Page 44 of The Alpha’s Heir

“It’s a hospital,” Roman said. “Where people come to heal.”

I wasn’t stupid. I knew what a hospital was. But from the smell of the place, I wanted to point out that no one here seemed to be getting better.

Except there was a lightness in Roman’s steps, and his face was so full of hope I’d never seen before that I couldn’t bear to crush his spirit.

“The nurses say his brain waves spike when I’m talking to him, and he loves stories.” Roman pushed open the door to the room.

A man—no, a body—lay on a bed hooked up to tubes and machines. I couldn’t bring myself to enter.

It smells of death.

“Roman, I—”

“Please.” The pain in his voice cut right through me. “I just… Please.” He lowered his tone. “His readings are dropping and the nurse says that if his brain can’t learn to use the new neural connections on his own, then it will all have been for nothing.”

He motioned to the book in my hands. “Can you just read to him?”

I didn’t understand a word he was saying, but the alpha in me wouldn’t back down when there was a job that needed done. “Okay.”

“Okay?” The relief in his eyes wasn’t fair. It tore my heart out with it and reminded me of how cruel our situation was.

This definitely wasn’t a fairy tale mating, but my mate needed me, and I’d be there for him.

It was the least I could do.

I opened the book as I crossed the room, trying to keep things light. “You should’ve told me in the house why we were coming here. I would’ve picked a different book.”

“I can run back…”

“Don’t worry.” I waved the paperback in the air as I perched at the edge of the chair beside the bed. “I don’t know about brain waves, but this one will definitely get his blood flowing again.”

15

Roman

I didn’t know what I was thinking, or why I’d just disobeyed a direct order. Though—technically—I hadn’t broken any rules. I’d kept her out of the public eye. No one was filming in the hospital. But something about Meg made me reckless.

I’d gone back to work after the doctor’s report and spent the last twenty-four hours beating myself up for not being able to do more for my father. Then I’d crashed into Meg on the stairs and saw the sadness in her pretty eyes.

And I…

I wasn’t sure what came over me.

The rain had stopped since we got here. Daylight peeked through the blinds, casting a golden glow on the side of Meg’s face as she read to my father in that perfect voice of hers. That was the first thing I’d noticed about her. If anything would make Dad listen, it was a pretty girl telling a story.

Meg had a voice that could command an army and simultaneously soothe a small child. She picked up the dialogue of the characters, using silly tones with no concern of who might judge her for it. There was a strength and steadfastness in her presence, like it didn’t matter what came her way, she’d handle it.

She was everything a woman should be. Everything I never knew I wanted. I was mesmerized by her lips and the way they moved, barely hearing the words of the story. Some romance novel where the male main character took too long to acknowledge his feelings.

The guy was a fool.

If I lived in a world where I was free to do what I wanted, I wouldn’t waste a second of my life.

Science, even Justus was an idiot for letting a woman like Meg slip through his fingers. He didn’t deserve her. None of them did. I had to put a stop to this. Allowing her to sacrifice herself for people who’d gladly throw her in the trash compactors was cruel. Somehow, I’d find a way to—

“Lieutenant Miller, a word?” Sally poked her head into the room.

“Should I stop?” Meg put her hand on the book.