Page 37 of Wolf Traded
ARCHER
Waking up next to Jara is dangerous. Her head rests on my chest and my arm is wrapped tightly around her. She doesn’t move as I trace my fingers over her bare arms. We don’t have anymore peace talks until the afternoon and I find myself not wanting to move from the bed. Like I said, this woman is dangerous.
Her hand moves across my chest and I look down to see her eyes are still closed. Her hand still moves down my chest even in sleep. I’m mesmerized by how comfortable she is in sleep just tracing the lines of my chest. My fingers continue to trail softly over the skin of her arms. “Mmm,” she hums and snuggles closer.
Am I really doing this consciously snuggling with my mate? The idea doesn’t terrify me only what this means for me and the rest of the pack. If I have too many feelings will I be seen as weak? Will my pack end in chaos? It’s what I have always been taught. My father made sure that I knew feelings were a weakness I couldn’t afford but the woman in my arms makes me feel too much in the short time we have been together.
I need to get up put the mask back on and pretend I don’t feel anything for her. Why did I admit that I only want her? Why didn’t I let her believe what she did about just being a placeholder? I couldn’t. In the heat of the moment I couldn’t let her keep thinking that anyone would have mattered as much as she does. I could have fucked that human girl without regrets before I met Jara. I would have before I met her but now all women pale in comparison to my little mate.
Making a decision I finally disentangle myself from my beautiful mate and head for the shower. I’m more refreshed than ever after sleeping with her in my arms and try not to think about why that is. I shower quickly and get dressed for the day when there is a knock at the door.
“Archer, I would like to see Jara, please.” Bonnie, Kyle’s mate nods to me as she asks the question.
“She’s asleep still, Bonnie.” I go to close the door but she puts a hand on it.
“I need to apologize for my mate. He was out of line in many ways yesterday.” She says softly not meeting my eyes.
“I don’t think he will see it like that. Especially after the way he hunted me down in the hotel bar last night and proceeded to tell me she was ruining everything.” I whisper so Jara doesn’t wake up and hear me. It’s not my view. I wish the women in packs were treated better it’s why my beta is female. Strength and loyalty matter more to me than gender. Some alphas think that makes me weak but it actually makes my pack stronger. They just haven’t realized that oppressing the women of the pack will only make them disloyal in the end.
“He’s angry because I’m angry and it’s a vicious circle,” she laughs softly. “The world is changing and these other alphas don’t see that. You and your pack have always adapted and that makes the others uncomfortable. The alpha females see it but our mates are set in their ways and won’t listen to us. I just wanted to apologize to Jara and make sure she’s coming to our meeting today.”
“Meeting?” I ask because this is the first I have heard of a meeting with the alpha females. Why didn’t Jara say anything about a meeting? Probably because when we weren’t fighting we were fucking.
“We have decided that the women need to fix this mess.” She grins. I nod because yes I think the deterioration of the peace talks could use a woman’s touch.
“You are probably right.” I grin. Things are changing and I’m not sure if it’s better or worse. Has Jara really turned all the alpha females against their mates or is she just changing the game? Would it have been this way had she mated Grayson? I don’t think it would have. I don’t think he would have brought her with him just so he could go fuck random humans.
“Is this meeting at the same time that we resume peace talks?” I ask because I don’t want Jara wandering around the hotel alone especially with Kyle and Grayson gunning for her.
“Yes in the sun room.” She nods.
“I’ll make sure she’s there. I’ll walk her down there and pick her up when we are out for the day.”
“That is probably the best solution to a very big problem. That mate you have there, Archer, is something special I can already tell. Don’t leave her alone while you are here and the wolves are circling.”
“I have no intention of doing that, Bonnie. She’s mine so remind your mate that if anything happens to her, it means war.” I stare her down. I know I’m intimidating but the warning isn’t for her. She seems to understand what’s at stake if things don’t change so no, the warning isn’t for her, it’s for her mate and it’s a promise of what is to come should any harm come to my mate.
“Understood, Alpha. I’m not sure how that message will be received but I will deliver it. Please tell Jara how sorry I am for my mates behavior yesterday. He was wrong.”
“He told me you called him an overgrown toddler,” I chuckle and she just smirks as she walks away with a finger wave over her shoulder.
“Who was that?” Jara says around a yawn behind me.
“Bonnie wanted to apologize and ask if you’re going to the meeting.” I shrug as I turn around to find her standing in the doorway to the bedroom in nothing but a towel. My dick is instantly hard just looking at her. Her hair has that mussed just fucked look and I want more than anything to make that a reality.
“What did she want to apologize for?” She frowns. “She didn’t do anything.”
“She wanted to apologize for her mate. He found me in the bar last night and told me she said he was acting like a toddler.” A tinkling laugh escapes her at my words and I grin.
“Well, I’m not one to talk negatively about an alpha but she wasn’t wrong.” She chuckles. It’s in this moment that I remember the bruising on her arm and wrist and look at them. The bruising has turned that sickly shade of yellow that shows it’s healing but hasn’t completely gone away yet. I won’t be happy until his handprint is completely gone from her tanned skin.
“How are your arm and wrist?” I need to know she’s not still in pain or I might start a war right now.
“They are almost healed. I barely feel them now.” She walks toward me her towel firmly in place and reaches up to kiss me. I bend automatically to place a searing kiss on her lips wrapping my arms around her to pull her flush with my body. She groans into my mouth as she feels my hard cock against her belly. Gods I will always want her. This woman is life.
“Good, I may still kill Kyle for hurting you. I don’t like seeing his handprint on your skin.” I say as I run my hand down the offending bruise.
“It’s fine, Archer. I’m fine. I promise. It will be nothing but a bad memory soon. I am not breakable.” She leans in with her head on my chest. It’s too close, too intimate but I sit there for long seconds soaking up the comfort.
