Chapter 11

" T ell me again why the fuck we're driving to a titty bar in Austin?" Krys grumped from the driver's seat of Lakota's black truck.

Archer stared at his phone. "Like I said, we're going to see Noah."

"Yeah, that's what I thought you said. I'm just trying to figure out if you've got a death wish."

"Take another right." He studied the map on his phone. "Cici said something that rubbed me the wrong way."

"That's surprising, considering she rubbed you the right way not long ago. Why the fuck are you calling her Cici?"

"Shut up and drive."

After visiting the girls last night, Archer couldn't stop thinking about what Cecilia had said. How things weren't always what they seemed. Maybe spending time with Noah would enlighten him.

"You fucked his woman, and now you're going to hang out with him at work. Not to mention you invited him over to the house for a workout. It's like you're tempting history to repeat itself." Across the street from the club, Krys turned in to a parking lot marked Overnight Parking: Reservations Only , a Breed symbol on the corner of the sign. "Why the fuck did you invite him into your life?"

"Keep your enemies closer?"

"Jesus. The way you're going, you might as well sleep with your enemies and give them a hand job. You're not just a glutton for punishment—you've permanently reserved a table." Krys jerked the wheel and hit the brakes to park.

Archer cursed when his phone flipped onto the floor. "Keep your mouth shut about this."

Krys flung open the door. "Believe me, cousin, if there's one thing I know how to do, it's keep my mouth shut." He slammed the door and stalked toward the building before Archer even got out of the truck.

The windowless club was unremarkable from the outside and appeared closed. The sign outside said: Pink Lady Studios . Archer knew the name because it wasn't the first time he and the single guys had taken a trip to Austin for recreational activities. They'd asked about all the Breed clubs and bars in the city, but they never came to this one.

Archer pressed a button outside and waved at the camera. A woman dressed like a security guard peered at them through the door before unlocking it.

After poking her head out and scrutinizing them, she opened the door. "You're good. Come on in."

She must have been a Mage. They had the ability to sense Breed energy.

Archer entered a waiting room through another door. Records and photographs of bands and singers decorated the walls—all fake. While Krys added money to the tip jar on the desk and paid the entrance fee, Archer opened the soundproof door on the left and ventured down a hall with a cigarette and a condom machine at the end.

Ah, so it's that kind of club.

Prophylactics were a peculiar offering since Breed didn't catch nor carry sexually transmitted diseases, so likely they were there to prevent pregnancies. Regardless, it meant they promoted sexual intercourse on the premises. Most clubs hired exotic dancers and Sensors to give customers a pleasurable experience without the exchange of bodily fluids. Places like this were seedy and attracted a certain type. Archer wasn't sure how he felt about being seen in here.

Opening another soundproof door, they entered a bright hall illuminated by emerald-green lights. Photographs of the dancers in action decorated the walls, and the stench of stale cigarettes, perfume, and air freshener hung in the air.

When they entered the main floor, Archer scoped out the busy room. Music thumped at a fast beat while three topless girls twirled around poles on individual stages, each lit up by hot-pink lights. Their expert moves and beautiful bodies delighted patrons who observed from surrounding tables. Blue lights lit up the long bar on the far left.

Krys strutted in and put his arm around Archer. "What's your master plan?"

"For you to shut the fuck up?"

"Your wish is my command."

Vampires loved the hell out of these clubs, so conspiring out loud about one of the employees was an invitation for trouble.

While there were tables and curved booths around the floor, the horseshoe booths on the right had black privacy curtains. Archer and Krys walked by roped-off steps that led up to a VIP platform with exclusive seating, lap dances, and private rooms. Places like these had an anything-goes policy, so long as their workers consented .

Because of that policy, they needed bouncers. Vampires were especially ideal for those jobs, but he guessed Noah being a tiger might have given them the assurance that he could handle any situation. Nobody wanted to provoke a tiger.

