Chapter 7

A rcher sat back from the table and patted his belly. "If you keep cooking like this, I'm gonna have to live in the gym."

Bear chuckled from across the table, Mercy sitting beside him. "I'll make a note to keep orange chicken off the menu from now on."

"Don't even think about it," Tak said around a mouthful, only his third helping. "My tribe cooks good meals, but I like your American food."

Archer pulled an ice cube out of his glass and popped it in his mouth. "It's Chinese."

"Actually," Lucian countered, "it's Americanized Chinese. People in China don't eat half the shit they make here."

Salem wiped his beard with his napkin from his spot next to Archer. "Joy mentioned there's a new bookstore. Does anyone know what type of literature they sell?"

Mercy set down her glass. "From what Cecilia said, it's books right up your alley. A lot of collector's items. All Breed, most of it nonfiction. "

"I'll need to swing by it again," Lucian said. "It was empty when I installed the cameras."

"Cameras?" Archer wondered why a dinky little shop on a farm road would need security. "Who would install cameras in a bookstore? It's not like anyone's going to rob them."

Lucian, who sat a few chairs to the left, finished his water. "People who want to pay me, that's who. I don't ask questions. If he wants laser beams with automatic drop-down steel security bars and booby traps, I don't have a problem with that. I'll fucking dig a moat if the money's good enough. And for your information, people don't rob stores for the merchandise—not unless they're jewelers. They want money. Only shoplifters take the merch."

Archer poked the uneaten peas from his stir-fry with a fork. "Bookstores aren't exactly raking in the cash."

"That one might if they're selling rare books."

"Point taken."

Tak noisily scooted back his chair and got up. Instead of taking his plate to the kitchen, he stood behind Archer and leaned over so their cheeks were almost flush. "Are you going to finish that, or do I need to shovel it in?"

"I don't like peas."

"Then why did you put them on your plate?"

Chuckling, Archer replied, "They came with the rice. I like fried rice."

Tak held up a single pea between his fingers. "And what would happen if this pea crossed the threshold of your lips? Would you perish in a ball of flames?"

Krys, who was seated beside Mercy, gave Archer a wicked grin.

Archer elbowed Tak before leaning away. "You eat it, then."

After popping the pea into his own mouth, Tak scooped the rest from the plate and ate them. "We don't waste food."

"I see someone's practicing for fatherhood," Hope quipped .

"I was going to give them to Catcher," Archer argued, knowing full well that was a lie. Catcher didn't enjoy scraps.

Tak collected as many plates as he could carry. "Anyone going to Dragonfly's tonight better be ready soon."

Hope was the only woman still at the table besides Mercy. The other girls were getting ready to go out. Mercy and Bear had let everyone know earlier that they planned to watch a movie.

"I'm ready," Joy announced when she entered the dining room.

Archer and Mercy both whistled as she twirled around and showed off her black dress. The high waist below her ample breasts reminded Archer of the dresses in those movies where everyone carried dainty umbrellas and spoke in British accents. But unlike in those movies, it stopped around the knees. Even though it was summer, she had on a sheer pink shawl that matched her lipstick and fingernails.

"You're gonna set that place on fire." Mercy stood and touched Joy's shawl admiringly.

"You look pretty," Archer said, knowing that adjectives like hot or sexy weren't appropriate in this situation, especially with her mate sitting next to him. Salem seemed considerably more interested in a few grains of rice that had fallen onto his lap. Archer put his right arm around Salem's chair and lowered his voice. "You should pay her a compliment. A woman like Joy could have anyone. If you don't work for that love, she might look for it elsewhere."

Archer withdrew his arm. While he didn't want to insinuate that Joy was the type of woman to cheat, he certainly knew firsthand how easy it was for unsatisfied women to stray from neglect.

Salem stood and walked around the table. When he stopped in front of Joy, he said, "You look lovely."

She offered him a smile. "Why, thank you, good sir."

Then Salem bowed his head and left .

He wasn't exactly the romantic in the bunch, but how those two ran a relationship wasn't any of Archer's business. Some people weren't affectionate in public, but if she was staying with him, he must have been a hell of a catch in the sack.

"Are you sure you don't want to join us?" Joy asked.

Mercy stood behind Bear and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Bear and I are having a movie marathon tonight. Old Cary Grant flicks. Are you sure you don't want to join us ? Bear made gourmet popcorn earlier." She kissed his neck, and Bear's cheeks flushed. He touched her arms where they crossed over his chest.

"I need time out." Joy's blue eyes sparkled like aquamarine as she fluffed her beautiful hair. "Thanks for lending us your SUV," she said to Bear.

He nodded at her without a word.

Mercy straightened and met Archer's eyes. "That was real nice of you and Krys, suggesting we send dinner home with Noah and Cecilia. She's a sweet gal."

