“The woman’s staying with us,” Tak said. “I don’t know how long it will take for her to get on her feet, but she has shelter.”
Eden nodded. “That’s good. The sooner I can get him out of here, the better. Does he know where she is?”
Tak rubbed his face. “No, but I’m sure that jackass will figure it out.”
“I won’t mention anything,” Eden assured him. “I’ll leave it up to you. But if he thinks she’s with a pack, that helps. He’d be a fool to cross onto pack territory.”
Tak stretched his arms. “‘Fool’ is one way to put it; ‘dead man’ is another.”
“Those are your rights,” Eden agreed. “If someone trespasses on your land and poses a threat, you have the right to defend yourself.” She rose from her seat. “And that’s all I’ll say about that. May I speak with you alone?”
Archer rose simultaneously with the alpha, and everyone looked at him. “Can I see him?”
Eden’s eyes darted between Archer and Tak. “I’m not sure that’s advisable.”
Stepping forward, Archer said, “I just have a few things I want to get off my chest.”
Tak slid his jaw around and looked at him pensively. “I trust your judgment. But careful not to poke a stick at an angry tiger.”
“Yes,” Eden agreed. “He might trespass on your land, andwho knowswhat might happen to him?” She almost sounded hopeful.
Eden opened the door behind her desk and spoke with someone on the other side. Then she waved Archer over. “Go with this gentleman and do as he says.”
Archer followed the guard down a hall. He walked by a door on the right, noting a window that revealed what appeared to be private rooms. Then he passed a bathroom hall on the left with a drinking fountain and vending machines. Another door on the right was markedFood Storage. He peered through the window at a small commercial kitchen. The guard swiped his badge on a reader by the steel door at the end of the hall and then opened it.
Archer stepped into a wide hall with cells stretching left to right. Straight ahead was a hallway with a door at the end. “What’s down there?”
The guard shook his head. “Maximum security. You’re going to the last cell on the left. You have five minutes. Stay away from the bars, especially if you have anything he could grab and use as a weapon. One guy stuck a pen in my neck.”
Once the guard left him alone, Archer prowled down the wide hall, his eyes locked on the last cell. A man like Noah didn’t deserve to have a spirit animal so powerful.
Reaching the end, he spotted Noah lying on a cot, hands laced behind his head.
When he caught sight of Archer, he sprang to his feet. “Hey, man! Holy shit. I can’t believe you came. Fuck. This place, am I right? I don’t remember anything that happened last night. One minute, Cecilia and I were arguing. The next thing I know, I’m in jail.”
Archer widened his stance. “You attacked her.”
Noah jerked his head back. “Are you pulling my chain? My tiger wouldn’t do that.”
“No, but you would,” he bit out. “She’s beaten and bruised.”
Noah scoffed. “You should have seen what she did to me before I shifted. She instigated the whole thing. I was defending myself.” He wrapped his fingers around the bars, laying on the charm. “Don’t let her fool you. She looks sweet and innocent, but she’s wild. I couldn’t keep her off me. She just kept clawing and hitting and beating my face in. I think she’s got mental issues.”
Struggling to keep his calm, Archer replied, “I saw you in the bar. You had a few scratches. More like the defensive marks left by victims.”
Noah gave him a lethal glare, and the tiger flickered in his eyes. “This is bullshit, and you know it. You’re just pissed because you want her and she’s mine.”
“She’s not yours anymore.”
“And I suppose she’s yours?”
“No,” Archer growled. “She’s her own.”
“Are you here to testify against me or something?” Noah flipped his hair out of his eyes. “Maybe I’ll mention to the Council how you offered me money to sleep with her and that’s why you have a motive to lie and keep me locked up.”
Archer bristled, his wolf pushing at his skin. “That’s not what happened.”
Noah laughed and stepped away from the bars. “Says you, the tripod who can’t even get laid at a sex club. Guys like you play the pity card. I bet Cecilia loves taking care of the poor three-legged wolf. If she ever showed you any affection, it was because she felt sorry for you. And you probably ate it up. A pity fuck is one thing, but she’ll never mate someone like you.” He eased up to the bars. “Because you can never make her feel safe.” Noah paced like a tiger in a cage.
