The Light in Us

38. Zeke

38

Zeke

I ’m humming as I step out onto Teddy’s floor, gripping the gift bag in my hand.

It’s perfectly acceptable to give a new colleague a welcome gift. I glance down again, taking in the pretty notebooks, the set of sleek, colorful pens the sales assistant assured me any omega would adore.

I probably didn’t need to add the cardamom-scented candle, or the silky teddy I couldn’t leave behind. It nudges the gift from something professional into… something else.

But I couldn’t help myself. I’m desperate to spoil my mate, and this is nowhere near enough. But it was enough to quiet the churning of my stomach after a sleepless night spent tossing and turning.

First, I was too hot. Then too cold.

Then my damn stomach started to hurt.

Maybe there’s a bug going around.

Teddy is attending a networking meeting this morning, Fox and Rowan accompanying him, so there’s nobody around as I wander up to Fallon’s desk. Her head is down, focused on her new laptop that Rowan set up for her yesterday. “Fallon?”

She doesn’t respond. And as I get closer, I catch a small pulse of perfume that has me slowing.

Because it smells… bitter, almost. Twisted .

I’m across the room in a second, kneeling beside my mate. “ Fallon .”

Her skin is waxy and paler than usual, a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. My heart feels as if it’s about to burst out of my chest as I stroke a damp strand of hair away from her forehead. Her temperature is sky-fucking-high, and panic has my heart pounding in my chest. “Fallon, love. Can you hear me?”

She murmurs something, and I lean closer.

“Hurts.” It’s a faint whisper, but enough to have my vision darkening until white spots dance in front of my eyes.

My mate is in pain.

“I have you.” My voice is hoarse as I stand, lifting her up and into my arms. Her head lolls against my chest. “You’re going to be okay. I’m going to get you a doctor, okay?”

I don’t take the elevator. Instead I sprint for the stairs, my feet pounding as I carry her down. Her weight is nothing, feather-light as I cradle her. Startled faces flash past us.

“Move,” I roar, and a gaggle of people break apart as I race past them. My phone starts to ring, the bond pulsing. Blood thunders in my ears.

She’s so pale. Her fingers curl into my shirt, a small whine that rips open my fucking chest coming from her. “Okay, baby. I know it hurts.”

I burst out onto the street and start running.

A mist coats my vision.

“I’m taking you home.”