Archaic (Reverse Harem 2)

For all of us.

But that isn’t what’s happening.

“We have to protect the rest of the Council,” Toshi says as he takes off. “If she kills them, we can’t protect her.”

“I’ll take the men trying to claw their way down the hallway. You get Clarissa stable,” Theo says.

“I’m trying,” I say.

“They aren’t responsible, Clarissa.”

“Yes, they are. They know something, and all they did was taunt me. Jail me. Chain me up and refuse to give answers. They’re complicit.”

“They’re not the men who killed Kyle. Snap out of it!”

Clarissa turns her head to look at me, dropping the Opossum she has between her jowls. Her angry stare is evident, and it’s not trained on me. I can hear Toshi pushing wounded Council members down the hallway. I can hear Theo trying to talk their anger down.

But I also see Clarissa stalking toward me. Her fangs dripping with saliva that could cast me down and force me to bleed out all over the damn floor.

She stalks toward me. On all fours, with her beautiful blonde and brown and black hair wafting around her body. The strength in her back and her legs—it calls to me. The Wolf in her is strong, and it singes my nostrils. Makes them flare with want as the veins in my groin begin to tremble. I can feel my cock rising as she approaches. Getting closer and closer as I stand my ground.

If I shift, it’s perceived as a threat. But there’s no way I can take her in my human form.

Not like this.

“Two days, they chained me up.”

“I know, Clarissa. We came as fast as we could.”

“You and Toshi can never keep it under control.”

“Control your anger, Clarissa. Deep breaths.”

“Is that what Kyle was offered? A few last breaths to calm himself?”

She’s standing in front of me, her eyes boring into mine. I stand tall, with my fists clenching at my sides. My shoulders are rolled back, and I refuse to take a step back. If she wants to move me, she’ll have to do it herself. Poised between Theo, Toshi, and the Council licking their wounds, I won’t let her make this mistake.

I made a vow to protect her.

Even from herself.

“Such beauty.”

Hiro’s voice rips us both from our trance as we pan our gazes over to him.

“Such strength.”

His eyes are burrowing into Clarissa. Looking her up and down.

Taking in her Primal form. There’s something in his eyes I don’t trust. Something that makes his words from Thailand ring out in my head. Loud and strong as I watch the vein in his neck.

Thumping at a slow pace as his scent changes.

His pulse quickens.

His eyes narrow.

“Oh, no,” Toshi says.