Page 29 of Her Cruel Alpha

She jerked and started to wave her hands like she was trying to break free from someone holding her. “Stop! Stop, Stop!” She started to cry, and I quickly reached out, grabbing her face, turning her gaze to me.

“Katie! Katie! It’s me. Look at me.” Her eyes landed on me, and her eyes softened slightly. Realizing sank into hereyes. “Breathe. In through your nose and out your mouth. Deep breaths.”

She took a slow breath in, and her shoulders sank slightly. She did this a couple more times before she leaned back in the seat. Confusion filled her face. “Wait, how did I get in a car? I was at the lab.”

“I carried you out,” I said as I turned back to the traffic, and we started down the road again. Katie looked outside and frowned. “Where are you going?”

“I’m taking you to the hospital to be checked out.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor.”

“I’m taking you.”

Katie glared at me. “I’m a doctor myself, Henrik. I’m fine. I can see. I can hear. My name is Katie Armstrong, and my birthday is November 23. I like the color purple, and I’m a microbiologist with a degree in physics, biochemistry, and biotechnology. Would you like me to recite my social security number as well?”

I frowned. “Katie, now is not the time to be a smartass! I was scared. I found you unconscious on the ground at the lab. I want you checked over.”

“And I told you I’m fine….I just..” She fell silent for a moment before she spoke up again. “Everything went dark. I was getting ready to sweep up, and the world just disappeared.” She shook her head. “It was him. I know it was him.”

I turned back to traffic. “And I’m still having you checked.”

After taking her, they ran a few tests on Katie. I had worried she might have a concussion since there was a chance she had hit her head. But Katie checked out. Everything was finebesides her heart rate being a little high, but they said that was normal considering the circumstances.

“She’s okay. She didn’t hit her head when she went down, and her heart rate should get back to normal in an hour,” The doctor said, giving us a soft smile. “Make sure to rest up.”

“She’s totally fine?” I asked. “Nothing I should be concerned about?”

Katie sighed. “I told you I was fine.”

“And I was worried,” I explained. “If you found me the way I found you, trust me, you’d worry too.” Or maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe I cared about her more than she cared about me.

She bit her lower lip and frowned. “Sorry…”

“Don’t apologize,” I said, squeezing her hand.

We headed home, and I hung my jacket up. “Do you want me to cook dinner?”

Katie shook her head. “No, I’m really not that hungry.”

I nodded and watched her eyes scan the room. The house was quiet and dark, so I flicked on a couple of lights. “Better?”

She swallowed and nodded her head.

“I don’t mean to pry, but what happened?”

She glanced at me and rubbed her hands together. “I don’t know. I was starting to sweep, and the entire lab just…started to feel dark. Everything just felt different, and I got so dizzy, and before I knew it, the world just went black. But I was still awake. I felt so cold, and I couldn’t move. It was like I knew there was a dark presence, and I wanted to run but couldn’t.”

I didn’t know what I could say to make her feel better. I wanted to hug and hold her close, but I didn’t know if she wanted that.

“Do you want me to let you get some rest? The doctor did advise that.”

She shook her head, and I could see her hands start to shake. “I don’t want to be alone.” She looked at me with fear in her eyes. “Can you…stay with me? Just for a little bit. Until I feel ready to sleep.”

I nodded, walking closer to her. I reached out, and she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me. She rested her forehead against my chest, and I could feel her entire body shake. I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on her head.

“I can do that,” I said softly, brushing my hand through her hair. “I can stay as long as you need me to.”

I carried Katie up to her room and helped her get into bed. I crawled in next to her and felt her relax against me.

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