Jason's POV

　　I knew as soon as the door opened that it was Lizzy's mother; the aged woman had the same dark eyes as Lizzy, even her hair was the same shade of raven like Lizzy’s. Seeing her sway against the door, the foul smell of tequila and vodka that clung to the air around her told me she had spent her child-free afternoon drowning in self-pity and memories.

　　No care for her child, instantly I understood why Abigail seemed to go through so many emotions at the mention of Lizzy's mother. She was undeserving of such a remarkable child. For a moment, all my anger seemed to focus on this pathetic human conversing with Abigail. Damien was no longer a concern to me, although Archer was still on alert, ready to pounce if provoked.

　　"Bout time you brought her back... I was about to phone the police and file a missing person's report." She grumbled ungratefully at Abigail, who had taken Lizzy's hand and headed towards the door; the tension in Abigail's shoulders only exacerbated my foul mood. I didn't want Ab's feeling like she had done anything wrong! She had given Lizzy a day she would remember for weeks! A day to feel like she was the only girl in the world that mattered!

　　"Doubtful", Archer growled in my head. "She's a waste of space. Poor Lizzy." I could feel his anger rolling off me in waves, and I did nothing to block it from landing directly at this 'mothers' feet.

　　"Was your phone at the bottom of a vodka bottle?" I snapped angrily at the woman, standing by Abbi's side, resting my hand at the bottom of her back, wanting her to know I had her back. Eyeing the woman who was scowling at me I tried to control Archer's temper as he watched her licking her lips. 

　　"She’s Vile" he hissed watching her look between the little party of three that had gathered in the hallway the foul stench of vodka and coke filling the air making me snarl in disgust.

　　"Mmmm, I thought you were a prude!" She laughed, directing her conversation towards Abigail, who gracefully ignored her remark. 

　　"She's had a large lunch and an early dinner. She should be ok for a while; we got everything we…" 

　　"Yeah, whatever..." She ignored Abigail and Lizzy, looking over Abigail's slender shoulder to look at me and the arrogant prick behind me. "You have good taste, though; I'll be surprised if you can walk tomorrow if you get my drift." She cackled grotesquely. I could feel Archer restlessly prowling my head.

　　"Now, isn't that a thought? Ab's spent and sore after a night in our bed. Unable to walk." Archer pined, flashing images before my eyes that I prayed Abigail hadn't picked up on. 

　　"Not now, buddy." I voiced inwardly to him, even if I enjoyed the images immensely.

　　Feeling her shift uncomfortably at my side, I grinned, smelling that intoxicating scent again; she was aroused and evidently still in my head. We would have to have a little discussion about boundaries before I left!

　　"Like what you see, Princess." Archer cooed in my mind playfully. I didn't need to turn to look at her to see the gorgeous blush that had spread across her face.

　　"If this skinny piece of ass is too prissy and uptight for you boys, I am more than willing to step in." She continued, clearly overestimating her charms. The irritation rolled off me in waves at this woman's gall, Abigail had taken her child out for the day, and she had the cheek to insult her! To her face!

　　"You'll be surprised how dirty this beauty can be." Damien laughed from behind me, and just like that, my anger was reignited. Seeing the gorgeous blush return to her cheeks as she turned to swat his chest to silence him, obviously wanting to keep the peace, but that exquisite scent filled the air between us again. 

　　"She likes him," Archer rumbled in my chest, but I managed to keep him contained this time, for Lizzy's sake alone. She looked up at us all with wide interest; leaning down to kneel in front of her, I pulled a bag of sweeties from my back pocket, something I had picked up for her earlier. 

　　"Here you go, squirt; thanks for the best day out. I will see you soon, ok?" I explained, wanting a minute alone with the piece of shit behind me, without innocent eyes watching me. The sweets had the desired effect, and she ran inside. Stepping away from Abigail, who was explaining to the mother what she had eaten.

　　"A pointless task; she doesn't care," Archer spat as I pulled his focus away from his new obsession.

　　"True, but this gives us a moment alone with this waste of air," I explained with a cunning grin.

　　Archer almost jumped for joy at the idea of putting this loser in his place, turning to see him leaning back against the door, his eyes focused on Abigail like she was a tasty treat. Stepping between him and Abigail, blocking his vision, I was about to speak when he cut me off, making Archer roar furiously in my head.

　　"Look, wolf boy," He started, his voice low, almost bored at having to talk to me; his eyes, however, never left Abigail's.

　　"You have two options; you can fuck off now and run back to the safety of daddy's pack. Or you can say whatever rehearsed bullshit you have been working on since coming face to face with me, but I warn you… if I take even the slightest offence to your tone, words or meaning, I will rip that child's throat out while she sleeps and dump her body somewhere on your pack's territory." His tone changed to a deadly calm as his eyes met mine, sending a rare shiver up my spine, silencing Archer; I had no doubt he meant every word.

　　"Do I make myself clear?" His eyes shifted to a fiery red before quickly returning to the same green depths that mirrored my own, but not quick enough for me to miss the hellfire that swirled in the depths of those red hues.

　　"What the fuck are you?" I growled lowly, but my words were met with a wink and sly twitch to his lips.

　　"Demon?" Archer questioned me, treading carefully, not wanting to start anything I couldn't finish, not in the middle of the hallway. Not alone. I felt Abigail beside us, sighing deeply.

　　"When you boys are done with your pissing match, I would like to get into my apartment; if you behave, you can come in, but stop with the drama!" Waltzing between us, she unlocked her door and stepped in; Damien followed her, his hand on the lower of her back, smoothing up and down her petite back.

　　"I have to go, petal, another time," I answered through gritted teeth, deciding my ego could take a knock if it meant keeping Lizzy safe! Archer seemed quiet but I hoped he agreed, even if we had concerns about leaving Abigail alone with that man.

　　"He won't hurt her; if nothing else, I am sure of that," I reassured a pining Archer. Turning, I started down the hall, coming to a stop hearing Damien's voice follow me.

　　"Don't worry, mate, there wouldn't be enough room in the bath for the three of us anyway."

　　Clenching my fists, wanting desperately to go back and rip his smug head from his body, Archer brooding at the turn of events wasn't opposed to the idea of decapitation either!