Chapter 70: Chapter 69

Katrina’s POV

It has been three days.

Three days since I found out Archer—the one that I knew from the past who was just an omega—owns that mansion.

Three days since I discovered he’s the Alpha of the pack I’ve been hiding in my life.

My mind reeled every time I thought about it.

Archer, rich?

Archer, powerful?

I couldn’t reconcile the image of the boy I’d known with the man he’d become. And yet, here I was, trying to process it all while pretending it didn’t bother me.

Jordan sat across from me, his expression unreadable. “So, what’s the deal with Alpha Archer and you?”

“There’s no deal,” I replied quickly, too quickly. “He’s just a friend.. That I knew before.”

Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “A friend? What’s the difference between me and him? I’m your friend, too.”

I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat. Jordan had been a constant in my life, a safe space. But now, faced with his unwavering gaze, I knew I couldn’t keep leading him on.

“Jordan, you’re… you’re a great guy. But I don’t feel the same way about you.”

His face fell, and for a moment, I hated myself.

“I see,” he said quietly, standing up. “Well, thanks for being honest.”

I watched him leave my apartment, the sound of the door closing echoing in the silence. My chest felt heavy, but I knew it was for the best.

Later that evening, the news blared from the TV. A hurricane was coming, and evacuation was mandatory for those near the seashore. My heart raced. My apartment wasn’t exactly built to withstand a hurricane.

What was I supposed to do?

As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. I opened it to find Archer standing there, his presence commanding even in the dim light.

“You need to leave,” he said, his voice firm. “It’s too dangerous here. Come to my mansion. It’s safer.”

I hesitated, glancing back at Rosie, who was curled up on the couch.

She was my responsibility, and I couldn’t risk her safety. Finally, I nodded. “Okay. We’ll come.”

The ride to Archer’s mansion was tense. Rosie fell asleep almost instantly, her small frame slumped against my side. Archer didn’t say much, and I was grateful for the silence. My thoughts were a jumbled mess.

The mansion was even more impressive up close. High ceilings, polished floors, and an air of luxury that felt completely foreign to me.

Rosie was shown to a room, and she didn’t even stir as I tucked her in. But sleep wouldn’t come for me. My mind was too busy, my emotions too tangled.

After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, I decided to get some water. The hallway was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon through the windows.

I padded quietly, my bare feet making no sound on the cool floors.

Somehow, I ended up in Archer’s room. I froze in the doorway, my hand gripping the frame. The room was spacious but understated, a contrast to the grandeur of the rest of the mansion.

Archer was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

He looked up when he sensed me, his eyes meeting mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The air between us was thick, charged with something I couldn’t name. Finally, he broke the silence.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

I shook my head, stepping further into the room. “No. Too much on my mind.”

He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. “Same here.”

I didn’t know what drew me to him, but before I realized it, I was sitting beside him.

The proximity made my heart race, and I was acutely aware of how close we were.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For helping us.”

His lips curved into a small smile. “You don’t have to thank me, Katrina. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Something in his voice made my breath hitch.

I looked away, trying to make sense of the storm of emotions inside me. How had we ended up here, like this?

And why did it feel so intense, so undeniable?

“I missed you so much,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with need. His hands cupped my cheeks, his touch firm but tender.

Before I could think or react, he leaned in and kissed me.

His lips were warm, demanding, and it made my whole body come alive.

I gasped against his mouth, and he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding into my hair. My fingers gripped his shoulders, pulling him closer, feeling the heat radiating off his body.

When we broke apart, his forehead pressed against mine, his breathing heavy.

“Katrina,” he said, his voice thick with desire.

“Tell me to stop if you don’t want this.”

I didn’t hesitate. Instead of answering, I pulled him back to me, my lips crashing into his.

My hands roamed over his chest, feeling the solid muscles beneath his shirt. His hands moved down my sides, his touch sending shivers through me.

We stumbled back toward the bed, his body pressing against mine, pinning me beneath him.

