Page 46 of In the Mouth of the Wolf (Of Wolves and Kings #1)

46

MARLOWE

T he entire truck was silent. Nolan and Elias seethed, too stunned with anger to speak.

Another alpha? Like there wasn’t already enough testosterone in the house. And would I be expected to…

Seemingly reading my thoughts, Cam answered my question. “I would make it clear to whoever we brought in that he is not entitled to anything you’re not willing to give. He’d be bonded to me and me only.”

“You already have someone in mind, don’t you?” Nolan asked, his tone acidic.

Cam didn’t move or blink before conceding. “Maybe.”

“ Maybe ?” Elias wrapped an arm around me, holding me defensively. “How long have you been thinking about this?”

“Since today,” he replied. “It wasn’t even a serious idea, just an option if it came down to it. But now that we know for certain this other wolf is serious about taking Marlowe, and with Archer being hurt, we could really use some extra muscle. We have no idea how big this other shifter’s pack is, and I’d like to be prepared.”

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. Not a single day since I’d arrived here had been normal. Was this really going to be the rest of my life? Riding one crisis straight into the next?

“I’m loathe to say it,” Archer started, “but I think Cam has a point. The dark wolf shifter pulled my car door clean off. He was strong. Really strong. And until my ribs are healed, I’m a weak link. I dislike the idea of bringing in a wild card, but not more than the thought of being the reason Marlowe gets taken from us. So I vote yes.”

“Oh, this is an election now?” Nolan sneered. “Because I vote hell no. I’m not trusting one of Cam’s buddies in our pack or around our omega. I barely trust her with you assholes.”

“Same,” Elias responded. “I vote no. These commune shifters might be strong, they might have full access to their wolves, but we still have guns. The four of us… or… five? Marlowe, can you shoot?”

“What do you think?” I snapped.

“Okay, so the four of us with Cam’s arsenal can easily pick off a pack of shifters. Let’s start stocking up on silver ammo, too, while we’re at it.”

“Silver?” I asked. “Wait, that’s a real thing?” So far, the myths about shifters had all been wrong. When we could shift, we didn’t rely on the full moon. And we were born, not made from a bite. We also weren’t mindless killing machines, either.

Well, at least most of us weren’t. Who knew about this mysterious shifter who for some reason thought he had some sort of claim over me?

“Yes,” Archer replied. “Silver works for shifters and vampyrs.”

Vampyrs? A memory made its way to the forefront of my mind – I had gotten Mike a silver ring for his birthday last year, and he’d been super awkward about it, saying he had a silver allergy and apologizing for having to return it.

“Regardless, it’s two against two. Marlowe, you’re the tie breaker. Vote no now so we can put this stupid idea to bed,” Elias said.

I didn’t necessarily want to bring another alpha into our group. Even taking sex out of the equation, it was hard enough balancing the oversized emotions of the four of them. Did I really have the bandwidth to add another?

But Cam’s sanity was on a razor’s edge, and Archer would feel better knowing there was another set of eyes on me.

“I want to meet him first.”

I t was past midnight by the time we got home, and while everyone else was exhausted, a thought kept me awake, and I was curious to see if it would work.

I hadn’t packed anything sexy, because why would I have, but I did find it interesting that some short, silky nightgowns had been waiting for me in my drawers when Cam first showed me my nest.

I put one on and then wrapped a robe on top to cover myself.

Archer’s room was down the hall. I tiptoed my way over, knocked on the door, and he told me to come in.

He was laying in an elevated position, plenty of pillows piled behind him while he iced his chest with one hand, a book in the other. He took off his glasses and looked up. “Everything okay?”

I nodded and sat down next to him. “What are you reading?” I asked. He showed me the spine and I read the title out loud. “ Fur and Fangs: A New History of the Great War . Wow, don’t you ever read anything fun?”

He tilted his head in confusion and smiled. “What do you mean? This is fun.”

“Hmm,” I replied, taking his book out of his hand and putting it on his nightstand. “You and I have very different definitions of fun, then.”

His pupils dilated and he moved slightly towards me, then winced. “The heart is willing, but the flesh is weak. I never thought I’d ever say no to you, but…”

“Shhh…” I placed my finger on his lips. “You’re in luck, because I’ve been doing some reading as well, and I think I know how you might heal faster.”

“Not the way I want to do it,” he replied longingly. “I’m pretty sure the doctor told me ‘no strenuous activity.’”

I crossed my arms and huffed. “Oh my god, will you shut up for a second and let me talk?”

He chuckled and dramatically closed his mouth, gesturing for me to continue.

“Damn, finally. Anyway, do you know why shifters were such feared warriors in the past?”

