Jason's POV

　　Even an afternoon training session hadn't satisfied my wolf. Hours I'd gone one to one with Marcus and his son and my best friend Tommy, the pack's two strongest fighters beside my father and me. The frustration I felt building throughout the day had still not settled inside me. Instead, it was like a rabid beast clawing at my insides! Watching that pompous prick flaunt that girl in front of me had set me off more than I would like to admit, and as the day went on, I found myself wallowing in self-pity! Not sure what I hated more, the fact she was not within my reach or the fact I wanted her to be.

　　"Son, I know it's been a difficult day for you and Archer, but can you get your wolf under control?" My father's cautious tone asked across the table. Raising a brow I shovelled a fork full of mashed potatoes into my mouth, my parents looked around at the omegas that had slowly moved to the outskirts of the pack's communal kitchen and dining hall. Only then could I feel the anxiety and unrest that settled over the room. I hadn't realised Archer's brooding was that obvious and scaring those I cared for.

　　"Sorry, I didn't realise he was being such a..."

　　"Dick?" My dad finished my sentence with a scoff. "I mean, he is growling at anyone who comes close, snapping at everyone who talks, and giving off a 'do not fucking talk to me' vibe." He laughed, sitting back in his chair observing me, my mother's hand linked with his even as they ate dinner.

　　"Sweetheart, what's wrong with Archer?" She asked, concern swirling in her beautiful blue eyes. Looking at her, I smiled; she was one of the kindest wolves I had ever met, a true Luna. Incredibly protective over every member of her pack and family, furiously fierce and loyal, but mostly she oozed a gentle grace that people flocked to. I loved her dearly! She was the yin to my father's yan.

　　"He ran into his mate today! Nearly mauled half the human town upriver trying to stop another male touching her." My father laughed, squeezing her hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. Smiling at her mate dotingly, she pulled her eyes from his to look at me, joy swirling in her eyes.

　　"You found your mate?" I could hear the excitement in her voice and the pride that washed over her face. That look was precisely why I hadn't told her anything. I didn't want to see her hurt if it turned out to be nothing. I didn't even know how I felt yet! The last thing I wanted to do was get her hopes up.

　　"No, she's just a girl," I answered honestly.

　　"A human girl!" My father added with a wink to my mother, who looked between us curiously.

　　"A human? Really?" Her tone seemed laced with nerves. Was she disappointed in me? Why? She was a Luna; after all, did she fear the same as I that the pack would not accept a human?

　　"Yeah, but it's ok; she's not my mate. I would have known. She's just…" I explained, trying to defuse the situation and appease my mothers' fears and maybe my own.

　　"Just what, sweetheart?" She cooed, leaning over the table to take my hand. Her anxiety was almost tangible. I didn't understand what she was more concerned about. That the redhead was my mate, Archer's response, or that she wasn't a wolf!

　　"I don't know. Archer liked her! He thought she was cute, but... That's it, Ma."

　　"She wasn't cute; she was gorgeous!" Archer growled inside my head. "That colouring your sister did last week was cute! The girl was… Perfect!" I could feel the tension in the room again and knew that Archer was emitting 'pissed-off vibes.'

　　"So that's why Archer is" She seemed to pause, trying to pick the right words.

　　"Being a dick!" My father repeated, laughing, my mother swatting his arm and shaking her head apologetically.

　　"Acting up, he is missing her?" She corrected my father with a sympathetic smile.

　　"I guess." Sighing, I looked between them; I didn't know what to do or how I felt. I just knew that Archer was driving me crazy, and given the way the omegas were flinching as they rushed past us, they were feeling the same.

　　"Maybe take him for a run, son; Tommy is heading up the patrol team tonight; you know he will give Archer a good run, tire the fucker out, and then maybe we can all have some peace." With the need to exhaust my body and dull out Archer's inessive whining still not quenched, I took my father's suggestion and agreed to join Tommy and those on patrol tonight.

　　After pack dinner, I made my way out of the back of the pack house; the suffocating August heat had finally started to cool off, leaving a refreshing nip to the air; several pack members were enjoying the cool waters of the lake that cut through the pack house grounds, walking down the rockery steps from the house and across the large field that we used for training, I nodded to a few of the Deltas that were packing up the mats from practice, feeling the paranoia start to kick in, hearing them lower their voices, For the first time I felt utterly self-conscious like everyone was staring at me, Wondering what I would do about the girl!

　　Slipping out of my gym shorts and pulling my top over my head, not wanting to ruin another perfectly good outfit while shifting, I placed them in my locker under the wooden gazebo. The pack trained her daily. To save time, this structure was built earlier this year; everyone had their own locker. Spread throughout were oversized rattan chairs with plush cushions scattered around. It was meant to be used as somewhere to sit and escape the blistering sun or pouring rain, but mainly the teenagers used the area as a hang-out spot.

　　With everything locked up, I headed to the clearing; my bones began to snap, my shoulders clicking as I forced the change, limbs popping and extending, my flesh sprouting white and reddish brown fur, flickers of silver and gold running through the thick glossy coat. Shaking it out with a howl, My wolf needed the run; he needed to have control for a while, let loose and do what comes naturally.

　　"I trust you bud!" I finally announced to Archer, whose paws were pounding the forest floor, and I did trust him.

　　"Maybe you shouldn't!" His answer was laced with a juvenile taunt.

　　"I know you won't go in search of the redhead, even if you want to!" I said confidently, knowing I was right!

　　"Really?" Again I could hear that he was teasing, but I couldn't miss the underlying threat not to push him too far.

　　"Yes, you're hardly going to go up to her in wolf form and traumatise her further!" I affirmed, still confident in my decision to hand him the reins tonight.

　　"I could use your human meat suit!" He provoked playfully.

　　"As much as I want to see that pretty blush on her cheeks, I know she wouldn't appreciate me turning up at her front door, naked." I could feel him working through his response, he was agitated, and I sensed I was making him worse, but before I backed off completely, I had to trust him.

　　"She might!" He declared with a chuckle that had me smiling, knowing he was backing down.

　　"Yeah, she might... or she might call the cops! And if she does, YOU can explain to Pop's why he is picking you up from the police station again!" Checkmate! I thought, feeling him relent and push me to the back of his mind so he could focus on the run and enjoy himself...

　　For a change.