"How are you handsome gentlemen doing?" A stunning blonde in a transparent dress greeted them with a red-lipped smile.

Archer gave her a charismatic grin. "Just fine."

"Have you been here before?"

Krys cleared his throat while scanning the room. "First time."

She winked flirtatiously at him. "I love popping cherries. I'm Lilah. We have a look-but-don't-touch policy with the servers. All of us are Sensors, so that means we're the only ones allowed to do the touching."

Archer noticed the dancers had no problem with touching, nor did other workers walking around.

"All the servers wear sheer dresses," she pointed out. "The workers with pink ribbon chokers are the pink ladies, and depending on how much you have to spend, they'll take good care of you in one of our private rooms. If you want to look, that's fine too." She leaned in close. "But if you want a sensory experience that will blow your mind and your cock, ask for Lilah. It's better than the real thing."

"We're friends of Noah. He works here. Do you know where he is?"

Her entire demeanor changed in a blink. After a quick shift of her hips and roll of her eyes, she pulled it together and gave a robotic smile. "He's at stage four, over there. As usual. Will you be sitting with him?"

"Yeah."

"What can I get you to drink, honey?"

"Two beers," Archer replied, heading toward the stage at the far end of the room .

Noah's distinctively long hair made him easy to spot when they got closer. His eyes were so trained on the redheaded dancer that he barely noticed them walk up.

"Hey, man." Archer held up his hand in a wave.

Noah's eyes widened with excitement. "Holy shit! What the fuck is up?" He stood and gave him a solid hug with a firm pat on the back. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"We're in town and thought we'd look you up. Cecilia mentioned the name of the club, and we were looking for a little fun. Looks like a cool place."

Noah pulled him in close, his breath coated in alcohol. "Oh, it's fun. You don't know the half of it. Did you order drinks?"

"They're coming."

"Let's go over to VIP."

Archer looked behind them. "You mean the area they reserve for rich assholes?"

"The perks of working here, my friend."

They headed toward the raised platform.

"Aren't you on the clock?" Krys asked, addressing the elephant in the room.

"I like to relax when I get off." Noah pealed out a laugh. "I fucking love a double entendre!" Noah winked at the lady guarding the steps as she unlocked the red velvet rope to allow them entry.

Archer looked at the stage in the back and realized this dancer was completely naked and had superior dancing skills compared to the girls on the main floor.

When the woman crawling across the stage gave Archer a predatory smile, her fangs punched out. All four, which meant she was a Chitah. Spots rippled across her naked flesh, inciting applause as the crowd rained money on her.

Immortals had fetishes about other Breeds, and dancers used it to their advantage. Archer once witnessed a Mage stripper who delighted the crowd by juggling energy balls—a dangerous feat since Wielders had the capability of incinerating a man with those things. While Archer appreciated the work these girls did to survive, he didn't feel comfortable in a sex club.

Not at all.

Noah led them to a curved booth in a dark corner. Archer sat in the middle, Noah on his right and Krys on the left. He needed to keep Krys away from Noah since his cousin had a short fuse and loved to start shit.

"I thought you had to work extra shifts?" Archer asked. "Lucky bastard."

Noah collected his beer from the server. "This place never closes. They needed someone for the morning and afternoon shift. I already put in my hours. Now it's time for daddy to play." He got up and prowled toward the stage with bills wedged between his fingers. The dancer stood and shoved his face in her crotch, grinding against him as he put the bills into her garter. When he walked back, he flicked his tongue salaciously at them and sat back down. "Tracy knows what I like."

A fire burned in Archer's stomach when he saw that. "Don't you worry Cecilia might find out?"

"Fuck, man. We're not mated. You can do what you want until you're officially mated. Even then…"

He left the suggestion hanging.

Archer had been a player his whole life, but deep down, he always knew if he ever chose a mate, he would be fiercely loyal to only her. Maybe because part of him knew the destruction of infidelity. Archer had no desire to mate, so if he did, it would only be for genuine love. He couldn't imagine deliberately hurting a woman who trusted him, nor could he imagine driving that woman away.

