Page 28 of Her Cruel Alpha

“Has something happened inside?”

“Was there an accident in one of the labs?”

I felt fear grab at me, thinking back to Sam and getting told what had happened to her, how she lost consciousness and became electric. Fear took over as I ran inside, the alarms blaring loudly.

I went to the elevator and pushed the button. The button didn’t light up. So I pushed it again and again. I looked up at the lights and realized the elevator wasn’t on. In an emergency, they didn’t work.

I turned and scanned the area, looking for the stairs. I found the sign and ran down the hallway, pushing the doors open, and started up the stairs. I took them two at a time, feeling my heart quicken with each step.

Katie had to be okay. I just saw her a moment ago. This was likely because of someone else. I’m sure these things happened all the time. Everyone was doing different things. When I got to her lab, I was going to find that she was fine and she was going to question why I came back. But at least I would know that she was okay.

But that shiver crept down my back, and I couldn’t shake it off this time. I pulled the door open and stepped onto the floor of her lab. I was panting for air, but forced myself to keep moving. I headed down the hallway, pushing her lab door open.

But I didn’t find her standing at her desk. No, Katie lay on the ground unconscious, and my body went on high alert. “Katie!”

I ran to her and dropped to my knees next to her. My hands were shaking as I pulled her up slightly, finding her entire body had paled. She looked dead as I shook her. “Katie! Wake up! Katie! Katie”

Her arms were limp, and I bent over, pressing my ear to her chest.

God, please. She can’t be dead. I was just talking to her a few minutes ago.

I heard her heartbeat. It was faint, but it was there. She was alive.

I pulled Katie up and started out the door. I headed down the hallway and took the stairs. My lungs burned by the time I got us outside. My ears were ringing as I stepped outside, finding the front was now packed with people. Tons of scientists looked around, confused, and even police cars were parked outside.

“What happened? Who’s hurt? Did something go wrong?”

“Is everyone here?”

I held Katie close as I pulled my phone free. I felt that something was off. When I stepped into her lab, the space felt different from it had before, almost like there was a presence there.

I called Jay. The phone rang a few times before he answered. “This better be an emergency for you to be calling me in the middle of my day.”

“How did you know that Sam had been taken over by the dark presence?”

Jay went silent for a second, but I could hear movement. “What?” His tone dropped into concern.

I looked at Katie, taking in her pale face. “How did you know that Sam was possessed?”

“What’s going on?”

I moved through the crowd, holding the phone tighter against my ear. “I was at the lab with Katie, and she was working on an experiment, so I left. I was just getting to my car whenthe alarms went off, and she was on the ground when I got back. She’s pale and unconscious.”

“Shit, yeah that’s how it went for Sam.”

I frowned, having a feeling. But Sam had visions. Katie didn’t. Or at least I didn’t think she did. Katie would have said something if she had. Wouldn’t she?

But last time Sam was possessed, she was electric. Katie wasn’t. I was holding her right now, so this couldn’t be the same thing.

I hurried to my car and pulled the door open. I didn’t know where I was taking her, but somewhere. I needed to know she was okay. I could have her looked at by a doctor. I needed someone to let me know she was okay.

“I’m going to take her to the hospital. Can you inform the council of what’s going on? The lab is a mess. Everyone is outside trying to figure out what’s happening, but I won’t stand around and wait.”

I started the car up, knowing the hospital was only across town. I could get there within a few minutes.

I started pulling out and drove when Katie started to stir. I was at a stop when her eyes slowly opened, and panic filled her face.

“Katie?”

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