Archaic (Reverse Harem 2)

“Don’t start. We’ve got a plane full of humans.”

“Then tell that Cat to shut up.”

“Do you feel that way? Does it bother you that I slept with Theo?”

I physically feel Sebastian shove me from his mind, and it physically hurts. My head pounds and my vision blurs, and for a moment I think I’m going to be sick. I feel Toshi’s hand come down between my shoulder blades as I blink away the pain.

Pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes in an attempt to gain some semblance of control.

I have a dire, seething need to control.

“Clarissa, are you okay?” Toshi asks.

“No, Toshi. I’m not okay. My husband was murdered in cold blood on our wedding night. I have no idea why they didn’t come after me if he wasn’t the target. We’ve found out there’s a secret race

of warriors ready to wipe everyone off the face of the planet.

And I’m stuck on an airplane with two men who can’t keep their urges in check.”

I glare over at Toshi, and he promptly removes his hand. I can tell he’s about to say something, but the plane intercom comes alive with a voice. A disembodied voice telling us we are about to land. I buckle my seatbelt and toss my gaze back out the window as Toshi gets up from the seat beside me. I can hear him shuffling back to his seat.

I can hear his footsteps.

I sigh at the sound of his footsteps.

He wants me to know he’s complying with my wish for him to go away. And it stings a part of my heart I’m not willing to admit to yet.

The path to the hotel is a blur. We each have a small bag, and I can feel Sebastian’s protective hand on the small of my back.

He’s leading me, and for once, I allow it. I’m in no position to dictate where we should be going or what we should be doing.

Sebastian is the one who understands this more than I do.

Understands the Wolves we’re about to interact with.

Though him telling me what I should wear isn’t going to happen again.

I stand in the mirror, taking stock of my form. My hair is down, and I have a bit of makeup on, and I’m wearing very tight clothes. Jeans that cling to my legs and a shirt that leaves little to the imagination. Is this what mated female Wolves wear?

Clothes that showcase their bodies so their alphas can boast?

It’s sickening. I’m not a prize to be won. I’m not an object a human or a Primal can sling around or gawk at. But this is what I have to do in order to go on this mission. So it will be done.

But I’m not happy about it.

“Clarissa?”

I turn at the sound of Toshi’s voice, and his eyes run down my body. Staring at the swell of my breasts and the clothes clinging to my curves. He stands up straight as his eyes rush back to meet mine. I can see the vein throbbing in his neck. Speeding up with the rushing of his heartbeat.

“Yes?” I ask.

“I wanted to come and apologize before you and Sebastian take off,” he says.

“For what?”

“The plane ride over here. What I said. You were right. I have no business inquiring into why you did or didn’t do something with someone else. Especially when the other party isn’t here to defend themselves.”

I nod, but my mind is elsewhere. I can hear Sebastian calling for me.