Shattered by the Alpha Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 53

Chapter 39

“Right now, you look like you need to rest, Keith. Please just sleep,” She insisted, her exhaustion coming off as well.

The room, once a sanctuary of warmth and laughter, now loomed before me like a prison cell, a haunting reminder of Karissa’s absence. I felt a chill run down my spine as I stumbled towards it, the increasing heaviness on me was known buckling

I moved on autopilot, my legs carrying me to the shower as if driven by a force beyond my control. I shed my clothes like a skin I could no longer inhabit, and stepped under the scorching water, hoping its intensity would scour away the residues.

But as I stood there, the heat seeping into my bones, I realized that some stains ran too deep. I leaned my forehead against the wall, letting the water and steam wash over me, as tears I couldn’t contain mingled with the rivulets streaming down my face. I wondered if they would ever cease.

The heat numbed my body to the throbbing pain of my physical wounds, and the searing agony of my emotional ones.

The sting of my mortification was a relentless torment, as I stood there wondering with a sense of desperation, how I could ever begin to make amends for such a heinous betrayal. The question echoed through my mind like a scream in the darkness, how could I possibly redeem myself from a cruelty so profound, a hurt so irreparable?

Karissa’s radiant face floated through my mind’s eye, transporting me back to the moment we first met. She was clad in a vibrant purple workout suit, her expression a perfect blend of annoyance and amusement as she grumbled and complained to her friends.

Despite her evident distaste for hiking, her energy was infections, and her beauty was undeniable. I remembered the way her eyes sparkled with mischief, even as she protested the great outdoors.

My mind wandered back to the moment our paths first crossed, literally, as we collided at the restroom stalls. I recalled the awkward laugh we shared, the brief apology, and then the unexpected conversation that flowed effortlessly. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring us together, even in such an unlikely place. I remembered the way her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled, the way her voice sounded like music to my ears. That chance encounter had sparked a connection that would blossom into something beautiful, something I had thoughtlessly destroyed.

My mind reluctantly revisited the cherished memories, like a bittersweet nostalgia. I relived the moment we became more than acquaintances on the last day of summer camp, and the thrill of asking her to be my girlfriend after years of friendship, realizing she was the one for me.

I remembered the tender moment I gave her the promise ring in the same spot where we first met, symbolizing my commitment to her.. And later, the proposal, disguised as a casual photoshoot, in that very same place, where I asked her to spend forever with me.

We used to cherish our trips back to California, where we’d reunite and recapture the magic of our memories, camping under the stars, just like we used to. It was our special tradition, our own little world. But now, the thought of being in the same room with me would likely feel suffocating to her, a constant reminder of the shattered promises and broken trust. The horrors of my mistakes had transformed our sacred space into a toxic environment, making it unbearable for her to be near me. The pain of losing our haven, our “us“, was almost too much to bear.

I lost all sense of time as I stood under the scorching shower, my head throbbing in tandem with the pounding water, my heart sinking deeper into the abyss of anguish that threatened to consume me. The nausea churned in my stomach, a toxic mix of guilt, regret, and self–loathing that made my gut twist with the familiar urge to vomit. I clenched my jaw, willing myself not to surrender to the sickness that had been my constant companion since…since everything fell apart.

“Fuck,” I hissed rubbing my chest.

The sound of Margaret’s terrified shrieks shattered the fog of my despair, her voice piercing the air like a siren.

“Keith, Keith, come here fast!” she yelled, the urgency in her tone sending a jolt of adrenaline through my veins. I stumbled out of the shower, my heart racing, and hastily threw on the first clothes I could grab, not bothering to check if they matched or made sense. I rushed out of my room, my mind racing with worst–case scenarios, and sprinted towards the source of Margaret’s distress, my senses on high alert.

1 burst into the guest room, and my world came crashing down. My dad was slumped against the headboard, his body contorted in agony, gasping for air like a fish out of water. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his face was a ghostly pale, his eyes struggling to stay

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“He–he’s having a heart attack,” Margaret’s voice trembled as she whispered, her words piercing my soul like a dagger. She was trying to keep him calm, pushing a pill into his mouth, her hands shakding with fear. I felt like I was frozen in time, unable to move or speak, as I watched my dad’s life hang in the balance.

I stood there, my eyes fixed on my dad’s struggling form, despite having witnessed this scenario before. The familiarity of the situation only seemed to heighten my terror.

“I’ll call 911,” My voice, barely audible, I stammered, the words scraping my throat like a rusty gate. My hands trembled as I fumbled for my phone, my mind racing with the thought of losing him, of not being able to save him. The room seemed to be closing in around me, the air thick with desperation, as I struggled to make the call that could mean the difference between life and death.

Chapter39