Archer.The sun scorched the construction site, relentless and unforgiving. Sweat trickled down my back as I adjusted my hard hat, the rhythmic clink of tools and hum of machinery creating a cacophony around me.The bell rang, signaling our break time. I wanted to check on Katrina’s condition after what happened earlier, so I headed towards the building and climbed the stairs. As soon as I reached the hallway, a familiar figure greeted me.“Archer Ellington?” she asked, and I nodded in confirmation. “You are…” I whispered, trying to recall her name, but she broke into laughter.“Oh my gosh! You look different! You don’t remember me, your physics partner?” she asked. I bit my lower lip and shook my head. “No, I don’t,” I replied honestly.She sighed but kept smiling. “My name’s Claire! Remember that time in high school with Professor Jacobs?" Claire chuckled, her eyes dancing with amusement.I shook my head, grinning as the memory resurfaced. "You mean the solar-powered toaster fiasco?
Katrina."Ever since we fucked, I can't stop thinking about you..." Archer's voice sent a thrill through my entire being. The sight of his toned body, the smell of the lingering cologne on his skin... I wanted to feel him, taste him. Neither of us moved for what felt like forever. My eyes were glued to his lips, the way they formed words made me feel dizzy, and the way he ran his tongue across them made me want to fall into his arms and let him do whatever he wanted with me.Damn it. My wolf is going crazy for him; and I can’t believe I’m going feral, too!I was inching closer to him, my breath catching in my throat, and I didn't even realize it until our lips almost touched again after that one passionate kiss. By then, it was too late to pull away. Archer leaned in, capturing my lips with his and pressing me against the cool metal lockers with his strong body. I dropped my phone, and he let his shirt fall to the floor. His hands reached for my blouse, pulling it over my head, the
Archer.The rowdy hum of Teddy's bar thrummed in my ears as I nursed my beer, the buzz of voices and clinking glasses creating a cocoon of noise around me. The dim lighting cast long shadows, and the scent of alcohol mingled with the faint odor of sweat and cologne. My friends, a motley crew of construction workers and town regulars, filled the air with laughter and shouts, their faces flushed with alcohol and good spirits.I took a long sip, feeling the cold liquid slide down my throat, and let my gaze wander aimlessly around the bar. Just another night trying to forget the chaos outside these walls. Suddenly, Leon’s voice cut through the din, louder than usual."Bro, look at this video! It's gone viral now."I barely glanced his way, rolling my eyes. "I'm not interested in your porn vids, man—""It's about Katrina, you dumbshit!" Leon shot back, his words sharp enough to pierce through my indifference.At the mention of her name, my heart skipped a beat. I turned quickly, snatching
Katrina.I have never felt so disoriented in my life.Each morning, waking up felt like dragging myself through a fog, thick and suffocating. The past few days had been feeding up my emotions. I felt confused and regretful. Damn it! Why did I fucking confessed to him? What was I thinking? Was it really the right moment, the right words? I had always prided myself on being decisive, but now, doubt gnawed at my every thought.Standing in front of my wardrobe, I stared at the rows of clothes, feeling an uncharacteristic sense of defeat. It’s another day of work to the project site. I wanted to look prettier than the usual, so today is different.“This one? Nah,” I mumbled to myself as I throw away the dull colored dress and find another one. “Seriously, why am I glamming up when I’m just going to the site? It’s not like the Chancellor is there,” I told myself, frustrated because of my behaviour.In the end, I settled on a dress—a soft, navy-blue number that had always been a favorite.
My voice trembled as I tried to explain, "Archer, it's not what it looks like. She attacked me first—"But my words were drowned out by Claire's pitiful wails. "She hates me, Arch! She's always hated me. She wants to ruin everything between us."The intensity of his glare cut through me like a blade, the depth of his disappointment and anger more than I could bear. I stumbled backward, my mind racing for something—anything—to make him understand. "Archer, please, you have to believe me. She—"A voice bombarded the three of us. “What’s happening here?” My dad's authoritative voice broke through the tension, his subordinates flanking him, their curious eyes assessing the scene.“D-Dad.. It’s nothing,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“S-Sir!” Claire uttered in a shaking voice, her feigned innocence sickening. Archer's stern face remained fixed on me, unmoved by my father's presence.One of my dad's subordinates leaned in to whisper something to him. He let out a deep sigh, nodding
Archer.I leaned against the cold steel of the elevator wall, my breath still ragged from the memory that wouldn't leave my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, I was back in that moment with Katrina. The small, confined space of the elevator had only heightened the intensity, making every touch, every kiss, feel forbidden and exhilarating. I remembered the way her hands had roamed my back, her fingers digging into my muscles as if she needed to anchor herself to something real.Just as things were heating up, the elevator jolted to a stop, and we froze. The sound of voices outside sent a shockwave through us, and we scrambled to pull ourselves together. My heart had pounded in my chest, not just from the thrill of our stolen moment, but from the fear of getting caught. The door had slid open to reveal a couple of utility workers, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion. Katrina and I had managed to feign innocence. His father was also there to get her home.“Thank you, Arch
Katrina.I had just found out that Archer was fired because of my father. The moment the news hit, a storm of anger and frustration welled up inside me. Without a second thought, I stormed to my father’s office, throwing the door open and slamming my hands on his desk.“Why did you do it?”“Manners, Katrina. Didn’t Lily teach you that in your Luna lessons?” he responded, his eyes still fixed on his monitor as he continued typing.His calm demeanor only fueled my agitation. “Oh, stop teaching me about manners like a good person, Dad! I know what you did to Archer!”“Ellington, hmm. Him again?” He finally swiveled his chair to look at me, folding his arms and clicking his tongue. “What about him, my princess? Is he pestering you again?”“What? No!”His gaze hardened. “I found a video clip of you and Archer having an intimate moment. You know… the way you look at Archer felt different compared to the way you look at your boyfriend. Anyone could tell there’s something going on between you
Archer gently released me and stepped back, scanning the room as if expecting the shadows to move again. “Did you see anyone?”“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I just heard the knocking. It was so real. I swear, it wasn’t my imagination.”He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I believe you. But we need to figure out what happened,” he paused and squinted his eyes. “I’ll ask you again, Katrina. Are you alright?”Archer’s voice cut through my fear like a knife.“Yeah, I’m fine. I just need to inform the security personnel—”“Give me that.” He reached over, snatching the telephone from my already shaking hand with a firm yet gentle grip. “Someone tried attacking a female worker inside her office! Where the hell were you?! Isn’t someone monitoring the CCTV cameras?!” His voice was a mix of fury and urgency as he barked into the receiver. He slammed the phone back into its cradle and turned to me, his eyes softened with concern. “Let’s go check the camera.”Nodding, I followed him