The Light in Us

35. Fallon

35

Fallon

I ’m struggling to breathe as I stare down at my menu. The delicious-looking choices swim in front of my eyes, fading.

Wilder Quill is… intense. And all of that attention is solely focused on me, his gaze lingering on my face.

He’s just as big as Fox, broad-shouldered and tall. He lifts his menu up and I take the opportunity to snatch another glance at him, taking in the way his muscles flex in his arm as he pushes back deep chestnut hair. Steel-gray eyes suddenly lift to mine.

Jerking my flaming face away, I turn to Zeke. He’s watching me too, but carefully.

Zeke looks like he wants to take care of me.

Wilder looks like he wants to devour me.

And Fox… I sneak a glimpse at him. He looks like he wants to strangle someone, his jaw ticking as he stares over at Wilder.

I bite down on my lip, and Wilder groans , a deep sound ripped directly from his chest.

“Okay!” Teddy says brightly. “What are we having?”

I’ll take a main course of everyone at this table.

Because good god alive, they’re all freaking delicious. It’s like they went through the hot male catalog and picked out only the best candidates for the Quill pack.

An elderly woman brings over some bottled water, and I almost snatch my glass when Fox pours it to press against my hot cheeks.

“Are you warm, Fallon?”

I shake my head, yanking the glass away. They’re all watching me with matching looks of concern. “No. I’m fine. Absolutely great.”

“Are you sure?” Teddy asks earnestly. “Because we can ask them to put the air-con on.”

He sounds sincere enough, but his lips are twitching. He looks as if he’s about to… laugh ?

I’m saved from my embarrassment as the owner returns to take our orders. When I choose the smallest item, Fox glowers at me. “You don’t want that.”

My chest flutters. “I – I didn’t bring my purse.”

I’ll need to dip into Shaun’s grocery money just to cover this.

Rowan leans forward. “You liked the chicken club yesterday, right? They have an amazing chicken pasta dish here.”

Fox orders it before I can say anything, reeling off a ridiculously long list of food that has my eyes widening. “You can try a little of everything, see what you like.”

“Don’t argue with him,” Teddy says drily. “He’ll order more to make a point.”

“It only took you five years to work it out.” They both smile at each other, and the affection between them makes my chest ache.

“Fallon,” Zeke says softly. “How has your second day been?”

This, I can answer. “It’s been… great.”

We fall into talk about Ink & Quill, and I almost forget where I am as I lean forward, making an animated motion with my hands. “The Editorial department was amazing . All those books on the wall and listening to everyone talk – it was incredible. Better than I ever imagined.”

In my excitement, I nearly tip over my glass. They’re all staring at me, and I stop. “Um. Sorry.”

“No,” Wilder says quietly. “Keep going.”

My cheeks start to burn. “I’ve only had one morning. But I’m going to help Teddy with his manuscripts this afternoon.”

Matching looks of surprise. I glance around, wondering what I’ve missed.

Rowan leans in. “Teddy never lets anyone touch those manuscripts.”

The omega in question looks prim as our food starts to arrive. “Well, Fallon is an exception. Obviously.”

As we eat, I’m cornered on all sides by alphas determined to feed me. Zeke spoons some of his risotto onto the edge of my plate, his cheeks pinking. Fox is adamant that I try everything, his eyes fixed on my expression as if he’s taking notes.

And Wilder… Wilder holds up his fork. “Taste?”

Our eyes meet, conversation fading. He looks nervous as he offers some of his steak. “I haven’t used the fork yet. But it’s delicious. Maybe you’d… maybe you’ll enjoy it.”

His gray eyes seem to darken as I lean forward. I don’t think I could stop myself if I tried. Wilder is… magnetic, almost. And a low thrum of approval sounds in his throat as I open my mouth, wrapping around my body and urging me closer.

Wilder gently slides the tines into my mouth, watching avidly as my lips wrap around the fork. “Good girl.”

He’s… purring ?

My whole body softens unexpectedly, my bones turning liquid as I press my legs together. “It’s… it’s really good.”

I mean it. The steak almost melts in my mouth, the garlic and olives working together as I press my fingers over my mouth and stifle the moan I want to make. “Thank you.”

He stares at me. And without another word, he reaches forward and swaps our plates. “It’s yours.”

Oh. Wow.

This is… I stifle the urge to fan myself in case Teddy makes another joke about the air-con, but I’m starting to melt.

This pack is melting me. Beside me, Rowan is a solid, reassuring presence. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah,” I whisper back. “Are they… always like this?”

“Worse,” Rowan murmurs with amusement. “You’ll get used to it.”

How could anyone ever get used to this ?

He clears his throat, keeping his voice low as Teddy draws the others into a conversation. “When we get back, we’ll sort out your documents. I can register you at a new address and they’ll be sent there. Nobody else has to know, okay?”

I stare at him, my heart pounding. “You can do that?”

He shrugs. “It’s pretty easy. But you’d need to be registered somewhere new, unless you’re happy for them to be sent to your current address.”

I bite my lip. “Somewhere new is fine. But how?”

“You can use ours.” He squeezes my hand, reassuring. “None of us will mind, I promise you. If you’re comfortable doing that.”

“Yes,” I whisper. “Thank you, Rowan.”

He only shakes his head. “No need.”

I catch Fox looking at me when I turn back to my food. But he only smiles. “Okay?”

I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Yeah.”

Maybe… better than okay.

Better than I’ve been in a long time.

I can almost feel it, then.

A flicker, deep in my chest. It starts to glow as Fox orders the whole damn dessert menu, insisting that I try them all.

A flicker of light .