Which led his thoughts back to Cecilia. She didn't come across as selfish or the type to hurt anyone. Frankly, the more he got to know this promiscuous douchebag she called a boyfriend, the more he understood what might have driven her to cheat. But one question floated in his mind: If Noah was consumed with pleasures of the flesh, why had Cecilia behaved like a woman starved for affection that night? From his personal experience, Shifter women strayed because of neglect or incompatibility. Noah didn't seem like a man who would ignore a beautiful woman like Cecilia.

Curious about this big job offer that would have them moving out of town, Archer asked, "Does this job pay well, or are you looking elsewhere? Seems like the girls are the ones making all the money around here. Maybe you should find something closer to home and save on gas."

"Fuck that." Noah widened his legs when another woman took the stage. "Storybook is a sinkhole. I sure as hell don't plan on working for a fucking Vampire. What's left? Shitty waitstaff jobs or hauling lumber. I needed to get Cecilia out of the city. Too many temptations around here for a girl like that, and houses are cheap in the country. But my situation is changing. I've got another gig lined up. We're meeting tomorrow."

"What's the job?"

He raised his beer and flashed a cocky grin. "Personal guard. That's where the big bucks are, my friend. They're not easy to come by since the elites rarely change out their guards. This guy doesn't trust Vampires, which works in my favor. And he's loaded. Because he likes routine, I'll have set hours. The only catch is I have to move to Austin since he needs me on call."

Archer noticed Noah's eyes were glazed, his movements slower, his words slurring.

"Thank the fucking gods!" Noah exclaimed. "I can't stand the driving. And some animal pissed on the side of my house. Can you believe that? Too many goddamn packs living out there anyhow. I'm a city boy. No offense to you country bumpkins," he said with a chuckle.

Archer stewed on the idea of them moving away. He wished his wolf had pissed all over Noah's tires in addition to the house.

"Are you guys hungry?" Noah asked. "I eat here all the time. The food's not bad, but it's not great either."

"We're good."

Noah clapped him on the shoulder and lowered his voice. "Doesn't your friend say anything?"

When Archer turned his head to the left, Krys gave him the evil eye.

Noah leaned forward. "What's your name? I know we met once, but it's a fucking blur."

"Krys Kelso. With a K-R-Y."

"What? Did you say Krys Kelso ? Are you shitting me? As in Christopher Kelso? Wasn't he the serial killer I heard about all those years ago?" Then Noah doubled over with laughter.

Krys leaned in tight. "You're right. I fucking hate the prick. Say the word, and I'll beat his ass."

"Cecilia had a good opening day," Archer said over the music.

Noah's head lolled back. "I saw it on the cameras. Good for her," he said begrudgingly.

"She made a lot of money."

"Maybe now I can stop thinking about those fucking books. I don't see what people get out of just sitting and reading a bunch of pages on ancient bullshit nobody cares about. You know what I'm saying? People with books are egomaniacs who think they're better than everyone else. I'm glad I never met her dear old dad. He sounded like a sanctimonious asshole."

Archer guzzled his beer, wondering how a sweet girl had wound up with a drunkard. Then he remembered how her voice lit up when she talked about how they had met—how Noah had wooed her and showered her with attention. Noah probably didn't drink back then, or perhaps he'd kept it hidden. For a girl who'd lived a reclusive life, it wouldn't have been difficult to turn on the charm.

Maybe that's what gnawed at him. Cecilia was a good girl, and she deserved better.

A woman in tall platforms and little else strutted by, the leash in her hand attached to the collar on a black panther. When the animal stepped ahead of her, she jerked the leash. The large cat roared before rubbing against her and joining her side.

Two ladies walked past.

"Come here, princess." Noah waved one over and placed a hundred-dollar bill on his crotch. "Show me how much you want it, baby. Work for it."