Krys rested his arms on the table and stared at one of his rings. "They need it more than we do."

Tak returned to the room and collected another dish. "And why is that?"

Archer sat back. "When we drove to their house to move the books, their refrigerator was empty. All they had was a case of beer, condiments, and a package of hot dogs."

"The cabinets were empty too," Krys added.

One thing that had run on a continuous loop in Archer's mind since seeing the state of her apartment was that Cecilia didn't receive enough nourishment. Being that he was a predator who understood the importance of providing food for his family, Noah should have a stocked fridge at all times. It made Archer's jaw clench just thinking about it.

"Maybe they were due for a grocery run," Tak offered. "You might be jumping to conclusions. "

"I know what hunger looks like," Krys growled. "Their house was a tiny fucking shack. He obviously gets paid shit money if they're living like that."

"Possessions aren't important when you have family," Tak pointed out while carrying plates to the kitchen. "We have to tread carefully with that one."

"Why's that?" Archer asked when Tak left the room.

"Because he's a tiger," Tak boomed from the other side of the wall. Then he returned. "Some men don't like others encroaching on their affairs or implying they can't support their family. Offering him food was generous, but let's not make it a habit. You might insult him. Besides, some people don't want a handout."

Hope arched her brows. "Is that so? What happened to my benevolent mate who fed outsiders near his tribal land?"

Tak crossed his arms. "That was different. They were homeless and eating lizards when I found them. Noah has a nice car and a job. Is he really hurting that bad? He mentioned paying Archer to train him. Never assume the way a person lives reflects their situation. Some people tighten the purse strings to save for things that matter."

"I guess food doesn't matter," Krys muttered.

"Why did you invite her here?" Archer asked Mercy. "She doesn't want to hang out with a bunch of wolves."

Mercy put her hand on her hip. "Mind your business. I make friends with whomever I want. Just like you did with her man. Cecilia's a darling. If you don't like her, that's your problem. But she's my friend, and that's how it's gonna be."

Archer hadn't talked to Mercy about the night she was thrown from her scooter, and it was clear the others hadn't either. Including Bear, who flicked a glance around the table at Archer and Lucian, who had both been there that night. They remembered Cecilia, and that meant they also knew that Archer had slept with her .

Archer hadn't tried covering up that dirty deed. Luckily for him, Mercy didn't remember any of their conversation on the way home, since she had suffered a head injury and shifted more times than she could count.

"Just so everyone here knows," Mercy went on, "Cecilia was the one who led us to Milly's. Don't you boys remember her? Bear does."

Lucian rubbed his face, and Archer cut him a lethal stare that Lucian no doubt picked up in his scent, one that said: Don't say a word.

"I don't remember much about that night." Mercy touched the back of her head. "After all those days sleeping, it's a blur. Especially after we left Milly's. All I know is that you better show her a little respect. She's the reason I'm still here. But I don't want any of you bringing it up with Noah."

Krys twisted around in his chair. "Why the hell not?"

"Because it's her business, and I didn't pry. She doesn't want him knowing about it, so if he starts coming around, don't bring it up."

Krys gave Archer one of those You really can't keep your dick out of trouble looks.

Tak briefly reclined his head and stared at the ceiling. "Cecilia is welcome in this house. So is Noah. Let's stop shoving food in their purses and listen to Mercy and keep out of their business. We don't know what their circumstances are, and I don't care. Let's not wreck a mated relationship our first year here."

"They're not mated," Mercy added while striding toward the door. "They're just living together."

For whatever reason, Archer was relieved by that little tidbit.

Lucian scooted back his chair. "More than I care to know. I'm going to excuse myself from the soap opera unfolding and check out the camera footage from last night. "

Joy crossed the room to Hope. "Did you change your mind about coming?"

Hope stood and brushed crumbs off her shirt. "I'm still afraid I might have an episode. My wolf can't come out anymore, and I never know what might trigger a panic attack."

As soon as she hung her head, Tak wrapped her in a loving embrace and peppered kisses on her head. "I'm going to bathe my woman tonight in bubbles. Should I get the hedge clippers out and trim your toenails?"

Hope laughed brightly and shoved him away. "Don't say such things."

"That's the smile I want to see. I'm going to pamper my mate and daughter tonight," he promised.

"Is that what you've decided we're having?" she asked with a sly smile. "Last week, it was a boy."

He waggled his eyebrows. "How about both?"

She tapped her finger on her chin. "Hmm. Perhaps we'll need more diapers."

Hope's pregnancy put her in a precarious position. Since she couldn't shift to heal, that meant avoiding dangerous projects. She was also struggling with the hormonal changes in her body even though she was only a couple of months along.

