Page 16 of Rival Love

I let her work for a few moments, my eyes finally growing heavy as that energy boost I’d felt after being with Selena waned a bit. I’d worked a stretch of days at the firehouse this week, not having a day off. Add to that the fact that I’d never made it home last night, having been abducted from the pub with my dad, and I was ready to sleep for a week.

But I couldn’t do that. Vince Morelli needed to be dealt with. I just wasn’t sure how to deal with him yet. He’d sent his wolves after my father and me. He’d killed my father, an Alpha. He’d fucking betrayed Selena. Each one of these were grave offenses in my book. Put them all together and I didn’t see how I could let the dick live. Werewolf rules were pretty simple.

First, protection of the pack was of utmost importance.

Second, territory equaled power.

Third, love your fated mate with everything you’ve got.

I was kinda excited about that last one now. I’d been with other female werewolves but what Selena and I had done in the shower earlier was on a whole other level. I couldn’t wait to have her wrapped around me again.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew a scream made me spring off the pool table, claws extended and canines lowering automatically.

Guess shifting is back online.

I scanned the room, but I was alone. My emergency kit was still on the table, but all the supplies were neatly packed back inside.

Another scream tore through the air, and I shot through the door to find flames engulfing the Sinclaire packhouse.

Chapter Nine

Selena

I wasn’t known for being a screamer, but when fire licked at me from all directions, screaming came naturally. Archer had fallen asleep while I’d been covering his wounds. He’d looked so peaceful that I’d decided to let him rest. After returning supplies to his first aid kit, I’d wandered out to the main part of the packhouse. A few people were strewn about and the moment they saw me, they sniffed the air, knowing I was now Archer’s mate.

“My lady.” A man with bushy gray eyebrows and a wild gray beard had gotten up from his spot at a card table and had bowed to me. He’d then gestured to the others—two men and a woman—sitting with him. “We’d like to thank you for coming to our Alpha’s aid today.”

“I wish I could have gotten there sooner to keep your first Alpha from harm,” I’d said.

“What has come to pass was meant to happen,” the woman had said. She had short brown hair that framed her round face, and large hoop earrings hung from her earlobes. “While we definitely mourn Pearce’s death, Archer is more than ready to lead.”

Her belief in Archer, my Archer, filled me with pride. I barely knew the man, but his pack’s faith in him said so much.

“I’m Walt,” the man who had bowed had said then he’d pointed to the man to his left who had salt-and-pepper hair and kind brown eyes. The man sitting next to him had messy blond hair and a welcoming smile. They all appeared to be in their late sixties I’d guessed. “This is Simon. Next to him is Clark, and that beautiful wolf is my mate, Mara.”

“It’s lovely to meet all of you,” I’d said. “I’m Selena.”

I’d expected some questions about Vince and what the hell I was doing becoming Archer’s new mate, but instead Walt had said, “Would you care to join us? We’re playing for fun. No wagers or nothing.”

“I’d love to.” I’d sat in the seat Walt had pulled out for me. “Thank you. Archer fell asleep while I was tending to him.”

“Sleep is healing,” Mara had said with a firm nod. “That boy will be all right. I once saw him fall from a roof. Heard the bones crack and everything. He popped right back up to his feet after landing on the ground. Like nothing ever happened.”

“Under normal circumstances, that sounds about right for a werewolf of his status,” I’d said, “but he’s got silver in him right now.”

All four of them had hissed and recoiled at the mention of silver.

“Yeah, my ex-mate is a real bastard apparently.” I’d puffed out a breath, wondering for the thousandth time since finding Vince with Vera how I’d missed the clues that my former Alpha was a first rate asshole.

“Some wolves do that sheep’s clothing thing really well,” Clark had said.

“But the true wolf always reveals itself,” Mara had added. “And I have to say that getting paired with Archer is a significant upgrade, honey.”

“No argument there.” One thought of what Archer had done to me in the shower was more than enough proof that he far exceeded Vince in all important areas.

Walt had taken his seat and gathered all the cards to shuffle, but a loud blast outside the packhouse had us all on our feet again.

“What the hell was that?” Clark had raced for the main doors, but they’d burst open, sending the man reeling back.