Out of Bounds

25

Archer slammed the door closed and dropped himself onto the couch, running a hand through his hair as he uttered a curse.

"Why the f**k is he with that omega?" Archer said out loud.

He had been in a good mood earlier at Kenny’s Store, casually browsing and teasing Shiloh like usual. But the moment he saw that omega following Shiloh around, something inside him snapped. The sight of them together irritated him more than he wanted to admit.

Archer leaned back, jaw tight. It shouldn’t matter. Shiloh could be with anyone he wanted. They weren’t exclusive. They didn’t have that kind of relationship but still… it pissed him off.

His phone suddenly vibrated on the table. Archer reached for it, ready to decline the call, but paused when he saw the caller ID. It's his mother and Archer immediately answered.

"Hello, Mom? What is it? Why did you call?" Archer asked, leaning back against the couch.

"Archer, son, you need to come home. Your father wants to see you," Eloise said. Archer immediately sat up straight.

What the hell could his father want this time?

"Alright, Mom. I’m coming," he replied before hanging up.

He grabbed his keys and headed out of his condo. A few minutes later, he was already driving toward the Whitmore mansion.

When he arrived, the familiar sight of the house greeted him—and he hated it.

The place looked grand and expensive, but the gloomy ambiance never changed. The air always felt heavy, suffocating. Maybe it was because of the strict Patriarch who ruled the house. There was no warmth, no laughter—just silence and tension.

Archer stepped inside and was greeted by the servants, who bowed respectfully as he passed. The place was quiet, almost eerily so.

As he walked further in, he saw Alondra descending the stairs. Archer grinned the moment he saw her.

"Why the long face?" Archer called out.

Alondra looked at him, and her expression instantly brightened. She hurried down the stairs and ran straight toward him, wrapping her arms around him.

"Archer!" Alondra exclaimed. Archer chuckled softly and returned the hug, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

"Where’s everyone?" Archer asked his sister.

"In the dining hall. They’re waiting for us," Alondra replied.

Archer grabbed her hand, and the two of them walked toward the dining hall together. Along the way, Archer started telling her random stories, making her giggle quietly. For a moment, the heavy atmosphere of the mansion felt lighter.

When they arrived, Jansen was already seated at the head of the table. The moment Alondra noticed him looking their way, she immediately let go of Archer’s hand and hurried to her seat.

Archer pulled out a chair and sat next to Alec. He briefly glanced at his mother, who gave him a small, reassuring smile.

"Let’s eat," Jansen said.

At once, the servants stepped forward and began serving the dishes one by one. The sound of utensils and plates filled the quiet room as everyone started eating.

"Archer," Jansen called.

Archer paused mid-bite and looked up at his father.

"You will join your brother and me. We will meet the Wilson family and their youngest daughter, who’s about your age," Jansen continued.

Archer slowly swallowed the food in his mouth. He quietly set down his utensils before glancing at Alec, who continued eating as if nothing significant had been announced.

So this wasn’t a normal dinner like Archer had hoped. It was about the family business again—and this time, he was involved. His jaw tightened slightly.

"Yes, sir," Archer answered.

After dinner, Archer approached his mother to say goodbye. He couldn’t stay any longer in the house that suffocated him. The heavy silence, the strict atmosphere—everything made him restless.

"Leaving already?" Eloise asked softly.

"Yeah, Mom. I still have something to do," Archer replied. Eloise frowned slightly.

"Why don’t you stay for the night? You just got here," she said. Archer shook his head.

"I can’t. I’ll visit again soon," he said. "You know the reason, Mom," he added. She sighed but nodded, knowing her son had already made up his mind. Archer leaned down and kissed her cheek before turning to leave.

Once outside, Archer dialed Dmitri’s number. When Dmitri answered, Archer immediately spoke.

"Come to Groove. I’ll be there."

"You’re already drinking?" Dmitri asked.

"I need a drink," Archer replied shortly before ending the call.

Shiloh, on the other hand, took out the new shoes he bought and tried them on. He stood in front of the mirror, admiring how they looked. He walked a few steps, testing the fit, clearly satisfied.

Then Archer’s face suddenly crossed his mind. Shiloh clicked his tongue and shook his head, pushing the thought away. He continued admiring the shoes, bending slightly to adjust the laces.

"You still don’t have a thing with Cyan?"

Shiloh cursed under his breath and quickly turned around. Slade was leaning casually against the door, arms crossed.

"Will you knock, you i***t?! You scared the s**t out of me," Shiloh snapped. "And for the record, we don’t have a thing. Cyan is a friend. Yes, he’s my friend now," he added.

"Really?" Slade raised a brow. "Because your pictures are all over social media again. There’s even a page for you and him," he added.

"That’s ridiculous," Shiloh muttered, frowning.

"Right?" Slade smirked. "Oh, by the way… Mom wants you to come here tomorrow," he added. He handed Shiloh a piece of paper. Shiloh took it and looked at the address written on it.

"For what?" Shiloh asked. Slade shrugged.

"Don’t know. Mom didn’t say anything," he said. He pushed himself off the doorframe and walked away. Shiloh closed the door behind him and slipped the paper into his pocket, his curiosity growing.

Shiloh tried calling his mother, but she didn’t answer. He heaved a sigh and dropped his phone beside him before sitting on the bed. After a moment, he picked it up again and opened their group chat.

He smiled when he saw Kayden and Connor sending funny videos, along with random memes flooding the conversation. The two were arguing about which one was funnier, while the rest of the team reacted with laughing emojis.

Shiloh chuckled softly and leaned back, resting against the headboard as he continued reading. The chat kept moving fast, messages popping one after another. Eventually, he slid down and laid on the bed, holding his phone above his face while scrolling.

As he switched apps, he suddenly saw a bunch of photos of him and Cyan circulating online. Some were taken earlier at the gym, others in the parking lot, and even one from Kenny’s Store which he didn't even noticed they were students taking their pictures. There were captions, comments, and even edited pictures pairing them together. Shiloh frowned slightly.

He locked his phone and tossed it beside him. Sprawling on the bed, he stared at the ceiling, his mind drifting as silence filled the room.