The dark woman licked her lips and looked between the men. "Is this a group party?" She got on her knees and stroked his thighs. "I love a party." As swiftly as she took that money and stuffed it into her pink bra, she straddled him.

Noah smacked her ass as she rocked against him, his face buried in her cleavage. After biting her breast, he growled, "I love me a fucking tiger." Noah grabbed her ass, his fingertips digging in deep.

Something shifted on the woman's expression, like he'd taken it further than he should have. If the bouncers were his pals, it would make it easier for him to escape consequences.

"You're too rough," she purred in his ear.

He smacked her ass harder. The popping sound made Archer tense.

Too hard.

"Hey, hey," Archer intervened, reaching in his wallet and pulling out a fifty. "Why don't you go find our server? We could use another round." He winked at her with a look of I will cut off his hand if he does that one more time and offered her the money.

The lady gripped Noah's wrists as she drew back, a professional but condescending smile painted on her pretty face the whole time. "Why don't I find Stacy?"

"Stacy's no fun," Noah said. "She likes it too much. I need someone who begs me to stop."

When Archer turned his head, Krys was nowhere to be found.

Turning his attention to a woman strutting by, he asked Noah, "Where are you staying? We're here for the night."

Noah finished his beer and set it on a narrow round table. "The hotel next door. It's pricey, but they've got a pool and a gym. I'll talk to the guy and see if I can get you a deal. I know everyone." Noah put his arm around Archer. "Stick around, friend. The night is young. I'll show you what a good time is."

Archer woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. Noah's promises of getting them a discount at the hotel had fallen through, so it cost them a lot of money since Krys wanted a separate room. It wasn't that Krys didn't trust Archer; he just didn't like anyone sleeping near him. Archer wasn't sure where he'd gone off to last night, only that they'd met up later in the evening. Noah wanted to stay at the club, so they left him.

After stripping off his clothes, he stepped into the hot shower and let the water beat down on his head.

"Fuck."

He was still diamond hard. He'd woken up with a raging hard-on, which had nothing to do with the strippers and sex workers the night before. His mind had been too distracted, his body too drunk.

That changed when he got back to the hotel and crashed. The erotic dreams he'd had of Cecilia were surreal and yet so vivid that he woke up at one point thinking she was in the room.

Archer shampooed his hair first. While the conditioner set, he used one hand to carefully shake out a travel-sized bottle of soap in his palm. Nothing came easy, and since he didn't want to spill the soap from his hand, he let the bottle drop to the tub basin. Archer washed his left armpit only, yet another fucking reminder that he didn't have two hands. Since he wasn't a contortionist, he didn't bother with the right armpit. At home, he used a scrub brush.

While steam filled the room, he thought about Noah dropping more than a thousand dollars on lap dances, sensory exchanges, and God knew what else that took place later in that soundproof room.

Archer didn't usually drink that much, but as the night wore on, it was the only way to drown the rage bubbling beneath the surface.

He had initially liked Noah. He was a braggart, but who wasn't? And ignoring the fact they didn't have food in the house, Noah treated Cecilia decently from what he'd seen. But now Archer saw him for what he really was—a depraved alcoholic.

The only consolation was knowing they weren't officially mated. Archer recognized how she might be aware of his habits. But after last night, he came to the realization that his wolf smelled competition.

Which meant one thing: Archer wanted her —a horse Shifter. It went against every instinct. She didn't behave like a wolf, and Archer hadn't spent enough time around horses to understand their traits.

Cecilia was everything he'd never desired. She didn't dress provocatively, and every woman he'd ever gone after was the hottest and most unattainable woman in the territory. Cecilia was a bookworm who would rather read than go out, whereas Archer was the life of the party. She was quiet but always had something meaningful to say. And from the way she talked about her father and Noah, she was capable of deep love and unwavering loyalty. There was something so luminous about her—so pure—that he couldn't get her out of his mind.

