Page 9 of Rival Love

“A deal with Lunai.” I glanced back to the garage. “We really should get out of here. Vince and his crew could come here at any moment.” I motioned to Archer. “Plus, we should see to his injuries. They are severe.”

Archer removed what remained of his T-shirt, and the peep show I’d enjoyed earlier was nothing compared to the full program.

Oh my Goddess . . .

Archer Sinclaire was a chiseled masterpiece. Ink coursed over his gorgeous chest and along his ribs as well as his arms. I could make a career out of sweeping my gaze over the contours of his form.

Unfortunately, streaks of blood marred the perfection, and when he turned, the view of his back made my eyes tear up.

That sight snapped Phil out of his paralysis too. “Right. Yeah. Of course. Let’s go.” He bent and scooped up Pearce as if the man wasn’t a full-grown Alpha werewolf.

Archer and I settled in the middle seats of the SUV while Phil laid Pearce in the seats behind us. It was a quiet ride to the Sinclaire packhouse, but I could tell Archer was in a great deal of pain. He didn’t sit back on the seat. No doubt because his back was raw. It had the look of ground beef in some spots, and I was certain he’d be left with scars.

Scars from my former mate’s greed and deception.

My hands fisted in my lap.

“Hey.” Archer’s voice was low and hoarse. When his massive hand rested over both of mine, I nearly melted under the heat of his palms, the strength of his fingers, the possessive stroke of his thumb across my knuckles. “Are you okay?”

“Me? I should be asking you that.” I gestured to the seat. “You can’t even sit back. I’m so sorry Vince had this done to you.” I glanced to Pearce. “And for your father.”

Archer’s hand tightened over mine for a moment then he released me and looked over his shoulder at his father. “We were out celebrating. Celebrating me.” He sifted out a long, slow breath. “I can’t believe he’s gone now.”

I slid my hand to rest on Archer’s thigh, which was rock hard under the denim of his jeans. “We’ll avenge his death.”

Something deadly flared in Archer’s eyes. “You better believe we will.”

Chapter Six

Archer

Phil brought the SUV around to the back of the packhouse, and I silently thanked my cousin for being discreet. When I slid out from the back seat, however, I was greeted with nearly ninety percent of the Sinclaire pack. All of them were on their knees before me, giving me the low grunts werewolves gave when accepting a new Alpha. I’d always felt connected to all of them, but now that I was officially their Alpha, it was as if an invisible thread bound us all together. The instinct to protect each and every one of them exploded inside of me.

“Whoa.” Selena put a steadying hand on my arm before I realized I was wavering on my feet.

Phil sidled up on my other side. “Reggie, Franc, get Pearce from the back and prepare him.”

I drew some comfort from knowing my father was now among the pack and would get the Alpha’s burial he deserved. It was even better that fucking Morelli had been denied the chance to dispose of my father—and me—himself.

Selena and Phil guided me into the packhouse, Phil navigating us to the game room.

“You got him for a minute?” he asked Selena.

She nodded and wrapped her arms around my waist, bracing her legs. It had to look ridiculous for someone of her petite size to be supporting me, but I didn’t care. Instead, I relished the closeness of her, the strength I felt pouring from her to me, the heat. With as much pain as I was in, I shouldn’t have been able to think about anything besides that, but a significant part of me thought solely about peeling the clothes from Selena’s body. About worshipping every inch of her. About plunging my needy cock deep into her.

“Oh . . .” Selena’s eyes fluttered closed, her mouth forming an O-shape and her cheeks pinking. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make me nearly orgasm.” She let go of me and swiped a hand across her forehead, which I now realized had beads of sweat dotting it.

I shrugged because I honestly didn’t know how I’d done that, but my lips still curled up in satisfaction that I had managed the feat.

Selena swatted my arm, careful not to touch anything that was injured. “Cocky much?”

“Alphas are cocky. We can’t help it.”

“Tell me about it.” She rolled her eyes, and even looking exasperated she was breathtaking. “I must be out of mind to get involved with another Alpha.”