The tension in the car was making me feel sick. My senses were on high alert as I couldn't figure out what Saigon was going to do next. His actions were unpredictable, and he had never spoken to me in that way before. There was a definite change in him.

We approached the garage. My chest felt tight when a red werewolf stepped in front of the headlights.

"The alpha..." I breathed. My skin started to prickle. Swallowing hard, I bowed my head. It was a punishment I had earned. I flinched when the other door opened and closed.

The car was still running. I glanced up to see Saigon standing by my door watching his uncle.

"You stole a car," stated the alpha.

"Borrowed."

"You fucking stole it!" He bared his teeth. "You do not take what is not yours. You know that, Saigon. You broke in the main door and stole a car. The two girls told me where you went. Base Acid is forbidden. I will not let you or him threaten this pack."

I sunk into my shoulders when the alpha motioned to me.

"Get out, Archer, now," said Darius.

I did so and stood beside Saigon. He didn't look worried at all that we were going to be punished. He was higher ranked, so I doubt the alpha's toxin would do much to him. They would hurt me.

"It's Willow's fault," Saigon stated.

"He's a grown-ass man. Archer made the choice for himself."

"Willow did this." Claws appeared on the end of Saigon's fingers. "She instigated everything and you've done nothing to stop it."

"Today is the first time I've heard of them sneaking out," said the alpha. "It seems certain members of my pack have been keeping secrets. You both are included in that."

Saigon was heaving. The energy coming off him was making me fight back the urge to run.

"I know you went to get Archer," said Darius. "I get that. But you should have come to me first."

"You would have waited for him to come back," snapped Saigon.

"Yes," stated the alpha. "I would have because sending a bunch of werewolves into a club filled with teenagers sounds like one big accident waiting to happen. Humans get hurt; WIR gets involved. Aden should be enough for you to know that. If anything happens to your dad, WIR will be right there."

"So you'd rather Archer gets hurt?"

"He's a damn werewolf, Saigon. I hope he can handle a few teenagers." Darius shook his head at his nephew. "Take off your jacket." He motioned to me. "I can't allow this. You went behind my back and put your pack at risk."

My throat felt really dry as I did so. Darius held out his hand. I stepped forward and let out a shaky breath.

"If it still hurts in three days, come and see me."

I stared at the alpha's claws as I showed him my arm. Closing my eyes, I waited. Nothing happened. I could feel his grip but not his claw. Opening my eyes, I saw Saigon holding his uncle's wrist.

"Don't touch him."

"Let go," ordered the alpha.

"Don't touch him." Saigon's fangs came out. Fur started to appear on his arms.

I staggered away from the two. My hands were shaking. I didn't like this feeling or understand it.

"He has to be punished."

"You will not touch him!" Saigon shifted forms and snapped his jaws at his uncle.

"Knock it off!" Darius pushed his nephew and turned to me.

Saigon attacked. I stood there frozen as Darius tried to get a hold Saigon.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" The alpha threw the black werewolf into the car. "I am your alpha."

Saigon dragged his claws across the metal. "Archer is mine. You will not touch him."

What? I was his?

Darius rose out of his defensive position. "What? He's yours?"

"I will not let you hurt him." Saigon marched toward his uncle. "I don't care if you are the alpha. You will not hurt him."

"I'm not going to." The alpha lifted his hands. "I will not hurt him, but you need to calm down."

"No! You don't care. You don't care about him like I do."

"Let's talk," said Darius. "Let's calm down and talk. What do you mean that Archer is yours?"

"I love him! You don't. You don't care what happens." He flexed his hands. "You tried to hurt him."

Darius grabbed his nephew and held Saigon's head to his shoulder. He winced when his nephew's claws pierced his back.

"Breathe," said the alpha. "This isn't you. You're going through a change right now. Deep breathes. No one will hurt Archer. We're going to get in the ATV and go home. We'll talk in the morning."

"You'll hurt him," said Saigon through gritted teeth.

"No, not with you like this. I'll settle for no hunting party for a couple weeks. We'll keep Archer in the cave where he'll be safe. How about that?"

Some of the tension left the black werewolf's body, but he was still heaving.

Saigon loved me? No, no, that couldn't be right. I heard him wrong. I was a dominant. He should want a sub. Fear filled my body as I came to realize what could happen. Saigon was higher ranked. He was going through the changes that signaled the beta. He could claim anyone he wanted, including me. I had to get away from here.

"Just breathe," said Darius softly. "I told you there was a beta in there. The shift came earlier than I thought but I'll help you through it."

I slowly removed my clothes as the two werewolves stood there. Saigon stepped back and took a deep breath. I shifted forms and that caught his attention.

"Archer?"

I moved toward the trees.

"Archer?" He took a step toward me.

I ran. I shifted to all fours and raced off into the trees. This was not happening! Saigon loved me? How long had he been hiding this from me? Did he plan on mating me?

That was never going to happen. I'd never agree to it. I heard something snap behind me and a loud crunch. I glanced back to see a black mass flying through the air. I fell onto my side and shifted so I could protect myself. Saigon changed into his werewolf form as well and hoovered of me. I used my arms to cover my neck and shoulders. His breath warmed my skin as his teeth grazed my hand.

Tears started to form. I had never felt so helpless.

"Don't cry."

"You're going to mark me," I said in a shaky voice.

"No, I wouldn't." He sat up and hugged me. "I'm not." Burying his nose in my fur, he took in a deep breath. "Don't run from me."

I nodded.

"I can't let you go. It's too dangerous. The world is too dangerous."

Peering at him, I noticed something strange about his eyes. He was losing it again to the beta instincts coming in.

"Let's go back," I said. "Let's go back to the garage."

Saigon stood and kept a firm hold on my hand. We met Darius halfway there.

"Did—"

I shook my head. "We're going back."

The alpha forced a smile and started to lead the way. He kept looking at us. We climbed into the back of the ATV, and Saigon put his arm around my shoulders. Darius turned the vehicle on and started the drive back to the cave. I sat very still. I feared anything I did or say might set him off again. I felt like his mind was being taken over by whatever was going on with him.

"Do you hate me?" whispered Saigon.

I shook my head. "No, it was just shocking."

"That's why you ran?"

"I got scared. You were fighting the alpha, but I don't hate you."

Releasing a deep breath, he placed his head on my shoulder. "Something's wrong with me."

"The alpha and beta will help you. Um..." I stared at my hands in my lap. "Congratulations on being the next beta."

He groaned. "Thanks, I guess."