His kisses trailed down my neck, his hands sliding under my shirt to touch bare skin. My breath came out in shallow gasps as I felt his warmth everywhere, his weight anchoring me in the moment.

Clothes disappeared in a blur, his hands and mouth exploring every inch of me.

My skin burned wherever he touched, and I couldn’t get enough of him. His name fell from my lips as he moved over me, his body fitting perfectly against mine.

The room was filled with the sound of our breaths and the heat of our passion.

Every movement, every touch, brought me closer to him, erasing any doubts or hesitations. It was raw, real, and nothing else mattered.

Afterward, we lay tangled together, his arms wrapped tightly around me. My head rested on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. I

closed my eyes, letting the moment sink in.

I didn’t know what would come next, but for now, being here with Archer felt like the only thing that mattered.

“Mommy, why are you in Daddy Archer’s bed?” Rosie’s small voice cut through the silence, and I froze.

My heart raced as I realized where I was and what had happened. Rosie stood at the edge of the bed, her wide eyes filled with innocent curiosity.

Archer sat up, his expression calm but firm.

“Beta Caleb, take Rosie out of here,” he ordered without missing a beat.

Beta appeared in the doorway, a grin tugging at his lips. “Woah, Rosie baby, we shouldn’t invade their privacy. They’ve been apart for so long, and now…”

“Beta Caleb, just do it,” Archer snapped.

“Yes, boss.” He scooped Rosie up, carrying her out despite her protests.

The door clicked shut, and I jumped out of bed, gathering my clothes as quickly as I could. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “That shouldn’t have happened,” I muttered, pulling my shirt over my head.

Archer raised an eyebrow but said nothing, watching as I hurriedly dressed and grabbed Rosie from the hallway.

“How about breakfast?” he called after me.

“No, we’re fine,” I snapped, not daring to look back as I left.

Later that morning, I arrived at work, only to be cornered by Madam Levigne in the back.

Her voice was as loud as ever, cutting through the clatter of the kitchen. “Where did you stay last night? That hurricane was a nightmare! Our house almost flew away with the wind!”

“I stayed at…” I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat. “At Jordan’s house.”

Madam Levigne’s eyes narrowed. “Jordan? He was a drunk mess last night during the storm. I saw the news. You told him how you really feel, didn’t you?”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah, I did.”

She wasn’t buying it. “So, where did you really go?”

“I should get back to taking orders now,” I said, avoiding her gaze as I grabbed a tray and headed out.

Even as I moved through the restaurant, my thoughts kept drifting back to last night.

Archer’s touch, his kisses, the way he held me… I shook my head, trying to focus.

But the memory lingered, impossible to ignore.

My distraction proved dangerous. As I approached a table, a familiar figure stepped into my path. It was the man who had been pestering me for weeks.

His leer sent a shiver down my spine.

“Looks like your little protector isn’t here anymore,” he sneered, grabbing my arm.

“Guess you’re all alone now.”

Fear bubbled up, but before I could react, a deep voice cut through the tension.

“Let her go.”

The man’s grip loosened immediately, and he turned to find Archer standing there, his presence commanding.

The entire restaurant seemed to freeze.

Heads bowed as whispers of “Alpha” spread through the room.

Archer stepped forward, his gaze icy. “You dare touch her?”

The man stammered, his bravado crumbling. “I-I didn’t mean anything by it…”

Archer didn’t bother responding. He turned to the man’s friends, who were cowering nearby.

“Get him out of here. And make sure he understands… if he ever bothers her again, there will be consequences.”

The man’s friends dragged him out, his protests echoing behind them.

The tension broke, and the restaurant slowly returned to normal.

Archer turned to me, his expression softening. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. “Thank you.”

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “No one will ever hurt you again, Katrina. Not while I’m here.”

Despite the chaos of the morning, his words brought a strange sense of comfort. For the first time in a long while, I felt safe.