The Light in Us

68. Fallon

68

Fallon

T eddy comes to stand beside me. My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “Wow.”

He studies us both in the mirror with pride clear on his face. “I’m a freaking genius.”

My head just bobs in agreement. Because he is .

I spin, unable to help myself. The sleek, midnight blue gown spins with me, glittering in the light. Matching sleek netting connects from my waist to the edges of my white gloves. And my hair is a shiny, silky sheet that falls down my back.

“They’re going to lose their shit,” Teddy is watching me with a small smile. “I want to tumble you back into that bed and fuck you in that dress.”

I shiver. “Later. After my first gala.”

Teddy grins, checking his phone. “They’re waiting for us. Not so patiently, I might add. I get to go first, so I can see their faces when you walk down.”

He tugs at the sleeve of his tuxedo. “It’s warm in here, isn’t it?”

Frowning, I glance around the hotel room. “It is?”

He shrugs, offering me his arm. “It’s this tuxedo, I swear. Looking this pretty takes sweat. May I escort you, my lady?”

Giggling, I slide my arm through his. “You may.”

We stroll out of the room that connects us to the others on the floor. Fox went a little overboard and booked us a full hotel floor for the night when Teddy insisted on attending this event.

More than enough space for Teddy to claim an area as our personal dressing room.

And as we walk down the stairs, the look on my pack’s faces tells me his efforts were definitely worth it.

Fox smoothly sidesteps the others, strolling to the bottom of the stairs. His purple eyes glitter, and I nearly lose my breath.

They’re all in perfectly matching black tuxedos, hair swept back. My scent begins to prickle, and Fox’s nose flares. “Mate. You look and smell delicious .”

He brushes a kiss against my lips, careful not to smudge the lips Teddy spent a good fifteen minutes on, before he does the same to Teddy. “Luckiest pack in the city.”

“In the country,” Wilder interjects. Fox takes Rowan and Teddy, and I slip in between a speechless Zeke and Wilder as we head toward the ballroom where the gala is being held. People are entering in groups, chatting and clutching glasses of champagne as a string quartet plays in the corner.

Zeke clears his throat. “You look beautiful, Fallon.”

I feel beautiful, surrounded by my mates. They’re noticed as we walk in. “People are watching you.”

“Are they?” Wilder murmurs. “Or are they watching you?”

I nudge him in the ribs. “ Definitely from a book.”

His blue eyes sparkle with amusement, and something hotter as he scans me slowly. His smile is a glint of the feral side of him. “Maybe. But I mean it all the same.”

I smile down at my feet. Wilder hands me a glass of champagne, and I sip on it as I scan the room. Spotting Ed in the corner, I wave. “Can we go over?”

“Sure.” We start weaving in that direction, and somebody moves in front of me.

I glance up with an apology on my lips that fades, my body stiffening.

My mates both still. Wilder’s arm tightens beneath my grip, almost vibrating.

“Fallon.” Ellis smiles at me. But there’s no warmth there as he holds up a champagne glass in silent salute. “Fancy seeing you here. Not dead after all.”

Zeke lets out a rumbling growl. “Walk away, Smith. Before I make you.”

Ellis tuts. “That’s not very nice. What else were we to think? Our omega gone, our home almost destroyed?”

I find my voice. “ My home, I think you’ll find. With my money. And I’m not your omega, Ellis. I never was.”

Irritation flickers in his face. “I’m not sure Rory would agree with that. Would you?”

He grabs the shoulder of the male next to him.

It’s clear that Rory is drunk. His cheeks are already flushed, his eyes glazed. They clear as he stares at me. “Fallon?”

I take a step back. Wilder’s arm wraps around my waist. “Don’t you fucking talk to her. You don’t deserve to breathe the same fucking air as her. How the hell did you even get in? We checked the guest list. Your names were not on it.”

I glance up at him. Watching his eyes flicker. Blue, to gold, to blue.

Not here.

But Rory is frowning. “Fallon, come here. It’s time to come home.”

I almost choke at the demand in his words. “Absolutely fucking not.”

“Come here. Now .”

It’s not a request.

It’s a bark.

My feet move forward before I can stop them, a chill settling into my bones as Zeke yanks me back. He pulls me behind him and shifts forward. “I’m going to tear your fucking head off and I don’t care who’s here.”

But someone else pushes in front of Zeke.

“What the fuck did you just say to my mate?”

Teddy and Rowan flank my back. Teddy lets out a quiet whimper, and I tangle our fingers together as we shrink back.

Rory doesn’t back down. He shoves himself up against Fox. “She’s my fucking omega. Not yours.”

Fox doesn’t move. I don’t see him shift.

But Rory is suddenly choking, his face darkening as Fox grips his neck.

Ellis jumps forward, but Wilder is there. “I don’t need any more fucking reasons to put you on the ground, Ellis. Believe me .”

“Fox,” I whisper. My hand brushes his back. “They’re not worth it.”