Archer looked at me expectantly but didn’t reply.

“Because their bodies healed when they shifted.”

His expression changed from amusement to surprise, and he cocked an eyebrow.

“It only took about a day and a half between when Elias bonded with me and when he shifted. If you bond with me tonight, you could potentially be fully healed by Tuesday morning.”

He remained silent, his eyes waiting.

“Yes, you can talk now.”

He took a deep breath. “The scientist in me is thrilled with your proposition, but the alpha in me is… not.”

“Oh…” I had thought it was the perfect solution, but I should have expected this. Archer had always been the most hesitant to bond with me. It definitely stung a bit to hear, but I couldn’t blame him. He was a cautious, thoughtful male. It made sense that he’d prefer to wait.

“Sorry, I’ll let you get your rest then. Do you need more water?”

I rose to get up, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back down. “Not for whatever reason you’re thinking. The alpha in me wants to bond you when I’m in peak physical condition, to claim you in the height of passion. This way feels more like a pity bond,” he said, shame creeping along his cheeks.

“It’s not a pity bond,” I replied. How this alpha could ever think that astounded me. “I don’t want to wait a few weeks before you can knot me at full strength again. It’s been one day and I’m already craving you.”

A deep purr resonated in his chest, and I watched as the outline of his cock grew underneath the thin blanket. I reached and slowly traced it with my fingertips, and he swallowed and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.

“Marlowe.” My name was a plea on his breath. “I crave you too, but I can’t really move right now.”

I took two silk scarves out of the pocket on my robe and grinned. “Then don’t.” I grabbed his hand and pulled it up near his head, tying it to the headboard, and then slowly moved across him to do the same on the other side.

The robe slipped off my shoulders, revealing the silky, short, babydoll dress, and he groaned. “This is torture, you know that?”

I lowered myself down to his ear, careful not to lean on his chest. “Exactly, Mr. Lim. If it starts to hurt too much, let me know, and the interrogation will stop.”

With that, I stood up and began pacing by the side of the bed, my hands clasped behind my back. “We know you hid the codes to the safe, and my boss has given me clear instructions that I am to extract their location by any means necessary.”

Archer laughed haughtily, quickly getting into character. “Well, your boss is going to be sorely disappointed, because I’m the only person who knows and I’m not talking.”

I stopped and placed my hands on the mattress, bringing my lips to hover right over his. “You were trained well. You hold up remarkably to physical pain. But you see, I have a method that you may not have tried before. It’s a specialty of mine, and I have broken every male placed in front of me. I guarantee you will tell me within the hour.” I brushed his lips with mine, kissing him lightly. My tongue parted through and darted into his mouth, swirling and teasing as he attempted to stay still and give me nothing in return.

“We’ll see about that,” he replied with a smirk. “Do your worst.”

I bit his lip and laughed. “Oh, I plan to.”

Archer’s breathing remained even, and I pulled down the blanket, revealing the lower half of his body. He wore only a pair of boxer briefs, and I sat down beside him, sliding my hand on top of his erection. “My, my,” I said. “Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Lim. But you know what they say – the bigger the cock, the harder they fall.”

He thrust up slightly to meet my touch. “You’re free to begin whenever you’d like, but the only thing you’re leaving here with is a sore pussy and my cum dripping down your gorgeous legs.”

I slipped off his underwear, his cock springing free. I wrapped my hand around his generous girth and rubbed him up and down. “But don’t you understand? I won’t allow you to spill your seed until you’ve spilled all your secrets.” I licked the bead of pre-cum that had accumulated on the tip. “Coming is for good prisoners only.”

He sucked air between his teeth as I got up again, grabbing a small bottle out of my robe pocket. “What is that?” he asked. “Poison?”

I squirted the liquid into my hand and went back to the bed, continuing to massage his cock. “Oh, fuck me,” he groaned.

“Tsk tsk, not until you give up the location,” I teased. I rubbed the lubrication all the way down his shaft and over his knot and balls. My arms then began pumping in earnest, and I watched as his face contorted, getting closer and closer to his release.

Then I stopped, and he opened his mouth in protest. “What did I say?” I asked. “You’ll come when you give me what I want.”

“The only thing you want is my knot deep inside you.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as he pulled tentatively at the restraints.

“We’ll see about that.” Satisfied he had climbed far enough down the precipice, I placed my mouth over his head and he jerked his hips up.

“Yes, please, swallow my cock and I’ll tell you anything,” he moaned.

His cock slid further into my mouth, and I swirled my tongue around him, using my hands to rub his knot.

My head moved up and down, my eyes trained on his, loving the way he watched me. His expression gave away every sensation he felt, and he was soon reaching climax again.

“Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t…”

I pulled away completely and he grunted in frustration. “I can’t take it, you win. The codes are in locker 23 at the train station. Just let me come…”

Smiling sweetly, I patted him on the cheek. “Mr. Lim, do you think we didn’t check there? Lying will only hurt you.” I pulled my nightgown off my body and sat back on my heels. “At least one of us should get off tonight, don’t you think?”

I grabbed one of my breasts and slid my hand down towards my clit, rubbing it slowly. The scent of Archer’s lust, sea salt and jasmine, had me dripping wet, and I brought my fingers to his mouth, slowly pushing them inside.

He greedily sucked them clean, his eyelids fluttering as he tasted me.

Then I took his cock, throbbing and ready to explode, and rubbed it against my clit, moving it down towards my entrance. “Last chance, Mr. Lim.”

“They’re under the bench at the north entrance to Springs Park! I swear it!”

I carefully lowered myself over him, my pussy more than ready to take him fully. Stopping at the knot, I rolled my hips, stimulating my clit until I was just about to come, and then dropped down completely. Our orgasms tore through us, and he ripped through the silk scarves and sat up, ignoring his fractured ribs and sinking his teeth into the crook of my neck, opposite the side Elias and Nolan had chosen.

Stars exploded in my vision, and I reached behind me to grab his thigh for support. “Oh, Archer,” I whimpered. His release was relentless, and I surrendered myself to the pleasure, letting my own climax hit me again and again until my body shook from the effort.

He licked the bite marks to help seal them, kissed me, and then laid back down, grimacing and reaching for the medicine on the nightstand. “Worth it,” he chuckled painfully, popping one in his mouth.

The connection between me and Archer became stronger, and all the love we felt for each other poured through, my heart feeling nearly full.

Just one more to go.

Normally I enjoyed the time it took for my alphas’ knots to deflate, taking the opportunity to cuddle. But I couldn’t lay on Archer’s chest without hurting him, so I gestured for his book. “Why don’t I read that to you?”

He shrugged and handed it to me. “How many shifters do you think have knotted while reading non-fiction to each other?”

I gave him a little shrug. “What can I say, I’m a trailblazer. What page?

“Seventy-two,” he said, reaching down to give my ass a gentle squeeze.

Scrolling through the table of contents, I noticed something strange. “Hey, these battles sound familiar.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just…” My bond with Archer deepened with each moment, his curiosity coming through so clearly it felt like my own. And in the far distance, I could feel Cam seething in anger.

Poor guy. I’d never meant for him to be last. “How were the locations chosen?”

He rubbed his chin with his thumb as he thought. “I suppose the same way lots of battle locations are – geographical advantages, logistical considerations, defensive positioning, that sort of thing. Why?”

“In that book you gave me on shifter history, it mentioned that we first appeared in groups sporadically around the world. These battle locations seem to correspond. Like here – the Battle of Sedona, close to where shifters started the skinwalker legends. And here, the Battle of Mt. Fuji. Didn’t shifters come from somewhere near there and start the kitsune myth? And here we have the Battle of Skye in Scotland, nearby where stories of wolf-shifting warriors come from. That can’t be a coincidence, can it?”

Archer took the book from me and started reading down the list. “You might be onto something. There’s one in India as well and a few others in the Middle East.” His cock hardened a bit, making me gasp and then laugh.

“This turns you on?”

He put the book down and reached up slightly, his fingers running along his new mark. “ You turn me on. Being bonded to an intelligent and wickedly sexy omega is more than I ever dreamed of.”

I leaned down, bracing myself on my hands to make sure I didn’t put any weight on his injuries. “I have so much love for you all, and I already feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to give each of you the attention you deserve. Are you sure you’re open to bringing in someone new? I don’t want to ruin this.”

His fingers pushed back the hair that fell in my face, and he studied my features closely. I lost myself in his dark brown eyes, framed by the kind of eyelashes girls paid good money to fake. A straight nose above his soft lips and a day’s worth of black stubble making its way across his defined jaw. He was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him.

“If having to divide my time with you a little more guarantees I still at least have time with you, Cam can bond to as many new alphas as it takes to keep you in my life. Even if we were only alone one day a week, a month, a year… Even if you were so tired by the time my turn came around that all you wanted to do was sleep, it would be worth it. You are that precious to me.”

Archer wiped away the tear that fell down my cheek. “I love you,” I said, my voice shaky.

“ Nado saranghae ,” he replied, his eyes shining.

My heart skipped a beat. “Next time we role-play, can you just speak in Korean the whole time? Because that is really hot.”

He laughed, grabbing my hips and adjusting his knot beneath me. “I think I can manage that.”