Page 3 of Arch
The locals back off, muttering, recognizing the Wolf Rider patch on my chest.
The boy, though, doesn’t flinch. He straightens, wiping blood from his lip, and meets my gaze with a defiance that hits me like a shot of whiskey—sharp, warm, dangerous.
“You got a death wish, kid?” I step closer, letting my height and bulk do half the talking. I’m six-two, broad from years of hauling bikes and breaking skulls, and most men shrink under my stare.
But not this one…
“Name’s Keegan,” he says, that smirk still in place, like he’s daring me to take a swing. “And I don’t need your help,old man.”
Old man.
The words sting more than they should, but I don’t let it show.
Up close, Keegan’s even more striking—green eyes that burn with something wild, a jawline sharp enough to cut, and a body that’s lean but strong, like he’s built for speed.
Twenty-two, maybe twenty-three.
Half my age, and twice as reckless.
“You’re inmytown, Keegan,” I say, voice low, each word deliberate. “You start shit in my town, you answer to me.”
Keegan laughs, a short, sharp sound that’s half challenge, half invitation. “Your town, huh? Didn’t see your name on the sign.”
The bartender, a grizzled guy named Sal, steps in before I can respond…
“Arch, he’s new,” Sal says. “Just rolled in a few days ago. Ex-military, from what I hear. Likes to stir shit up.”
Military. T
hat explains the edge, the way he moves like he’s been trained to fight but doesn’t give a damn about rules.
I glance at Keegan, who’s still watching me, that smirk never wavering. There’s something in his gaze now, a flicker of interest that matches the heat pooling in my gut.
I’ve never been one for complications, but this kid—he’s a complication I didn’t see coming.
“Walk away,” I tell Keegan, stepping closer, close enough to smell the sweat on him. “Or I’ll make you.”
The boy doesn’t move, doesn’t blink. Just tilts his head, like he’s sizing me up. “You gonna make me,Daddy?”
The word hits like a spark to dry tinder. It’s mockery, sure, but there’s an edge to it, a challenge that’s more than just bravado.
My blood hums, and for a second, I imagine pinning him against the wall, wiping that smirk off his face, showing him what happens when you poke a wolf.
But I don’t.
Not here, not now.
Instead, I lean in, my voice a growl only he can hear.
“Keep pushing, boy, and you’ll find out what I’m capable of,” I say, my voice full of serious intent.
In that moment, Keegan’s eyes widen, just a fraction, but he doesn’t back down. If anything, he leans closer, his breath warm against my jaw.
“Maybe Iwantto find out,” Keegan says.
The air between us crackles, thick with something I can’t name but feel in every nerve.
I’ve outsmarted every enemy I’ve ever faced, but this—this kid, this moment—feels like a chase I might not win. Not because I can’t, but because I’m not sure I want to…
