Page 28 of The Alpha

“No, really, you should… rest,” she begged. Could he even hear her?

She studied her cell, noticed the one-inch holes in the wall separating them near the ceiling, and presumed he could.

He rolled off the bed onto the floor, but made no sound, even though she heard him land with a soft thud.

“Please, you shouldn’t move… okay… you’re moving anyway.” She watched as he crawled across the floor army style toward her, and for a moment, she was glad for the thick wall between them.

He ignored the tray of food, the bottle of water next to it, and went straight for her.

Pari left her bed and slowly crouched near his tray of food. “You should eat something.” She got on her knees and watched him change course and head her way. When he reached the wall, his eyes met hers, and she was immediately drawn into them. “Wow. What… what are your eyes doing?” Pari took note of the slight swirl around the iris. The phenomenon was mesmerizing, and she couldn’t look away even if she wanted to.

A loud thump, startled her, and she let out a yelp.

The man had smacked a hand against the glass wall.

She stared at it. His hand was large, the fingers long, but looked human. She studied him, and other than his otherworldly good looks, he appeared human in every sense. But what did she know?

He spread his fingers slightly, his eyes darting from his hand to her.

Pari’s head tilted, and she slowly raised a hand to the wall. She put it up to his, her curiosity getting the better of her. She wanted to see how much bigger his hand was compared to hers.

A lot.

Her hand next to his, he closed his eyes and sucked in a breath, then another. Was he trying to clear his head of the drugs they’d given him? She didn’t know how long it would be before they wore off, and she noted their captors hadn’t so much as touched him unless he was knocked out.

That meant they were afraid of him.She cocked an eyebrow at the thought.

The man coughed, drawing her attention. He tried to sit up but couldn’t manage it, so remained where he was.

“Don’t try,” she advised. “You’ll just land flat on your face.” Her heart went out to him. Dr. Charles didn’t care if they lived or died. She might be dead tomorrow for all she knew.

Tears filled her eyes at the thought. “I’m sorry they took you. And I’m sorry they used me to do it.” Her eyes went wide. “Theydid, didn’t they? I was bait.” She looked at the lab, the tables, the medical equipment strewn about the large room. “We’re nothing but a couple of guinea pigs.”

He looked at her, his eyes intense, and she wondered if he was angry they’d been imprisoned.

“Eat if you can.” She put her free hand to her mouth and realized her left hand was still plastered against the wall, lined up with his. She lowered it, and his eyes took on a desperate look. He slapped his hand against the wall again, the look in his eyes intensifying.

“Okay, okay, I’m not going anywhere.” She put her hand against his again, and he closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping as if in relief. But why? There was nothing special about her. She was a nobody, a loser, when she really thought about it. What interest could he possibly have in her?

“I don’t understand,” she thought aloud. Pari sat cross-legged and watched him. She pointed at his food and brought her right hand to her mouth again.

He looked at the food and pushed it toward her with his free hand.

“No, I didn’t mean I wanted it. I’ve got my own.” She got to her feet to get her tray to show him, and he tried to climb up the wall after her.

“Okay, okay, I’m sitting back down, see?” She put her hand against the wall and picked up her sandwich with the other. “Food?” She took a bite.

He watched her, one hand against the wall, opposite hers. It took him a few minutes, but he managed to sit. He never removed his hand, nor did he ever take his eyes off her.

“Wow, what is it with you?” Pari shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand any of this.” She took another bite of her sandwich and nodded at his. He slowly looked at it.

“That’s right, food. Eat.” She held up her sandwich again for emphasis and took another bite. “Good.”

He leaned toward the tray and sniffed.

Pari nodded encouragement. Did aliens like pastrami?

He picked up the sandwich, unwrapped it with his teeth, then took a generous bite.

---