Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

W

LUNA

I woke up feeling a lot better than did yesterday. The sharp headache was gone, replaced by only a faint, dull pressure behind my eyes. My legs didn’t feel like jelly anymore, and the strange, burning heat that had taken over my body seemed to have settled into a low simmer, annoying bus bearable.

I lay there for a minute, staring at the ceiling, breathing slowly and evenly. I felt no dizziness and no nausea. Just me, in my own bed, in my own room.

As though it had become my new personal mantra, I repeated the same thing in my head over and over: stay far away Jace, Ryder, Theo, Knox, and Orion, and avoid them like your life depended on it. There will be no more stairwell confrontations, no more parties, and no more letting their scents turn me inside out.

I had one focus, and that was track. I had to make my stats perfect for the intercollegiate meet, prove to Coach Ramirez wasn’t some charity case he had to babysit, and show everyone I belonged here on my own merit. Nothing else mattered.

I rolled on my side and blinked in surprise.

Ivy was still in the room.

2

Usually by this time she’d already be gone, rushing to film class with a granola bar in one hand and her headphones in the other, but she was standing near her desk, fully dressed in a cute denim jacket and jeans, backpack slung over one shoulder like she was about to leave any second. When she saw my eyes open, her whole face relaxed.

She let out a long sigh of relief. “You’re awake. Thank God.”

I pushed myself up on my elbows. My muscles felt stiff but strong. “Yeah, and I feel… better. A lot better.”

Ivy hurried over and sat on the edge of my bed. “How’s your head? Dizzy? Nauseous? Hungry? Thirsty? Do you need anything?”

I managed a small smile. “Head’s okay, just a little pressure. I’m good, really.”

She studied my face like she was trying to spot a lie. “You sure? You scared me half to death yesterday.”

“I know, and I’m sorry for that.” I sat up fully and swung my legs over the side of the bed. “Why are you still here? Don’t you have class?”

Ivy shrugged, “I do, but I wanted to make sure you were okay before I left. I wasn’t about to walk out and find you passed out on the floor again.”

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Thanks, but seriously, I’m fine now. Go, or

you’ll be late.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure you don’t need anything? Water? Food? Painkillers? I can run to the vending machine real quick…”

“I’m good,” I said again, hrner this time. “Promise.”

Ivy gave me one last long look, then smiled. “Okay, I’ll head out then Text me if anything changes, alright? Anything at all”

“I will

She stood up, adjusted her backpack, and walked to the door, but right before she opened it, she paused. Her hand hovered on the knob and a worried crease appeared between her eyebrows.

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