The Mistress and the Hellhound by Mina Carter

Chapter One
     
     
    Some men could seal their fates just by opening their mouths, and then there were men who could do the same just with a look.
    Both types were currently right in front of Archer Davis. Well, not specifically in front of him. Rather, they were in front of the dais Archer stood on behind the Mistress of the City, with his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Both men looked at the mistress with matching expressions of anger and incredulity.
    “This is an outrage!”
    “The Mistress of the City must be beyond reproach.”
    Archer sighed, tried not to roll his eyes, and reminded himself this wasn’t his circus and these most definitely weren’t his monkeys. If they were… The new presence within him turned and bared its teeth. It would enjoy disciplining the two werewolves shouting at Archer’s woman.
    His woman. A small smile crossed his lips as pride and warmth filled his chest. Reena Leroy, Mistress of the City, and the alpha wolf of the entire city…was his. She’d chosen him as her midwinter offering, tamed him with her body when he was dangerously close to succumbing to conversion madness, and shared his bed each night. They weren’t officially mated, but with one foot in the human world, he hadn’t asked. They were happy as they were. And the sex…The sex was incredible. What idiot would mess with a winning formula like that?
    “The Council of Alphas—”
    “The council what?” The man’s whine was cut off midway as Reena’s voice cracked like a whip. “The council now decides who shares my bed, does it?” Her voice was deadly calm again, one slender leg crossed delicately over the other, and her fingers against her chin. It was her thinking pose when the court was in open session, but only an idiot would think she wasn’t paying attention. Reena always paid attention, she was dangerous as hell that way.
    “No… My lady, we didn’t mean it that way,” Kellan, alpha of the Sutton pack, stammered in objection. His gaze flicked to Archer, who gave him a poker face. It was a bit awkward to have them there when they were objecting to his presence in Reena’s bed. Him…a bitten wolf who had yet to change all the way, when there were perfectly good born wolves who were itching to occupy the position. It was no secret that Kellan was desperate to be there.
    Sorry, bud… If the lady wanted you, she’da picked you. Archer kept his face impassive, even though he wanted to leap off the dais and rip this guy’s face from his skull. But this was Reena’s call, and he promised her that he’d obey her every word until they reached the bedroom door. Then he was in charge.
    She hadn’t said anything about not throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her there though…
    “Then, pray tell, what way did you mean, Kellan?” Reena asked, sitting back in her chair, scarlet painted nails against the padded arms. “Because it very much sounded like the council wanted a say in who I fuck. While I might be open-minded, I’m a one-man woman, and believe me,” she sat forward, “Archer is more than man and wolf enough for this lady.”
    Oh yeah, baby. Archer’s male pride swelled to astronomical proportions and he managed not to sneer at Kellan. Just. The alpha’s set expression radiated anger and frustration, the look he shot Archer one of pure hatred.
    He couldn’t blame the guy. Until Archer had turned up and swept Reena off her feet, Kellan had been considered the ‘it boy’ of the lycan court. The eligible bachelor all the wolfy mama’s were desperate to snag for their daughters, he’d apparently cast himself as the mistress’s consort if the way he spoke to Reena was any indication.
    Despite his flinch at Reena’s crude language, Kellan recovered quickly. Ignoring the hulking figure of Archer, he concentrated on the curvy little woman in front of him. “We’re concerned about you, my lady. As you know, the position of Overlord is a very responsible one. A significant other