Page 12 of In the Mouth of the Wolf

He chuckled. “Yeah, I bet you are. My room’s real cozy. Why don’t you wait up there with me?”

“No, thank you. I’m engaged.” I flashed my ring.

The man lowered himself until his face was level with mine, bracing his hands against the wall on either side of me and trapping me between his arms. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and sighing. “What kind of fiancé would let his unbonded omega out by herself in shifter territory?”

My heart stopped. Was everyone in this city in on this stupid role-play? “I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be safely tucked away in my room once I get my meal, so no need to worry.”

His scent assaulted my senses, and I started to cough. Tobacco and licorice, about as unappealing as it got. Who would pick that kind of cologne? But as I breathed it in, my will power began to shrink, as though I might actually do whatever this man told me to.

A deep growl resonated in his chest, and I sat up straight, ready to obey. “You’re going to come upstairs with me and ride out this storm while riding on my knot. Got it?”

My mouth opened to say yes, wondering what the hell a knot was, but a firm hand grabbed him on the shoulder and pulled him away.

“She’s under the protection of Pack Wolcott. You need to back off.”

My savior was two or three inches over six feet, with jet black hair that curled slightly at the ends. His brown, upturned eyes glared at the other man beneath round glasses, his plump lips flattened. My gaze ran down his well-defined jawline to his broad shoulders. Despite his leaner physique and dressier outfit – a light blue dress shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbow, and khaki chinos – the corded muscles that ran down his forearms hinted at a man who knew how to use his body. My mouth drooled as I pictured those arms around me.

The other man rolled his shoulders forward and cracked his knuckles, staring down at him. “And why should I give a shit about Pack Wolcott?”

Scoffing, my savior leaned over and whispered something, so quietly I couldn’t hear. But I watched as the big man’s face paled. He turned to me, giving a rushed apology, and then walked out.

“Jesus, what did you say to him?” I asked, the stupor finally receding.

“Nothing polite enough to repeat in front of a lady,” he replied. The scent of sea salt and jasmine danced around me, and I found myself dazed and horny all over again. Crap, this wasn’t any better.

He reached out a hand to shake mine. “My name is Archer Lim. I knew your father.”

“Well, that makes one of us,” I joked. I touched his palm and felt a tingle shoot through my arm. From the look on his face, it seemed he had felt it too. “So, uh, what can I help you with?” I asked.

He bit his lip, looking around the room, then lowered his eyes. “Elias and Camden sent me. They’re worried about you.”

Hearing their names again made my heart skip a beat. Was I angry at them? Turned on? I didn’t even know.

I’d go with angry for now.

“Oh, are they? Feel free to tell them to eat a bag of dicks.” Archer’s eyebrows raised in amusement, and I continued. “I’m not going to be scared into a low-ball offer for my dad’s half of his company. As soon as this weather lets up, I’m on the first flight back to San Francisco and I’m going to find myownlawyer to sort out this mess. Tell Camden to buckle in because I’m not letting any of this go without a fight.”

He let out a low chuckle, then pulled me up from my seat. “Elias said you were funny. Come on, we have a lot to talk about, and I think you all may have gotten off on the wrong foot.”

The hostess came out with a Styrofoam box. “Marlowe? I have your order.”

I took it and gave Archer a sarcastic salute. “Thanks for the rescue, but I don’t think forcing my hand on someone’s crotch really qualifies as ‘getting off on the wrong foot.’”

Archer winced. “Yikes. Can’t argue with you there. More like ‘attempting to get off on the wrong hand,’ then.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. Archer tilted his head, gesturing slightly to the open booth next to him. He was still large enough to be intimidating, but he didn’t emanate aggression and violence quite like Camden or the other man who had come up to me tonight. He seemed calmer, more protective. More akin to Elias, whose aura hadn’t been too bad at first either.

I sighed and apologized to the hostess, asking if I could eat my takeout there instead. She shrugged apathetically and went back to her phone.

“Okay, fine,” I said, “but just know that I still don’t trust a single one of you.”

He nodded, holding my food while I scooted onto the seat. “A wise decision.”

5

ARCHER

She was everything Camden had crudely yet emphatically described – beautiful, enticing, intelligent, and funny. Her long, wavy, strawberry blonde hair framed her heart-shaped face perfectly, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss each of the freckles that dusted her blushed cheeks.

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