Page 38 of As The Shifter World Turns

“They’re going to stop and say hi, right?” Ryder finally said as the group was coming our way.

I wasn’t sure.

“Hey guys,” Ryder said as they reached our booth. “Having fun?”

“We were.” Ivor replied, as he glanced at Archer who had his head heldhigh and stormed right past. No hello. No grin. No wave. His ass looked good in those jeans though. “Yeah. Thanks for asking.”

“We didn’t think we’d see you here.” Neil said. His arm was tucked into Ivor’s but his gaze followed Archer out the door. “We could’ve come later or something.” He didn’t sound like he meant it.

Shit, none of them looked comfortable about me being there.

“We went to get burgers.” I shrugged, the entire time a feeling of dread came over me, one I couldn’t quite decipher why.

“We gotta go. See you around?” Neil asked.

When Neil was the most comfortable person in a group setting, then something was up. Fucking great.

“Have a good night,” Ryder said.

Before either of us could say anything, a group of drunk kids pushed their way between Ivor and Neil. And the pair were gone.

“Why was that so awkward?” Ryder said as I peered out the door but with hordes of students blocking the way, I couldn’t catch a glimpse of Archer.

Gods, I was in a shit mood.

“Do you think Ivor hates me now that I’m his boss?” Ryder asked.

“No. I think none of that had anything to do with you.” I pressed the heel of my hand against my eye where a headache was now building. It was going to have a chance to build a lot more.

A server stood at our table and before he could say anything I ordered up two beers, the plan to keep them coming.

“If it wasn’t me then?—”

“I think I just became the new Kellan.”

15

A NIGHT UNDER THE MOON

Archer

I loved our weekly barbecues on the roof patio but tonight was different. It’d been a week since that night at the bar. And I was still fuming that Micah had somehow followed us, and then sat there in the same room, eyeing what I was doing.

What I was doing was enjoying an evening with friends, sharing gossip, eating cheap pizza—which tasted better than any fancy schmancy ones I’d eaten—and having a laugh chatting to three kinda cute college freshmen. Now I wished I’d danced up a storm, wriggled my ass and draped myself over one of the guys. Damn Micah and his sidekick, Ryder.

Based on what Ivor had said about his little crush on the stag shifter, maybe it had been Ryder’s idea to stalk us. Unlikely. He was Ivor’s boss and he hadn’t detached himself from Kellan yet. Nope, I’d decided, without any evidence, that it was all Micah’s doing.

We hadn’t spoken all week. I’d been busy. Leaving early, coming home late, collapsing into bed fully clothed, but the project my boss was working on had been put to bed. And I was so ready for an evening with friends on the roof and spending the weekend sleeping. Alone, sadly.

“Archer,” everyone chorused as I set foot on the rooftop patio.

“Am I late?” I asked and pulled my phone out. Neil cleared his throat and pointed to Micah’s sign. “Right. Sorry, I forgot.” He was here. I caught sight of him from the corner of my eye talking to Ryder. Were the pair planning another outing later tonight? Going to hit up another student bar?Sorry to disappoint you, Micah, but I’m staying in. You’ll have to stalk someone else.

No!my wolf whimpered. He’d been pretty quiet lately. Out of sorts. Not doing much except sleeping and unless we’d hunted, he was silent. I hardlyknew he was there. He was disappointed at me rejecting Micah, and I missed my beast. At the bar he’d been pestering me to talk to Micah. But he’d sensed I was determined to not sleep with the guy again, and he was acting as though his last friend had deserted him. I was his friend. His one and only.

“Glad you made it, Archer. I’ve got news,” Daire announced.

Everyone groaned. “Last time you had news, the building was being sold and we all had to leave,” Ivor grumbled.

---