Things aren't what they seem. Those were her words. Did she know about the women? It almost didn't matter. She knew Noah wasn't the right man for her, and that's why she'd sought out Archer.

If that didn't get him hotter than fuck, nothing did. Now his dick was tight, and the ache in the pit of his stomach made it impossible to ignore. Archer wanted nothing more in that moment than to pursue her.

Help her.

Save her.

Save himself.

He felt feverish just being near her. Archer's hand slowly stroked his shaft as he remembered that night. The way she looked at him like he was the only man that mattered. The way he felt needed in her arms, as if he was her life preserver.

" Fuck ," he breathed, quickening his strokes.

He'd never felt so sensitive and wound up all at once. Flashes of the wicked things they had done that night mingled with fantasies of what he wanted to do.

Archer flattened his back against the cold tile, and the hot water sluiced down on his throbbing erection.

Damn , how he wanted her in there. All stripped down, wet, and begging for him to touch her. Kneeling, licking, sucking, water cascading over her breasts as she pleasured him with her mouth. Then he would do the same with her until she cried out his name.

His wolf stirred with anticipation.

Two months had passed since their fling, and he couldn't fantasize about other women. Archer hadn't even been with another woman since Cecilia .

She had wrecked him, body and soul.

He remembered her eyes on him while he pleasured himself, the way she had reached over and cupped his balls the way he liked. Archer nearly crumbled at the memory.

Then his thoughts switched to Noah and those women—how he didn't deserve Cecilia.

Archer circled his palm repeatedly over his smooth head and growled low in his throat, his wolf pushing against his skin, needing the release.

A dark smile crossed his face when he remembered the night he and Cecilia first met. He thought about how they had fucked on Noah's precious Camaro. And that felt territorial, making his wolf stir with pride.

Mine.

His head lolled back, and the pressure tightened like a coil as he edged closer and felt warm tingles rising. The sexual fantasies in his head faded until all he saw was Cecilia kissing him deep and long, her fingers brushing against his short hair, her body flush to his. A claiming kiss that broke long enough for her to whisper, I'm yours .

He bit his bottom lip, stroking his sensitive dick and edging closer to his release. Archer fantasized about being inside her—that insatiable heat and the way her thighs had wrapped around him. He grunted, pumping faster until his stomach contracted and legs stiffened. He needed this release, and it was right… there .

But he couldn't.

Cecilia wasn't his to fantasize about. He had no claim over her as long as she loved Noah.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Just then, Archer had an epiphany: Cecilia wasn't just a fantasy anymore; he wanted her to be his reality. All his fantasies before had been sexual because that was all he knew of her. Now he wanted to make her laugh, listen to her stories about her old life, hold her close, learn what she liked to eat, take her on a date, hunt for her.

Fuck , did he want to hunt for her.

Archer slammed his fist against the tile. "Why the hell do you keep doing this to yourself?"

The showerhead rinsed the conditioner out, turning the water at his feet hazy white.

For a fleeting moment, Archer actually thought telling her about Noah's secret life might make her fall into his arms. Was he really that gullible? Who was to say she didn't already know? Lots of women cheated on their mate because they were doing the same, but they stayed in the relationship for other reasons. For protection, money, security, children, or even love.

That was enough to soften his dick to a depressing degree.

Someone pounded on his hotel room door.

"Open up!" Krys shouted.

Archer turned off the water and hastily towel-dried himself. Not wanting to bother with tying the towel around his waist one-handed, he answered the door naked.

Krys shoved his way in. "I thought you'd be passed out."

After struggling to get his jeans on, Archer zipped up his fly. "My head is killing me."

"Obviously. You forgot to put your underwear on."

Krys wore his leather pants like second skin, and they were the same pair from yesterday since neither of them had packed clothes. His tank top had gone missing, however.

"Do you think I wasted time showering just to put on dirty underwear?" Archer chuckled. "I'm fine going commando until we get home."

