Jason's POV

　　"There is nothing wrong with my driving, Damien!" I groaned for the millionth time in the last fifteen minutes; turning the engine off, I glared into the mirror, showing the faces of Ab's and Tommy in the back seat, pleading with them to help before I rammed my foot up this arrogant prick's ass!

　　"Seriously, you're delusional. I saw three OAPs overtake you and a snail!" Slamming the car door closed, I leaned on the cool metal of the door; I took a deep breath and counted to five slowly in my head. 

　　"I mean, you could have always walked, Damien!" Abigail laughed, exiting the car behind me; my shoulders relaxed, feeling her delicate, reassuring touch over my skin.

　　"I would have gotten here quicker if I had! I am telling you!" He ground out, coming around the car to stand beside Abbi. 

　　"Does he come with a mute button Ab's?" I glowered sarcastically, trying to ignore how close he was to her.

　　"I wish", She laughed, looking between us both with a smile that made my heart race. I know I had fucked up today, and I know I had a lot to make up for, but I was genuinely thankful that she seemed to be seeing passed my lapse in judgment and somewhat forgiving me. 

　　"Or at least tolerating us!" Archer grumbled sadly. 

　　"You're talking to me again, huh, bud?" 

　　"Only to tell you that you're a dick!" He snapped before retreating to the back of my head. In one morning, I had managed to destroy everything; my relationship with Archer was prickly! I had upset Tommy, almost killing him with my impulsiveness and potentially losing Abigail. And I still had Kayla to deal with. 

　　"Hey, at least Damien doesn't want to skin you any more!" Archer laughed from the back of our mind, "Although when he hears your father's plan for Ab's, he might!" Sighing, I felt my mood worsen; Archer was right. This was a fucking nightmare! Except it was my life now, apparently.

　　Nodding to Ab's and Tommy, I walked through town to where the church once stood. I could feel the apprehension coming of Abigail in solid waves. She was nervous, that was understandable, but there was something else... something else seemed to be bothering her; I wished she would tell me so I could take the burden of it off her delicate shoulders.

　　"Yeah, 'cause she is gonna trust you after you tried to strangle the life out of her," Archer grunted sarcastically, making me wince at the harshness of his tone. 

　　"I thought you weren't talking to me!" I growled at him, "If you have nothing nice to say, how about you say nothing at all! Today is stressful enough without you sticking your two-pence in! Ok!" 

　　Silence! At last!

　　Seeing my Father standing next to the mayor, his broad shoulders tense, I sucked down a breath looking back at the party behind me. Abigail stood next to Tommy, fiddling nervously with the hem of her t-shirt. Tommy stood to her right; he talked to her casually about the good places to eat in town, trying to keep her calm and her mind of the trauma she was about to experience. Again. 

　　But Damien troubled me; he stood directly behind her, spying his hand on her hip; I felt Archer growl in the back of my head; he hated seeing him touch her so intimately. We still had no idea how close they were, and the idea he had what Archer claimed was his was eating him up inside, mixed with the fact I had potentially destroyed any chances he had with her; he was a ticking time bomb! 

　　Damien's eyes, I noticed, seemed to be searching the crowd, no doubt for his Father; he must have suspected my Father would want to talk to Abbi; he wasn't stupid- in fact, far from it was my guess. He was calculated, cunning, and I would put my money on damn intelligent!

　　"Shall we petal?" I coaxed, seeing her feet come to a halt, her hand covering her nose as her eyes watered. The air still smelt putrid but nowhere near as bad as it had a few hours ago. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked, concerned about how this was going to affect her. 

　　"I have done it twice before; I can do it again... it's just my dreams weren't... this..."

　　"Real?" A voice from beside me oozed charm, making me tense up, knowing my Father was now analysing her, not just as a potential mate for me but something or someone he could use to his advantage; that was and always would be his MO. 

　　"Abigail, I assume?" He smiled charmingly, holding his hand out for her to shake, which after a split second, she did. "I am Maxwell, Jason's father; It's lovely to meet you!" He cooed, all business now; he needed to win her over if he wanted her to open up and take him up on his offer. 

　　"It's a pleasure, Maxwell; you have raised a wonderful son." She gushed, her cheeks flushing red. "He is a credit to you and your Luna." 

　　"Timon - Pumbaa", Damien snapped, frustrated, waving between himself and Tommy, who stood beside Ab's, "Great, now we are all introduced. Can we get this show on the road?"

　　"Why do I have to be the warthog?" Tommy grumbled, trying yet again to defuse Damiens's anger.

　　"I mean- if the t-shirt fits..." Damien smirked sarcastically, raising a brow at Tommy; relief spread through me, knowing Tommy's wit had the desired effect. Damien seemed to have cooled down a few degrees.

　　"Nice t-shirt, Pumbaa", Maxwell smirked, ignoring Damien and returning to Abbi. "Thank you, Abigail, that's kind of you to say."

　　"Maybe she is into Kink after all?" Archer considered, approving of the manners and the respect she had shown my Father. 

　　"No, she's not stupid... She knows my Father wants something! She plans to play him at his own game..." I laughed to Archer, my lips curling into a smile, grateful that my Father was in front of me.

　　 "So, Jason tells me you have had an interesting dream- about this church.. Can you tell me about it?" 

　　My eyes locked on the movement coming from her left where Damien stood. I watched as he pulled Abbi to his side, protectively whispering something in her ear, making my Father narrow his eyes on Damien. 

　　"I don't know exactly what to say other than what I have told your son... I thought they were nightmares; I have had them every night since arriving in town." 

　　"You have?" Damien asked, unable to hide the smile on my face seeing his confusion. 

　　"Yes!" She laughed awkwardly, looking at Damien with perplexity. 

　　"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked slightly accusingly, which I knew was a mistake- Ab's liked to be independent, even I knew that. 

　　"I didn't realise I had to!" She shrugged, obviously trying to defuse the tension we all felt brewing. My eyes moved to my Father, who watched the interaction between Abigail and Damien curiously. 

　　"Well, you do!" He snapped, removing his hand from her hip moodily. 

　　"Would you like to know about my bowel movements too?" She snapped back, rolling her eyes and turning apologetically towards my Father, who was smiling widely. He liked her; I knew he did! Which made both Archer and me optimistic! Because as much as I tried to hide it, seeing her with Damien had made me realise that I wanted her to be my mate! If she ever forgave me, I would fight for her! Even against Damien! 

　　"Sorry, Maxwell, you were saying?" She continued ignoring the tantrum she knew Damien was about to throw.

　　"You were going to tell me about your dream!" My Father prodded gently.

　　"Geez, Maxwell, give the girl a chance to step foot in town before you interrogate her", A voice mocked from behind me. Turning, I saw Mr Blackwood, his eyes locked on Abigail, something flashing behind his eyes I could not place. Still, it made even my Father move to block his vision of Abbi protectively, almost instinctively knowing whatever his agenda was- it was far more deadly than his own.

　　"You want me to clear the dungeon for you?" He added sarcastically, stepping aside to look at Abigail.

　　"That's not my style, blackwood." My Father spat, making me smile. "We don't all torture women for fun."

　　Feeling someone press their hand to my shoulder, I smirked, feeling tingles spread through me; I knew who it was before I even turned to face her. "Princess!" I smirked, shooting a scowl at a crestfallen Damien.

　　"Hi." Abigail's sing-song voice filled the air between us, making Maxwell and Blackwood turn to face her. "Do I know you?" She asked, studying him nervously.

　　"Father!" Damiens's bored tone announced. "Making an entrance, I see." He laughed, rolling his eyes.