A few weeks ago, Hope started feeling a panic attack coming on. Robyn sprang into action, and they worked on breathing techniques while everyone stayed clear. That day, they stopped hammering and kept the house quiet. If a woman shifted while pregnant, it could terminate the pregnancy. The wolf voluntarily goes into hibernation mode to protect the fetus, but if for any reason her wolf thought Hope was in mortal danger, she might come out. And the way Hope described a panic attack as like dying, nobody wanted that.

So Robyn had been holding more yoga and meditation classes, and some of the others joined in so they could know how to help Hope if it ever happened again. While she rarely had an episode, most of them occurred in public without warning. As a result, she was going out less these days.

"So, who all's going?" Krys asked, scooting back his chair.

Joy leaned against the table. "So far it's Robyn, Montana, Mel, Lakota, and Virgil."

"I'm ready," Virgil announced as he entered the room. "Ta-da! How do I look?"

Virgil going out shirtless wasn't an unusual occurrence. His jeans were slung low enough that his V-lines were visible. The studded leather belt kept his pants up, and the leather shoes were a nice touch. The brown fedora seemed like overkill, but what was wrong with this situation were the shiny loops around his nipples.

Mercy's eyes widened. "What on earth did you do to yourself?"

He flicked both nipple rings. "What do you think, Shortcake?"

"I think you've lost your mind." She laughed and walked out of the room with Joy.

"What if you shift with those in?" Bear asked in his deep timbre. "That'll rip you up."

Virgil hooked his thumbs in his pockets. "I have no regrets. Piercings aren't permanent anyhow, so why not have a little fun? Maybe next time, I'll get them in the nether regions."

Archer grinned. "What are those made of? Hey, Krys, grab one of the magnets off the fridge."

When Krys got up, Virgil blocked him.

"The only thing I want stuck to my chest is a warm body." Virgil tipped his hat. "Who's driving, and when are we leaving?"

"They're taking the SUV," Archer informed him.

"Not me." Krys pushed in his chair. "I might want to stay longer or come home early. I'm riding my bike. "

Bear stood and gave Virgil a peevish glance while collecting what was left of the dishes. "Just don't puke in my car."

"No need to worry. I'm riding with Krys," Virgil announced before tossing his hat on the table. "I might want to stay later, too, since Joy and Robyn always run out of steam by midnight. The Virgil Express runs all night long. All aboard ."

Archer didn't understand why anyone would want to ride along with Krys. That man loved his motorcycle, but he also loved scaring the shit out of his passengers. Virgil must have had a death wish.

Virgil waltzed around the table and then wrapped his arms around Archer from behind. "Are you coming?"

"Already told you I'm not in the mood for your crazy shit tonight, Taz. The last time we went out, you had us knocking back shots— without telling us they were spiked with sensory magic."

"Oopsie." Virgil gave him a squeeze. "Don't be a hater. We had fun. It's not my fault you ate those Tater Tots." He let go and smacked the back of Archer's head.

When Archer abruptly scooted back and the chair's legs scraped against the floor, Virgil jumped like a spooked horse and sprinted around the table.

Laughing, Archer stood and pushed in his chair. "Don't get into too much trouble. My wolf is going out for a run. Do me a favor and don't lock the back door like you did last time."

Virgil gave an innocent shrug while leaning against a chair, his damp hair dripping down his back.

Archer enjoyed the brotherhood of the pack. The banter, the stunts they pulled, the jokes—none were malicious, yet it filled a void in his life.

Walking onto the back deck, Archer stripped off his shirt and jeans. The crickets were trilling in the grass, and fireflies blinked in the darkness like twinkling stars. He rarely ever saw any up in Oregon. Down here, everything felt different. The sky seemed bluer, the air drier, and the woods less dense. The wildlife was even different. Instead of otters, bears, beavers, or elk, they had coyotes, skunks, snakes, and mice. Lots of prey for his wolf to hunt.

Archer descended the steps and shifted.

Sniffing the air, his wolf took in the fragrance of lavender, cut grass, and Catcher's territorial markings around the house. He excitedly followed a jackrabbit but lost the scent.

Most Shifters couldn't remember but a few seconds or minutes of their shift. Archer could hang on for about an hour. Most of the time, he'd let his animal take over completely and force himself to black out. Other times, he watched. It was like being the passenger inside a car. He could feel things but not with the same intensity.

His wolf's thoughts raced and tangled with his own, but wolves didn't use language. He saw flashes of images and felt impulses.

When in wolf form, his animal was in charge. And when in human form, Archer was in control. His wolf sometimes woke up, aware of what was happening, occasionally wanting Archer to react a certain way, but his wolf had no control—not unless he forced his way out. As long as Archer remained awake during his shift, he could force his wolf to relinquish power and shift back.