"Dirty underwear never killed anyone. Can't say the same about your nuts getting stuck in the zipper." Krys nonchalantly buttoned Archer's pants, a simple task Archer occasionally struggled with. "How much money did that asshole spend last night? Because by the end, it looked like a fuck ton."

Archer waltzed into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. "What pisses me off is how she has nothing in that house to eat because he's busy stuffing their grocery money into bras and panties." Archer used a complimentary toothbrush to brush his teeth.

"Dumbass," Krys grumbled. "Putting his paycheck right back in the fucking employer's pocket. Those girls split their tips with the house."

Archer spit into the sink. "We need to tell her."

Krys barked out a laugh. "The fuck we do. Stop strolling down drama lane. The first rule of relationship club is you stay out of it. What goes on between them is their business. We aren't her girlfriends."

After pitching the toothbrush into the wastebasket, Archer said, "She deserves better."

Leaning against the doorjamb, Krys gave him a peevish look. "Maybe she knows. Some couples have arrangements. Are you ready? There's a continental breakfast downstairs, and I'm fucking ravenous."

"That's a hard no for me. I drank too much and need to hydrate."

Krys stroked his goatee and scrutinized him. "You're wound up tight this morning. You better put something in your belly before your wolf comes out. If we're unstable, so are they."

"My wolf is passed out." Archer rubbed his eye, unable to shake the irritability he felt after witnessing the shit show last night.

Why the hell did I think it was a good idea to come out here?

Krys clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "Let it go. You two fucked, that's all. Infatuation isn't love. You don't have any obligation to save her from a broken heart. Remember Tak's warning about staying out of their business. Noah's a tiger, and most of them are crazy assholes that thrive on instigating shit."

Archer knocked his arm away and shouldered past him. "You think that scares me?" he asked while putting on his T-shirt.

"It should."

"I'm going to work out."

Krys blocked him, one hand on his chest. His crystal-blue eyes bored into him like a warning. "Don't do anything stupid. I mean it," he ground out. "You already lost one arm for someone who didn't matter. You were lucky it wasn't your head they took. Maybe you haven't fully dealt with your shit, so now you think you've gotta save people. Don't. People aren't worth it." Then he gripped the back of his neck. "Think of where you were then and where you are now. Never look back. You hear me? Fucking never look back, or that pain will swallow you up like quicksand."

"You've watched too many movies. You can't die in quicksand."

"Stop trying to bluff everyone when you have the devil's hand. It's time to fold and get the hell out of this game you're playing. I'm just looking out for you, cousin."

Krys made a valid point, but as Archer headed down to the gym, he couldn't scrape the image out of his head of Noah and all those women. He wasn't even trying to hide his infidelity. Why would he throw away a relationship with such an amazing woman?

Luckily the gym was empty, so he worked on biceps and triceps. He hadn't brought his prosthetic, and since he couldn't use the equipment he wanted, he did crunches and squats for the remainder of the time.

When the door clicked open, he glanced in the mirror at Noah striding in.

"Figured you might be working out." Noah sat on the weight bench. While tying his hair back, he asked, "How long have you been in here?"

Archer glanced at the clock. "An hour."

"That's commitment, something I need to work on if I want to get buff." After stripping off his shirt, he swung his leg over the bench and lay on his back. "How much weight should I start with?"

"The bar. Give me ten and see how it feels."

While Noah lifted, Archer instructed him on how to breathe and keep his chest up. After three more reps, Noah complained about it being too easy, so Archer reluctantly added twenty pounds.

"Keep your grip," he ordered while standing behind his head. "And put it down when you get tired. I've only got one hand to grab it, so if you feel it slipping, better move your ass."

Archer could grab that weight easy with one arm, but one of his peeves was inexperienced men who didn't take this seriously.

Noah took his time, showing off. "The girls said you didn't hit on them last night. If it's because of the arm, they don't give a shit. As long as you put money in their panties, they'll pretend anything you want. Or are women not your thing?"

