Abigail's POV 

　　Frozen, not in fear but in shock, I watched the events unravel, unable to speak. What the hell had gotten into Jason and Archer? Despite it being Archer in control, Jason was happily allowing his wolf to pin his father to a wall and threaten him. 

　　I saw Marcus move out of my provisional vision, grabbing my arm and tugging me to his side protectively. My only thought in the bedlam was that he evidently doesn't hate me after all! As we moved quickly around the table, Marcus Threw me behind his back, pulling Mia non to gently from her seat to barricade us both behind him, using his body as a shield to protect us if needed. 

　　From what? Her son?

　　Looking at Jason, my heart sank, seeing Archer force his father to submit. 

　　"This is insane." I whispered breathlessly. Pushing past Marcus, trying to shrug off his attempt to pull me back to the safety he offered. Shaking my head, I looked between his eyes and the terrified eyes of Mia. She was so scared, but not for her safety, for that of her mate! 

　　Three little words made me freeze and suck in a breath. 

　　"She is mine!" I had heard those words before- from Damien!

　　This was because of me! More destruction and heartache because of me! I felt tears escaping my eyes and running down my cheek, brushing it away, I looked at MArcus' hand that rested on my wrist and flicked my eyes to meet his face. I could see my tears registering with him, and I sighed, breaking the social etiquette on boundaries. 

　　Not letting myself worry about the consequences of what I was about to do, I invaded his mind and nodded. 

　　"I can get through to him! But you NEED to let me go!" I requested, letting some of my divinity flow through the connection I had formed when entering his mind. With a gasp, he, like his son had the day before, realised I was no threat and released me, his hand going back to Mia as a precaution. 

　　Without a word, I turned and came to stand beside Jason's body; Archer purred the second my fingers caressed his back, something eerie made the hairs on my neck prickle. Something was wrong with him! HE felt different. Dark and twisted up with magic I could not place but knew I had felt before. 

　　"Let your father go!" I uttered breathly, running my fingers along his biceps and up to his fingers that vibrated with rage. 

　　"Archer." I tried again, but when nothing changed, I sighed and ducked under his arm, forcing him to make room for me between his body and Maxwells. Locking my green hues on his, I saw his mooned eyes flicker between the black of his wolf and the green of Jason.

　　This made things more challenging because I wasn't dealing with one ego, but two!

　　"He thinks you are a threat to the pack!" Jason finally snarled. Given the groan from behind me, I knew his grip on Maxwell's throat had tightened. 

　　"Right!" I asked, unsurprised. "And for that, you what? Rip his throat out? traumatise your Mother!" I asked, arching a brow disdainfully, slapping him across the back of his head in frustration. 

　　"YES!" Archer roared, his face hovering exceptionally close to mine, apparently not appreciating being scolded like a child.

　　God, his lips were lush- so kissable! And damn, I could smell his minty breath. I felt my attention drifting as arousal threatened to take hold; I forced myself to focus, seeing his smirk obviously picking up on how flustered he made me.

　　"Why?" I asked bluntly, my cheeks burning under his heated stare.

　　"Because..." He started before realising he had no good reason.

　　"Because he doesn't know me! Because everywhere I seem to go chaos follows? Because he is trying to protect YOU and his damn pack! Because he is doing his damn job as Alpha!" I growled, slapping him up the side of his head again as I closed the gap, my eyes locked on his narrowing sexily. 

　　"Let him go and apologise! Or so help me, god, I will put YOU over MY for acting like a spoilt brat throwing a damn childish tantrum!" 

　　Mia's POV

　　And just like that, Jason let go; the tension in the room got sucked back into his body, and he dropped his clawed hand to his side. The girl traced her hands down his arm twisting her fingers in with his, in what to others might have looked like a sweet embrace, but I knew she was merely checking Archer was retreating and not looking for round two.

　　She's smart! And despite my better judgement, I liked her!

　　Maxwell stepped away cautiously; I could sense his pride had taken a knock; he was unsure where he stood and where we went from here. His authority as Alpha had been challenged by the boy he had raised- and he had lost! How were they meant to recover from this?

　　As if sensing my trauma, Abigail looked at me sympathetically; sighing, I pulled the chair up and motioned for Maxwell to sit in it. 

　　"Let me take a look at your wounds, my love." I insisted, pushing past Marcus, who was unusually silent; I watched Maxwell sit his heavy body in the chair, his tense eyes staring up at me; the sadness in them broke my heart. Cupping his face, I pressed my lips to his and tilted his head to look at the wounds a son had inflicted on a father. 

　　"You will heal; however, you will have scars, my love." 

　　"I can help." Abigail's voice interjected into the silent room; coming to stand beside me, she leaned against the desk, waiting for permission. 

　　"She.." Jason started to say, his tone already tight; with a snarl, Abigail lifted her finger to silence him, and to everyone's surprise, he obeyed. 

　　Maxwell nodded his agreement, and she stepped forward, touching the barbaric wounds that lined his neck; she closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. White light glowed from where her hands covered Maxwell's neck, he braced for pain, but as I leaned around her to watch, I witnessed undeniable peace wash over him. 

　　I knew the look of astonishment that I saw on Marcu's face was mirrored on my own. Jason leaning against the wall, muttered under his breath that he had told us she was not a threat. I was about to reply when a voice cut through my mind freezing me to the spot. 

　　"Something is wrong with Jason- I can feel it!" Realising it was the soft voice of Abigail, Marcus and Maxwell's eyes shot to the girl, and I knew she was talking to all of us in a secret connection that she had not included Jason in. 

　　"Magic it's ancient, dark and powerful. I can't fix it yet; I need my Mother's help. It's what makes him so volatile! It is why he challenged you, Alpha." 

　　None of us said anything, but my eyes locked on Maxwells, an understanding passing between us. 

　　"I can take this memory from him; he won't remember anything that happened in this office... if you would like." I knew before she had finished speaking that Maxwell would agree. He may not trust her, but he trusted this version of Jason less. He would not weaken himself by letting Jason keep the memory.

　　"Do it!" He stated firmly, his eyes locking on Abigail with finality and a slight trace of respect.

　　"Then we find your mother!" I added with a nod to Marcus.

　　I didn't have the heart to tell her she may have just sealed her fate; there was no way Maxwell would allow her to leave now, not now he had had a taste of her power.

　　In saving him, she had damned herself to a life as his prisoner.