Page 17 of Redeemed Wolf

“What is it, what’s wrong?” he asked, scenting the air in long inhales. His nose scrunched up in disgust. “What is that stench?”

“My—” I barely stopped myself from blurting out that it was my mate. Was someone listening in even now? “Groceries,” I said, hefting the bags into the kitchen. “Something must’ve spilled in the bag. Come help me with dinner.”

He followed behind me and began putting the food away, making idle chitchat in case anyone was listening, while I hunched over a notebook and wrote a shorthand version of what had happened. Only the important parts—talked to Carter, will talk to him again. Next week I see the others.Nobody needed to know the rest, not yet.

Finding my mate should’ve been cause for celebration, but there was something wrong with him. His scent had soured, and perhaps it had something to do with why I couldn’t sense his wolf.

Shit, how was I supposed to tell Jude that his little brother was broken? Dr. Taylor had done something to Carter, and I needed him to fix it before I could take him home.

Chapter 8

Carter

Something was wrong withme.

I felt like I’d had ten cups of coffee, my entire body shuddering with unspent energy. My knee was bouncing under the desk, the vibration making it hard to get a good look at the sample under the microscope.

Sweat dripped into my eye, and I sat back with a frustrated huff, swiping it away with my sleeve. Why was I so sweaty? I’d been like this since last night, since… Silas. Had he done something to me? Slipped me a roofie or something?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sandra peek over at me. She was no doubt under strict instructions to watch for anything weird and report back to my dad, and nobody wanted that. He’d end up hovering over me again.

Taking a deep breath, I focused on steadying my body. Except, with my focus on the physical, I let my mental guards drop.

Mate, the voice whispered.

“Dammit,” I cursed under my breath, rolling over to the drawer and taking out my pills. I’d made extra sure to take my dose this morning when I woke up, but for some reason, it wasn’t enough today. I shouldn’t have been able to hear voices, should’ve feltnormal.

I’d never needed a second pill before.

I swallowed it without allowing myself to hesitate, then I got back to work. Until about five minutes later when my stomach began to cramp. I gripped my stomach, groaning.

“Carter? Are you okay?” Sandra called over, tugging out one earphone.

“Y-yeah, just… not feeling too well. I-I think I’m gonna be sick.” I lurched off the chair and bolted for the bathroom, but I already knew I wasn’t going to make it in time. I veered off and shoved my face in a trashcan, my insides becoming my outsides. The back of my throat burned from the bile, my core clenching to purge my stomach.

When I was finally done, I fell back onto my ass, struggling to catch my breath. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d thrown up. In fact, I wasn’t sure I ever had. Surely I would remember something this awful… right?

A wet cloth appeared in my vision, and I followed the arm up to Sandra’s worried face. “Better?”

“Y-yeah, I guess.” I accepted the cloth gratefully and pressed it to my overheated forehead, sighing at the cool relief. Maybe it was the second pill I’d taken. Had I accidentally overdosed? Dad said the pills were safe.

“What happened?” My dad came rushing into the room, crouching at my side.

I turned away, keeping my barf breath to myself. “I’m fine, just sick, I guess.”

Dad’s fingers gripped my jaw and turned my face toward him so he could look into my eyes. He hummed as he brushed mysweaty hair back from my forehead. “You’re awfully pale, and it feels like you might have a fever.”

“I feel like it too.” I tried pushing him away, and after a moment, he allowed it and backed up.

“Do you think you can stand?” he asked. He was wearing the frown I’d been seeing more and more often.

“Yeah, I think so. My stomach has settled. Whatever it was is out now.” I made a face, glaring at the garbage can.

My dad stood up and offered me his hand; it felt cold compared to mine. “Up we go.”

My legs felt shaky, and the room spun around me, causing me to reach out and grab the edge of the counter to catch myself before I could fall.

“That’s it, you’re going home for the day,” Dad declared. “And don’t even think of coming in tomorrow.”

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