"I like women just fine. Those women weren't my type."

"Sexy isn't your thing?" Noah lifted the bar, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Yeah, he was definitely out of shape.

Holding the bar above his head, he asked, "What do you think of Cecilia?"

Archer swallowed hard, afraid that Noah had found them out.

Noah lowered the bar to his chest and held it. "She's not exactly a knockout, but she has other desirable qualities."

A brief fantasy flickered in Archer's mind of crushing that bar against Noah's chest until his ribs cracked .

"I get it," Noah continued, pushing the weights up again. "A man has needs. It can't be easy for a tripod to get free pussy. Maybe you just like the quiet ones. That's your kink, isn't it? Am I right? There's no shame in that." He set the bar on the rack and blew out a breath. After he sat up and swung his leg over, he flexed his hands. "I've seen the way you look at Cecilia. I bet it's hard to get a decent lay from a real woman with that defect of yours. Tell you what"—he wiped his face on his shirt—"I'll let you have one night with her. For a price."

Archer stood in stunned silence while Noah put his sweaty T-shirt on and flipped his long hair out.

What the actual fuck?

Noah flashed a wicked grin. "Can't share my girl without getting something in return. But I promise if you like good girls, she'll be worth every penny. We're leaving town soon, so this'll be your last chance." He drew closer. "She's real submissive. That's what you wolves like, isn't it? Predators think alike. She just lies there and lets you do… whatever . I wouldn't offer this to anyone else."

Archer bristled, and a deep, inaudible growl tore through his being when his wolf exploded from his skin. It took a second for his animal to get his bearings, and by then, Noah had jumped behind the elliptical.

"What the fuck? Shift back!" he shouted.

Archer fought for control, even though a small part of him considered succumbing to sleep and letting his animal do… whatever .

He tore across the room, gnashing his teeth and snarling. Then he jerked back as he struggled with his wolf.

Krys burst through the door and assessed the situation. He must have heard the barking and shouting from down the hall where they served breakfast.

"Cool it," he growled, approaching Archer. "I know you can hear me in there. Get your wolf under control. This is a human hotel, and you will land us in fucking jail if you don't shift your ass back. What the hell happened?"

Cowering behind the elliptical, Noah answered in a shaky voice, "The fuck if I know! One minute, we're working out and talking. The next, he's going for the jugular. He better watch it, or I'll bring out my tiger."

"Don't be a dumbass. We're in a hotel." Krys sighed. "I told him not to skip breakfast. Get the fuck out of here. I'll deal with him."

When Noah moved out the door, Archer's wolf lunged.

Krys flew into the path like a quarterback catching a pass. He locked his arms around the hungry beast before they hit the ground. No one but Krys was crazy enough to counter a wolf attack with his body.

The door slammed like a thunderclap.

"Calm the fuck down, fluffybutt. If you tear my throat out, I'll never forgive your ass."

After sniffing him, Archer's wolf licked Krys's neck and then stood and shook his head.

The instant Archer felt a sense of rising calm, he pushed to the surface and shifted to a kneeling position in front of Krys, who was lying on his side.

Just then, the door opened and two older ladies carrying water bottles and towels bustled in.

The short-haired one caught their reflection in the mirror first before spotting them on the floor.

Archer, who was fully naked, realized how they might get the wrong idea with Krys lying below him in nothing but leather.

The lady gasped. "Oh my Lord! You can't do that in here!" She pivoted like a squirrel caught in the middle of a busy highway, her pink shoes squeaking on the gym floor.

When her friend took out her phone, no doubt to capture this ostentatious display on video, Archer covered his privates and yelled, "I don't consent!"

Amusement danced in Krys's eyes as he slowly rolled over and climbed to his feet. "Are you ladies looking for a workout?" he asked, causing the poor women to bump into each other when they whirled around, phones and water bottles bouncing off the floor as they fled for their pearl-clutching lives.