I rode the elevator down, wishing I had stayed. I found myself relaxed as I stood next to Katie. As I watched her work, I could see the way she focused and the way her eyes tracked everything she did. It was so different from her shy, quiet self. She was like another person, fully in her element.

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped off it, feeling a shiver run down my spine. I stiffened for a moment before I shook the feeling off. It was just my wolf wanting to stay close to Katie after the day we had. This was natural.

I started walking down the hallway, pushing the doors open, and stepped outside. The sun beat down on me as I walked to my car. I spotted other scientists heading into the building, not really knowing anyone.

Another shiver ran down my spine, and I shook my head.

“Nothing is wrong. You're just sad because Katie asked you to leave the lab.” And I understood why.

She was trying to work, and I was there.

I got it. It was how I felt when the guys were around when I was working on paperwork.

I knew I would make a mistake with eyes watching me.

I opened my car when I heard the sound of alarms starting to blare. I turned around and narrowed my eyes onto the laboratory. I stared at the doors, seeing red lights going off inside.

My body tensed up, and I sprinted towards the lab. As I got closer, I could hear people talking loudly.

“What’s going on?”

“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 when the 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?”

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 her eyes. “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 fine besides 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.

“Do you need anything else?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m okay.”

I patted her head softly and sighed. Just then, I felt my phone vibrate. I glanced at it, seeing it was Derrick. He was likely calling for an update about what happened.

“Do you need to answer that?”

I shook my head. “I can call him back later.”

“But he’s part of the Council. I’m sure he would like to know what’s going on.”

I nodded. “He is, but he isn’t my top priority right now. You are.” I held her closer. “And if you need me to lay with you in a fully lit room, then that is what we will do.”

“Thank you,” she said softly.

I kissed the top of her head. “Of course.”

I glanced at the TV that sat across her room. “Do you mind if we put something on?”

She shook her head, and I grabbed her remote, popping the TV on. I sank into the sheets, relaxing and planning to stay until Katie fell asleep, but before I knew it, I was drifting off myself.