Archer
I love that Riley wanted me to stay with her. Although it’s what I wanted too, I wasn’t going to pressure her for it, especially with the way her little brother is acting toward me.
Holding her in my arms feels right though, it’s a feeling I’ll never get tired of. I find myself drifting off to sleep and find myself feeling the most peace I’ve ever felt. I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep without having Riley by my side.
Of course, it was ruined after only a couple of hours when I hear her brother exclaim, “What the hell are you doing?”
Riley huffs as she sits up and states, “Har, it’s not a big deal.”
He glares at her as he says, “It is too, Ri, he’s going to hurt you just like Zane did.”
She looks surprised for a moment like she wasn’t expecting to hear about Zane again, but then she looks upset as she says, “Archer isn’t Zane, Harry, so drop it.”
He looks angry as he says, “You’re just hopping from guy to guy-”
She cuts him off, “I said- enough!”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit reckless-” He continues as if she didn’t speak. Her eyes get wide, and I don’t know if it’s in anger or in panic, worried that he would say something she doesn’t want me to hear. She yells again, “HARRY!”
He continues and she stands up and runs out the door. He follows her yelling, “You can’t run away from me.”
She snaps as she walks out the front door, “Watch me!”
I panic, it’s late at night, she doesn’t need to be off by herself. I say, “Stay here, Harry, let her cool down.”
He looks me up and down and snarls as he walks towards me while I begin to strip so I can shift into my wolf and he yells, “And let you be a ‘knight in shining armor’ not a chance! She’s my sister!”
I can’t help but snap as I look at him and say, “And she’s my mate, now back off!”
I hear his steps falter as he asks in shock, “No you’re not. You can’t be… Zane was and he rejected her.”
I breathe out as I run a hand through my hair and say, “So I’ve heard. I’m her second chance mate, now that you know that can you back off? It’s hard to bond with her when she’s worried about whether or not her little brother will accept me.”
“Are you going to reject her?” He asks in a quivering voice.
I look at him and shake my head no as I ask, “Why on Earth do you think that I would do that?”
He scrunches his face before sighing, “I can’t tell you that.”
I nod and say, “I need to-”
Before I can finish my sentence, I receive a mind link that makes my blood run cold: Alpha, rogues just crossed the border!
Shit. I look at Harry and say, “Get inside, get Brandon and Caleb out here now, and do not leave the packhouse, understood?”
I assume it was the tone of my voice that made him snap into action as he turned around and ran inside. I shift into my wolf, Atticus. We need to find our mate before the rogues can.
Riley
I had to run out of there.
It wasn’t my intention, but from the way that Harry was speaking, I knew that he was going to reveal something that we can’t afford to be revealed.
I run as fast as I can, faster than what a human should be able to do, but I’m not focused on that. I’m too focused on my emotions. I’m scared of getting hurt again and Harry just reminded me of the pain I went through the first time.
I’m allowing myself to get too close to Archer and it’s only going to cause me pain. I need to distance myself from him because once he finds his mate or I take the throne then this relationship/friendship whatever it is will cease to exist.
Tears begin to stream down my cheeks, but I keep pushing myself. My legs are screaming at me to stop, my lungs are burning with the need for air, and I stumble to the ground on my knees as I take shuddery breaths.
I need to calm myself; I don’t want Archer to be worried about me.
As I force myself to slow my breathing, I hear the sound of leaves rustling and twigs snapping. I’m sure Archer has already caught up with me.
Then, I hear a growl.
I freeze as a chill runs down my spine. I take a deep breath and my nostrils flare from the rancid scent of rogues. I don’t know what to do if I run then they’re sure to chase me. All wolves enjoy a good chase.
But if I stay here, they’re sure to kill me too.
They move closer and I look around, perhaps I could climb a tree while I wait for help?
I don’t know, all I know is that I need to move.
I force myself to my feet. I’m a Gemstone Wolf, I am the only heir to the throne, I have to live.
My feet begin to run, but I can hear them as they run behind me, excited by their prey.
Then I hear a cracking sound and then a thumping sound on the ground. I turn around to see both bodies lying there, dead.
How is that possible?
I turn around and let out a small yelp before a hand covered my mouth and says, “Shh, I’m here to protect you, princess.”