel so…faint.”

“You should sit down,” Lucas said, guiding her to a seat on the opposite wall. Then in the next breath, he called,” Doctor!”

Elaine watched in stunned silence. Ayla wasn’t bleeding before, though that faltering step looked almost real.

Lucas focused on Ayla, as she sat heavily in the chair, placing a hand at her chest as if her heart were racing. Perhaps it was. Something more real about all of this made Elaine feel a rush of guilt. Only briefly.

The doctor came in. None other than Dr. Howard, peering into the room with a questioning look.

“Doctor, I need you look at Ayla,” Lucas said, then turn to Elaine. “She was hit.’

Elaine remained quiet.

Dr. Howard quickly moved to Ayla’s side, checking her over as Lucas kept his gaze on Elaine.

“I don’t understand why you would do this.”

“I was… Lucas, you should have heard her.” Elaine fumbled to try and find the right words to say. But what could be said? Ayla had Lucas wrapped around her finger. It was like every word from Ayla’s mouth was an undeniable

truth.

While from Elaine? It was a lie.

“She’ll be alright,” Dr. Howard said as he stood up, glancing back down at Ayla. “Though you need to take it easy. You’re still ill.”

Ayla looked away, dabbing the blood from her lip.

Lucas turned to them. “Still ill?”

He thought the mate mark would have given Ayla the strength to recover. Was she still…?

“She is terminal,” Dr. Howard said. “Though still strong.”

Ayla smiled faintly. “Don’t worry about me, Lucas. I’ll be alright. I’m sure Elaine didn’t mean it.”

Elaine sunk back in the bed, watching the exchange quietly, her own stitches aching. She didn’t know what to say now. Not all of Ayla’s weakness was an act. Even if the blood was. Yet Ayla was looking at her like she’d won.

What was she even winning here?

Elaine sighed, and noticed now that Lucas was staring at her now as well.

“Lucas…”

+15 Bonus

“She’s sick. And you hit her?” Lucas snapped, advancing toward the bed.

Alpha–” Dr. Howard began.

Lucas ignored him, focusing on Elaine. “Do you think you’re expenpt from punishment, just because you’re injured?”

“You weren’t here. You don’t understand what she said. What she’s trying to do!” Elaine stammered

Lucas shook his head. “One excuse after the other. I sometimes wonder why I even want you around.”

Elaine felt her chest tighten.

“That’s enough!” Liam walked in. He stormed over to the bed, placing himself between Elaine and Lucas. “Can you see you’re making this worse?”.

Lucas scoffed. “Me? Elaine’s the one who’s always been–”

“No! She’s been hurt, Lucas. Look at her. She was attacked by an assassin, and you’re to caught up in petty drama to even care about her!” Liam stepped forward. Elaine shifted her legs off the side of the bed.

The tension was so thick one could cut it with a knife.

Elaine’s hand pressed gently over the bandages at her abdomen.