Page 48 of Alpha's Secret Baby Girl
“—And who has already tried to kill me. But how many times were you attacked again?” She tapped her chin and opened her mouth. “That’s right—” She cut herself off. Her arms dropped, and guilt flooded her face. She took a deep breath and shook her head, stepping backward. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, that was out of line.”
Tension still rippled through Rafael’s body, but he counted to ten in his head and forced his own fists to relax. “I know this is a lot of pressure. I know that you’re afraid, and no, the demon hasn’t attacked me. Only you and Lianne. That doesn’t mean I don’t have skin in this game, Gwen. It’s not easy to feel this helpless when there is nothing more I want than to protect both of you.”
Gwen wrapped her arms around her middle. “I don’t think this is working.”
“Then we’ll change our approach. Maybe some meditation—”
“That’s not what I mean.” Gwen’s arms tightened as her throat worked. “I think I need to leave the island.”
Rafael couldn’t answer. Was she crazy?
“The demon will follow me. I can just leave and lead it away. I’ll keep learning more magic. I’ll find another community of witches that will be able to teach me. Then I’ll be able to take out the demon. Lianne will be safe here, with you. She’ll have a stable life, and you’ll be able to teach her.”
“You’re not leaving.”
Gwen shuddered, then looked into his eye. “I thought you said you shouldn’t have forced me to stay. Was that just words to get in my pants?”
Rafael fell back a step. She was so cold. So… unlike her. “You’re running away.”
“I’m not. I’m trying to leave so—”
“You’re running away right now,” he interrupted. His voice was low. “You’re lashing out, trying to make me angry. Trying to play on my guilt so that I’ll stop asking you what you saw in your vision.”
Gwen shook her head. “No. No, I—”
She clutched her head suddenly, stumbling. Rafael leapt forward and caught her around the waist to keep her from falling. She collapsed into his chest, whimpering and shivering. Her head dropped to his shoulder, and he slowly lowered them both to the floor. She was reacting differently than she had yesterday with the vision. Was this something else?
Her breathing was rapid, her eyes shut as her fingers alternately dug into his arms and loosened so much he thought she might have fallen unconscious. Her whole body shook. Was she having a seizure? He tried to think of the signs but didn’t know enough. All he could do was hold her and keep her upright, to make sure she didn’t hurt herself further.
Eventually, her eyes opened. Her skin was white, her lips pale. Her breathing was sharp and shallow. Rafael pulled his phone from his pocket and texted the doctor to come to his office, then helped Gwen to the elevator. Was it just yesterday when they had gone to his office full of vigor and passion? Gwen didn’t protest his commands, which only proved to him that she was in bad shape.
In his office, he lay her down on the couch and got snacks and a bottle of electrolyte water from the fridge. She downed the bottle so hastily she slopped on her shirt. As she lowered the bottle, she looked at the stain with embarrassment.
Rafael brushed her sweaty hair from her face. “The doctor is coming to check you out.”
Embarrassment lit her cheeks with pale color. “That’s not necessary.”
“Maybe not, but it will make me feel better.” He hesitated a moment before asking, “What did you see?”
She shut her eyes again. “How long until the doctor gets here?”
Rafael checked his phone. “She’s on her way.”
“I’ll tell you when she’s gone,” Gwen promised.
She nibbled on the snacks and drank more water. By the time the doctor arrived, she looked much improved. The doctor gave her a checkup and recommended bed rest and plenty of fluids. Gwen even stood and tried to leave. Rafael stopped her gently and led her back to the couch.
“You told me you’d tell me,” he reminded her.
Gwen brushed her fingers across her forehead, though there was nothing to brush away. “I did.”
He waited silently.
Gwen glanced at him and quickly looked away again. “It’s not going to be easy to hear.”
“I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”
“It was a vision of the past this time. I’ve never seen the past before,” she said slowly, rubbing her fingertips in circles on her temples now. “I saw… I won’t go into the details.”
