Jason's POV

　　"Abigail, if you would like to follow me. Alpha Maxwell is waiting for you." Marus's cold voice cut through the sexual tension between Abigail and me. 

　　"He can wait!" I snapped, not taking my eyes off Abigail, who, given her facial expression, was fighting some inner demons of her own. 

　　"Abigail?" Marcus prompted, ignoring me and stepping to her side, offering his hand to lead her away. Turning slowly, I glared at Marcus, my eyes portraying the anger I felt churning at the idea of anyone stepping between me and what was mine. 

　　"Yours?" Archer quizzed sarcastically. Ignoring him, I let my anger out in my head at my wolf, not wanting Abigail to see my hot temper.

　　"How dare he challenge me! I told him I would bring Abigail up to my father! I specifically told him he was not needed and to go back inside." 

　　"Yet here he stands, bold as brass ignoring your command because he doesn't respect you as the next Alpha or as a mate for his only daughter." Archer mocked, but I could see how unhappy he was with his discovery.

　　Marcus smiled warmly at Abigail, obviously trying to cover the disdain he clearly felt towards her; nodding to his hand, she looked at me wearily; I could see the smile on her face was not genuine, simply polite and cautious.

　　"He is your father's beta, not yours!" Archer tried to rationalise in my head, making me seethe further. "He answers to him, not you!" 

　　"He'll be answering to no one if he doesn't lower his fucking hand." I snapped to Archer, looking at Marcus' outstretched hand as it hovered by Abigail suggestively. As if sensing the growing tension, Abigail ever, the diplomat, stepped between us and nodded to Marcus. 

　　"Lead the way." She muttered softly to Marcus, eyeing me carefully as she passed towards the packhouse, her eyes shining with an unsaid message. "Calm down!" 

　　I watched her with intrigue; most females I knew enjoyed stirring up jealousy and pushing their mates to 'protect them and their honour' Abigail, though, was the opposite. She didn't want conflict; instead, she seemed to crave peace! Even among strangers!

　　Strangers who so clearly disliked her!

　　My eyes stalked her as she walked towards the large stone walls of the packhouse. Holding my arm out to stop our beta from following, I watched Abigail cautiously until I knew she was out of earshot and turned to look at Marcus, my eyes levelling on his dark orbs that looked just like his son's.

　　"As the next Alpha, it would be a shame for any more of your family to fall from favour, don't you think?" I asked, nodding for him to stay as I followed after Abigail. Reaching her, I slid my hand to the lower of her back and guided her through the large steel doors. 

　　"Not what you were expecting, Princess?" I laughed, hearing the gasp that left her mouth as we entered the lobby. Marcus followed behind, the yellow eyes of his wolf locked on mine harshly, letting me know he had understood my threat and apparently gave no shits.

　　Crossing my arms across my chest, I watched Abigail walk around the lower floor, looking dazed as she took in the beautiful craftsmanship that had gone into the design work.

　　"I expected it to be... different! More 15th-century gothic less 21st-century sheek." She laughed, fingering a light switch. "And I certainly didn't think you would have electricity!" She giggled, flicking the switch on and off.

　　"We even have a bathroom with a fully functioning toilet." Marcus snapped sarcastically.

　　"Really?" She laughed, walking over to stand at his side, a look of mock surprise written on her pretty features; Archer was ricocheting around my head, desperately wanting me to step between them, not appreciating how close she was to another male. But I trusted her; besides, I could tell from the sly smirk pulling at her lips Marcus' arrogance did not faze her.

　　"I thought wolves shit in the woods like all the other beasts!" She smirked, snapping her teeth at him playfully. 

　　"I only meant that from the outside, it looks like this place was built in the early 15th century; I know those buildings are protected, so I am shocked that you have been allowed to make all these updates." She expressed coming to stand beside me with a nod to Marcus, who seemed a little less tense watching her.

　　"It really is a well-hidden gem!" She whispered, turning her back on Marcus to look at me with a wink that quickly faded when Marcus spoke.

　　"And hidden is how we would like it to stay!" Marcus gnawed out; Abigail rolled her eyes at me and turned dramatically to look at Marcus, who was trying desperately to find fault with her.

　　"Damn, should I take my selfie and update off of Facebook?" She smirked, seeing his eyes flash in annoyance. "I was so in love with the place when we pulled up I couldn't help but take a quick snap and post it to my socials, with a link to my location... Was that not allowed?" She questioned almost sincerely.

　　"From what I saw, the only thing you did when you pulled up was offer your ass to Jason here!" He laughed, crossing his arms across his chest as he watched her intrigued by the feisty redhead in front of him. 

　　"I didn't offer him my ass! He..."

　　"He what?" I laughed when she left the sentence hanging, unable to say it allowed. 

　　"He was being a pig-headed arrogant bute!" She fumed, narrowing those green hues on me as I suppressed an amused laugh. "A bit like yourself!" She snapped, pulling her eyes from me to look at Marcus, who was chuckling, the ice melting between them. 

　　Flustered by Marcus' comment, Abigail began looking around the packhouse, seemingly taken back by its splendour.

　　"It is beautiful; your Alpha and Luna have great taste." She added respectfully. Looking around at the packhouse, I imagined seeing it for the first time, and I understood why she was so awe-struck.

　　 It was a beautiful home and place to grow up, set in verdant surroundings, offering a private sanctuary for us wolves to be true to ourselves! It backed onto the forest, but the house was only accessible via a long driveway with electronically operated security gates. 

　　Kill or be killed was his motto! He trusted nobody and would burn the world down to protect his family. Besides Marcus and my mother… no one could rein him in once he decided you were less friend and more foe! 

　　The pack's safety always came first to my father! He strived to keep us and our home safe and destroy those he deemed an enemy of the pack. No one was safe from his wrath.

　　"Not even Abigail!" I stated to Archer, who had fallen silent, watching the cameras follow her; my father was undoubtedly watching my girl! Assessing her weaknesses and strengths to use to his advantage.

　　"We will keep her safe!" Archer declared purposely, and I believed him; I knew there were no lengths he would not go to to protect Abigail. 

　　"The main house is locked down until further notice." I heard my father's voice boom through our pack link before he cut it off suddenly.