“They’re not worth anything,” Fox says quietly. “Because Wordsmiths collapsed today. Many authors – good authors, who didn’t deserve it – have lost their livelihoods overnight. Rumor has it the Smith pack is facing federal fraud charges. Maybe you could confirm, Rory?”

He only chokes, struggling against Fox’s grip. I suck in a breath.

Fox drags him closer. “You are not worth a single damn thing to me. But my mate is worth everything. And not only did you put her through hell, you dared to use your fucking bark on her. You are a worthless excuse for an alpha and putting you down would be a fucking mercy to humanity.”

He drops Rory. “Get on your damn knees. Now .”

I’ve never heard Fox sound like that. Both Teddy and I drop, whines at the back of our throats, but Zeke and Rowan keep us upright.

The dominance.

And Rory – Rory collapses to his knees, staring as if he can’t work out quite how he got there.

As do several other people around us.

I stare at Fox’s back.

He’s that strong.

He just chooses not to abuse it.

Someone else pushes through the gathering crowd.

Shaun.

He doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t intervene. He just watches Rory on the ground, then Ellis, backing away from an enraged Wilder.

But not feral. Not yet, at least.

Rory starts to get up, his face flushes with humiliation. But Fox isn’t done yet. “ Stay .”

Only we hear his words as he leans in. “If you so much as look at my pack again, I will have you tear off your own cock and eat it. Nod if you understand me.”

Through gritted teeth, Rory nods. “ Let me up .”

“No.” Fox turns. “Wilder. Zeke. Can you take out the trash? I believe the police will be along shortly to arrest them.”

I glance around for Rowan. He’s on his phone, but he offers me a wink. And a choice.

Thumbs up. He mouths. Yes?

Thumbs down. Or no?

Fraud charges, Fox said. Fraud that Rowan found.

And now he’s making them pay for it. But he won’t, if I ask him not to.

Ellis rips himself away from Wilder with a snarl. “I’m going.”

This asshole stole my family’s money. Stole everything I had left of my parents.

My lips curl. And I give Rowan a double thumbs up.

He grins, nodding as he begins to speak rapidly into the phone.

Turning his back on Rory, Fox turns to me, his eyes immediately softening as they shift between Teddy and I, clinging to each other.

Teddy is shaking, the movement almost violent.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, trying to soothe him. “They’re going.”

My brows knot when it doesn’t ease. “Teddy?”

Fox is beside me. He reaches for Teddy’s face. “You’re burning up.”

Teddy is gritting his teeth. “ Heat .”

I don’t know who turns more pale. Me, or Fox. He’s already barking instructions to a member of waiting staff nearby.

We’re in a hotel. More than an hour away from home. From Teddy’s nest.

And Teddy…. he’s holding on so tightly, trying not to let it out in front of everyone.

I don’t even know how he’s doing it.

Fox lifts him into his arms. If people weren’t watching before, they definitely are now.

I’m almost shoving people out of the way to make space through the crowd. Rowan appears, nudging me back as he takes over, his height making it easier to cut through. “It’ll be okay. Stay with Teddy and Fox, okay?”

I do as he says, racing with Fox back up the stairs as Rowan disappears. “What do we do?”

“Rowan will clear the hotel.”

Fox kicks open the door to a bedroom, carrying Teddy inside. Teddy moans and twists, and Fox cups his cheek, forcing Teddy to focus on him. “Let it out. Now .”

I stagger back against the wall as Teddy’s perfume erupts. A powerful, crashing wave of chocolate and melted marshmallow that punches straight into my abdomen, squeezing it so hard I have to wrap my hands around my middle.

Fox keeps his hands on Teddy’s cheek. He’s almost vibrating with tension, his jawline so tight it could cut glass. “You are safe. We’re going to make this right, Teddy.”

“Fox,” Teddy moans. He twists again, and Fox sways. “It hurts.”

“I know, love.” Fox’s eyes are glazed when he turns to me.

“It’s okay,” I breathe. I run to him, stroking his face, his chest. “Stay with him. He needs you.”

Fox’s growl rumbles through the room as his head flashes between the two of us. “I—,”

But Teddy cries out again, his hips bucking.

And Fox’s eyes darken. Actually darken , the purple almost turning black as his pupils expand.

When I turn, he snatches my wrist, pushing me down beside Teddy. “ Stay .”

My whole body loosens, something unfurling at the sound of my alpha’s bark. My skin flushes all over as I go limp on the bed.

And then a matching wave of my own perfume pulses into the air.

My whine is torn from my throat as sweat prickles on my chest. My dress is suddenly too tight, too constricting.

A second wave of perfume. This one is stronger.

Almost as strong as the agony that tears through my body. All of it focused on the intense need that consumes my abdomen, my pussy clenching around air.

Fox roars. It’s full of panic and rage as he staggers back

I lock eyes with Fox just as the first wave of my own heat drags me under.

His eyes are the last thing I remember.

And they turn red.