Jason's POV

　　Walking through the packhouse, I sighed. Morning training was the last thing I wanted to be doing today, I really could have done with an easy office day today. With Archer awol- my body ached. It didn't help that my head thundered after my disagreement with Tommy this morning. I knew I was feeling sorry for myself, but I honestly did feel lost without Archer. He had been part of my life for as long as I could remember. I knew most got their wolves when they hit their late teens, but Archer had been with me since at least my 4th birthday. 

　　When I started talking about my friend 'Archer', my parents thought I had an imaginary friend, but they soon realised it was my wolf. Throughout the years, Archer and I had disagreements and fallings out, but that was normal when you spent 24 hours a day with someone, especially someone as self-righteous as Archer. But he had never fully shut me out before. Sighing heavily, I considered for a brief moment if Abigail was going to come between us! 

　　Since she arrived in our lives, Archer had not been the same; he was moody and unpredictable where she was concerned. I didn't know how I felt about the change in him; a part of me wanted to keep her as far away as possible for fear that she would change him further into something I hardly recognised. The other half of me knew neither of us could cope not seeing her again; she had bewitched us- of that, I was sure! Change us both! 

　　Stopping at my Father's office, I frowned, hearing the hushed voices of my Father and his Beta Marcus.

　　"If she IS his mate, and the Blackwood kid has marked her as his," My Father started to say, his voice laced with concern. "Then we could be looking at war if Jason decides to lay claim to her." Leaning up against the slightly open door, clenching my jaw, I fought desperately not to push my way into the office and tell them to mind their own business. 

　　"Some of us are still recovering from the last war with his kind," Marcus stated, the upset and anger in his voice evident, but it wasn't aimed at my Father, just the turn of events.

　　"I know! BUT we need to be ready! Train harder, longer and consider our options." My Father seemed to show resolve; hearing him pat Marcus on the back, I felt my gut wrench for Tommy's family. 

　　"Do you think he will walk away from the girl if she's his mate?" Marcus asked plainly.

　　"Would you have walked away from your mate?" My Father asked gingerly. 

　　"No, never. But some do reject their mates. You have heard him, Maxwell; he doesn't want her as a mate... Maybe there is a way to prevent bloodshed." Marcus admitted with a deep sigh.

　　"Whatever happens, let's ensure we are prepared, just in case." My Father answered sadly, hearing him walk towards the door, closing and locking it, and me out of the conversation. 

　　"You won't reject her?" Archer asked nervously. Smiling, feeling him return sheepishly I took my time with my answer. 

　　"Nice of you to join us, buddy." I grinned, heading down to the pack training yard. 

　　"Jay?" Archer whimpered, he needed to hear me say it, but I couldn't make a promise to him I wasn't sure I could keep. I could hear how worried my Father and Marcus were about the prospect of war. 

　　"Right now, I have no plans to reject anyone IF they truly are my fated mate, but if she brings war with the Blackwoods... We NEED to make sure the pack is safe! We need to kick their asses into shape!" I answered, deciding just to be honest with Archer.

　　"Starting with Tommy?" Archer smirked. "We have a score to settle with him." He laughed playfully as we headed down the steps to the training yard. 

　　"Yes, that we do." I laughed, looking over the pack; people were already pulling the judo mats out and laying them down for those too young to have wolves. I watched with pride as people started to warm up, stretching to ease their sleepy muscles into the day's thorough training session. 

　　"Five-mile run to wake you lazy fuckers up." I heard Marcus' imposing voice boom from behind me; turning to see my Father standing beside him, nodding for me to join the rest of the pack, I turned and followed the group, Tommy joining by my side, winking at me as he pushed forward using some of his wolf's strength to get ahead. 

　　"Wanna have some fun with him?" Archer mused, usually very competitive; he would have raced after Tommy wanting to be in the lead and at the front of the pack. Instead, he kept hidden in the back of my mind letting my human body do its best; we managed to stay towards the front of the pack, but still a good 5 metres behind Tommy. Coming to a stop with the rest of the pack in front of Marcus, I smirked, knowing Tommy and I would be paired off together, and Archer could have his revenge on the cocky shit!  

　　"Ryan pair up with Luisa, Gemma and Charlotte, George and Graham" He started to roll off names pairing us all up together until there were only a few of us left. "Tommy, pair up with your brother. Jason with Kayla" He grinned, looking me in the eyes knowingly. 

　　"I am usually with Tommy?" I quizzed, confused by the sudden change.

　　"Tommy was at the front of the pack; where were you?"

　　"At the back", Tommy laughed, getting into position with his little brother. 

　　Walking passed Tommy, I grinned, mind linking him. "Well, I guess I did miss out on getting hot and sweaty with your sister this morning; maybe we can make up for it now." Wiggling my brows at him. Heading towards Kayla with a smirk, running my hand up and down her back, leading her to an open space close to her brothers purposely.

　　"Shall we?" I winked, nodding for her to lie on the grass, leaning over her, and pushing her knees up to her chest, helping her stretch out her hips and muscles after the run. I grinned down at her pretty face. 

　　"You're so tight, Kayla!" I moaned playfully, seeing her roll her eyes; she was used to the rivalry between her brother and me, I knew she would join in, she enjoyed winding him up just as much as me.

　　"Mmm, That's the spot, Jason", She moaned, arching her back towards me stretching her muscles further, a wicked smirk toying at her lips. 

　　"You like that, baby?" I whispered seductively; seeing her smirk back at me, I added a wink. 

　　"Harder?" She cooed just as I felt Tommy collide into my back, tackling me to the ground, Kayla's laughter erupted around us, but Tommy's eyes had turned a chilling shade of yellow. Flipping him onto his back in the dowy grass, overpowering him easily, grasping his throat swiftly, I eyed him with fierce determination. My eyes darkened to show the presence of my ruthless wolf.

　　"Archer." He laughed, laying back in the grass just as Archer let him go. "Nice of you to join the party; I thought I would have to deal with this jackass alone!" He grinned wickedly. 

　　"When you two have finished fucking about, shall we get this session underway?" Marcus bellowed across to us. Letting up on Tommy's throat, I rose to my feet, holding my hand out to pull him up. 

　　"Marcus, Jason, Tommy - My office!" I heard my Father's imposing voice booming over the yard. Smiling apologetically at Kayla, I nodded to her brother, who stepped forward to take my place and train with her. 

　　"We are in shit!" Tommy grumbled as we headed towards the stairs looking between his Father and me. 

　　"What's wrong? Scared of my Father!" I laughed, taking the steps two at a time!

　　"YES," I heard them laugh behind me, following me up the stairs to my Father's office. I pushed the door open, seeing the look on his face, my heart sank. 

　　"And the day just keeps getting better and better", I groaned to Archer, inwardly taking a seat opposite my Father, preparing myself for whatever he was about to say, knowing whatever it was, I wasn't going to like it.