Jason's POV

　　"Wanna bet!" Archer's low growl filtered through my head; I could sense through our bond how much he liked her; he liked her feistiness, her sass and her stubborn streak!

　　"You know why!" He answered flatly, aware she might still be listening and not wanting to scare her. She wasn't one of us; she wasn't a wolf, she didn't understand our ways. I thought silently, deciding not to answer. 

　　"Not yet!" Archer added. I could hear the excitement in his voice. Which had me a little nervous; he never usually took this much notice when it came to females, so why now?

　　"We can't let her stay here!" He added, his mood changing dramatically, watching the inebriated fool roll around the floor dramatically, pulling his knee to his waist and wailing like a child.

　　 "Oh my god, humans are pathetic", Archer snickered. I closed my eyes and heard Ab's sharp inhale, opening them slowly to see her spinning around a face like thunder.

　　"Buddy, will you try to behave, She. Can. Hear. You." I sighed, getting a bit fed up with her mood swings.

　　"You know why she's so moody? Right?" Archer added his tone, a little too playful for my liking. "Because she is hangry! I told you we should have made her eat more than that rabbit food!" Her face darkened quickly, any hopes that she may not be listening in vanished.

　　"Thanks, Bud! Real Helpful!" I snapped; the pair were driving me insane with their constant sniping at each other.

　　"Look, I am sorry, princess. But if you don't wanna hear what he has to say, you should stay out of my head! Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop!" I said, frustrated at the pair of them.

　　"Wanna hear what I am thinking." The buffoon on the floor laughed, still clutching his knee like it was broken, but at least the wails had stopped. "I think you shouldn't wear a thong with a dress, sweet cheeks." He added, with a deep laugh, nodding his head to Abigail. Realisation dawned on her that he could see up her dress.

　　"Creep!" She gasped, turning to face him, her face red with embarrassment! Between Archer's anger as he roared in my mind to rip his head off his shoulders, Abigail's unmistakable awkwardness and Lizzy stirring in my arms because of the commotion, I sighed heavily, wanting to move this situation along and get away from this whack job, but I knew Archer would not settle till he had said his piece.

　　"She. Is. Not. Staying. Here." He growled angrily.

　　"What would you have me do, buddy? I can't kidnap her and take her back to the pack; she's not a wolf... and how would we explain that to..." Remembering that she was likely listening to Archer and me, I chose my following words carefully. "Everyone?" 

　　"We wouldn't! Alphas don't have to explain shit!" I could feel his mood darkening quickly at the idea of leaving her here; his stress levels had been heightened the longer we walked, knowing she would soon be out of sight, but the fact I was going to leave her here had him ready to take control and fix the situation altogether.

　　"We aren't the pack's alpha yet." I reminded him gently.

　　"Close enough!" His teeth snapped, annoyed at my approach. Feeling Lizzy settle again in my arms, I nodded for Abigail to head inside. Deciding to take a different approach to Archer.

　　"Ignore him; he is a drunken fool." I tried to ease her embarrassment. Nodding for her to head inside with a sigh, she relented and did just that; watching her take a couple of steps forward, I turned my attention to the gutter rat and knelt beside him.

　　"I have warned you once; I won't warn you again if you are still here when I come out of that building" Allowing my eyes to darken and Archer to make himself known, I smirked slowly. "I am going to let my wolf tear you limb from limb! Do I make myself clear?" I didn't wait for an answer; instead, I slowly rose, being careful of the sleeping child in my arms, following Abigail's lead, and walking away.

　　We were just inside the foyer when a man approached, glancing between Abigail and I before spotting the child sleeping in my arms. Surprised to see us together, his lips formed an amused line.

　　"Someone's popular tonight!" He laughed, nodding to the stairwell. Abigail smiled warmly at him as we passed, but I could sense the darkness coming off him in waves. He was not quite what he seemed, which was just another reason for me to get Abigail out of here, pronto.

　　"I promise I am safe now" She smiled nervously, looking to the stairs and back to me, clearly trying to hide something. "I am... um.. on the top floor" I could see the embarrassment on her face but couldn't place it. 

　　"Do you want me to take Lizzy from you? It's a long way up, and I don't expect you to see us right to the door; I promise I am safe." Her tone was sincere but edged in sadness.

　　"I missed this afternoon's workout; the steps will do me good, as will the extra load I carry; you just lead the way, beautiful." I winked at her trying to reassure her, but I could still sense and smell the embarrassment wash over her. 

　　Walking up the stairs silently behind her, I tensed, hitting the top floor, sensing something ahead. Archer seemed to feel it, too; his hackles were up as he peered through my eyes, patrolling the area for the risk.

　　"What is it, Buddy?" I asked, picking up my pace and stepping in front of Abbi protectively, handing Lizzy over to her knowing whatever Archer was sensing was a threat, and I could do nothing about that while I had the sleeping child in my arms. Lizzy whined at being woken.

　　"Shush, little one." I cooed to Lizzy warmly, turning my attention to Abigail, staring at her with determination.

　　"Wait here!" My tone leaving no room for compromise, rounding the corner stopping dead in my tracks, coming face to face with the danger Archer had sensed. A deadly growl echoed around the damp and dingy hallway; I hadn't realised how much control Archer had taken until his deathly growl escaped again in a warning to whoever was at the end of the hall.

　　"Archer?" Abigail's hand slid across my back, trying to soothe my wolf, moving them softly like you would to comfort a child's tantrum. This wasn't a tantrum, and I gave her a damn order! "It's ok", she cooed.

　　"I told you to stay!" Archer growled, taking further control of my body, my eyes dark and dangerous, my jaw in a set line.

　　"We have covered this! No one tells me what to do!" She declared, clearly not fazed by Archer's sudden appearance. Looking between myself and the figure leaning against a door at the end of the corridor, I watched her roll her eyes. Not in the mood for her defiance, Archer pulled her to his side, his eyes never leaving the figure that seemed to push off the door jam and take a step closer to us.

　　"You will let go of her, and you will do it now." A deathly calm voice spoke from the other end of the hall.

　　Both of us recognised the voice at the same time. Seeing Abigail squint to look down the corridor, I couldn't help the jealousy that rose in me instantly, seeing her smile almost giddily at the male at the end of the hall.

　　"Damien?"