But he rarely did. That just pissed off his animal. A symbiotic relationship between the two was imperative.

After a few laps around the yard, his wolf took off. It was harder to run than it used to be. More pressure came down on the front right leg to compensate for the missing limb. Archer still remembered the fear and panic his animal felt the first time he shifted after he had lost the limb. The guilt would haunt him forever because his wolf was the innocent victim in all this.

He ran for an incredible distance, mindful of territorial markings by neighboring packs or other animal groups. If you didn't mark the perimeter of your land, a Shifter could wander onto it by accident. Nobody wanted to kill or maim a wanderer, so the pack regularly marked the property lines. Since his wolf could smell it from a distance, he didn't have to worry about accidentally drifting onto claimed territory.

Where the hell are you going?

Because his wolf had enhanced night vision, he had no trouble navigating through the brush. So why was his wolf sticking close to the road? He ran as if he knew where he was going, and Archer couldn't recall him ever exploring in this direction. Maybe after he blacked out, his animal went on all kinds of adventures.

Turn around , Archer urged while visualizing their property.

"Woof," he replied.

He ran for miles. A band of coyotes yipped and howled not too far away. Archer didn't like venturing off their territory without a packmate alongside him. Over a thousand acres of property, and his wolf decided to take him on a run in the middle of nowhere.

Archer pushed against his wolf's skin, urging him to go back.

His wolf ran even faster, turning onto yet another road. Out of breath, his pace finally slowed. Saliva dripped from his thirsty mouth as he sniffed the air. A heady scent filled his nose, like leather and oil. They passed a car, and when Archer recognized the house, he panicked.

It was Noah and Cecilia's place.

His wolf sniffed around the edge of the house before taking a leak.

Fuck.

After watering the weeds, he trotted around back and found a hollowed-out rock filled with water. A dim light on the back of the house revealed a small flower garden and not much else. While gulping down the water, his attention snapped up to the bedroom window.

A light switched on.

"What's up with those pants? You look like a clown," Noah said.

"I can't do yoga in a skirt," Cecilia argued. "Hope lent them to me."

"I'm the only one who wears the pants in this house."

Archer wanted to roll his eyes. Guys who talked like that were just asking for it.

"You don't need friends like those, Cecilia. They're wolves."

Archer's ears picked up not only their voices but also the sound of belt buckles and drawers closing. They must have been getting ready for bed.

"They were nothing but nice to me," she insisted.

Noah laughed. "They might seem nice, but you know what happened to Little Red Riding Hood."

"Don't be obtuse. That was just a story."

An uncomfortable stretch of silence followed. Archer's wolf wanted to stand up on his hind legs and peer in the window, but Archer coaxed him away.

Their voices dropped so low that he couldn't hear them anymore.

Archer visualized the road again and running in a field. Let's go!

His wolf ignored him.

"Can I get a scooter?" Cecilia asked.

Noah barked out a laugh. "You've gotta be kidding me. Turn off the light."

Archer's wolf cocked his head and whined.

"What put that idea in your head?" Noah asked.

"I thought it would be cheaper than a car. Mercy has one, and it looks easy to learn. You wouldn't have to drive me to the bookstore or pick me up anymore."

"You'll kill yourself on that thing. Driving you around is how I know you're safe." There was another pause before he continued. "I don't want you to pull another stunt like you did today. You can't take off without asking. All my money's tied up in that place, so if you don't sell those books?—"

"I'll sell them. But a scooter?—"

"Is dangerous," he finished. "Absolutely not. End of discussion."

This was what couples argued over. Even so, it pissed Archer off. It sounded like Cecilia was asking his permission instead of it being a discussion. Tak had put his foot down with Hope once or twice when she wanted to get on the roof, or the time she tried climbing a tree to chainsaw a limb. But her pregnancy made it a unique situation.

Then again, the thought of Cecilia riding a scooter on a dirt road and bouncing around would make him feel uncomfortable too.

"I thought you were supposed to be working late," she argued. "So why did you go to their house to exercise?"

"What I do with my time is my business," he fired back.

When their voices fell to low murmurs, his wolf lost interest and trotted around to the front of the house. As he glanced back, a light caught his attention from the living room.

"It was only two drinks!" she shouted, opening the front door.

"Where the hell are you going?"

"I want to sit outside. Leave me alone."

Archer stood frozen, hoping she wouldn't notice him. Cecilia sat on the porch step in only a T-shirt. He watched the way she folded her arms across her knees and rested her head on them. Then he couldn't see her face anymore, only wisps of hair caught in the breeze.

His wolf snorted loud enough that she lifted her head.

Fearing she would see him, Archer forced his wolf to flee into the night.