Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha novel Chapter 96

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Chapter 96: Second Dose

The second dose of the mysterious serum is just as bad as the first. I scream until my throat’s raw, but the pain eventually disappears as abruptly as it comes on. The creepy-crawling purple lines are still unnerving, but at least I’m expecting them this time.

No; I’m more concerned about Eliana coming in to check on me. Or Xavier.

I hate Xavier more than I think I’ve ever hated anyone in my life. There’s something about him that tells me he’s broken from the soul out. Eliana’s not far off, but at least she pretends some level of humanity.

Her brother... He’s just psychotic.

I have a vague feeling Eliana has a purpose and will keep me alive for it. Xavier? I’m pretty sure he’d eat me to fulfill whatever strange addiction he seems to hold.

His eyes are feverish with obsession.

He’s definitely the worse of the two.

I drift in and out of consciousness, aware of flickers passing over my closed eyes. The sensation is gentle, almost playful—like someone’s waving their hand in front of my face. When I finally pry my heavy eyelids open, I find myself alone in the sterile room.

No Jim. No doctors. Just me and several blue spirits bobbing around my bed like underwater jellyfish.

One tugs at my blanket, pulling it higher over my chest. Another yanks it back down. They seem to be playing some sort of game, their ethereal forms pulsing with each movement.

"How are you doing that?" My voice comes out raspy.

The spirits pause their blanket tug-of-war, hovering closer. One passes right through my arm, leaving behind a tingling sensation. Yet moments later, it grabs the edge of my pillowcase with what looks like a translucent tendril.

"That doesn’t make sense. You can go through solid objects but also move them?"

The spirits swirl faster, their blue light intensifying. One dips down and phases through the metal rail of my bed, then immediately after manages to tap against it, creating a soft ping sound.

I watch, fascinated, as they resume their game with my blanket. Their movements are deliberate, coordinated. These aren’t just random energy patterns—they’re intelligent. The way they interact reminds me of children playing, complete with what almost looks like shoving matches when two try to pull the blanket in opposite directions.

The restraints bite into my wrists as I yank against them. My muscles scream in protest, the purple lines under my skin pulsing with each movement.

But I’m finally alone.

Jim isn’t here to keep watch.

Maybe I can get out of these. Maybe I can get out of here, away from Eliana’s mad scientist routine and Xavier’s predatory gaze.

"Come on, come on." The metal clinks against the bed frame.

The blue spirits dart around me, their usual playful demeanor replaced by frantic movements. Orange bleeds into their ethereal forms like food coloring in water. One passes through my arm repeatedly, leaving behind a chill that makes me shiver.

"Stop that." I grit my teeth against another wave of pain. "I have to get out of here."

My skin feels like it’s on fire where the restraints touch it. The serum they pumped into me makes everything hurt twice as much, but the thought of Xavier coming back pushes me to keep trying.

A spirit swoops down to my hand, its light dimming to a deep burnt orange. It taps against the restraint, then phases through it. The metal grows ice cold.