CHAPTER 8 Alpha Blood

　　Jason's POV

　　"Honestly, Mrs..." I started to say, but the feisty older woman who had my arm in a death grip interrupted me.

　　"Alice! Everyone calls me Alice. My husband was a deadbeat in life; I refuse to be connected to him in death too." The way she spoke, so matter of factly, had me hiding a smile.

　　"I bet you she killed him," Archer chuckled, taking a liking to the older woman.

　　"What gave it away, buddy? Her smile as she said he was dead, or the skip in her step." I laughed, letting the woman turn me around to face her; with a final look, I watched the redhead disappear into the distance with the insolent prick. Archers whining, distracting me from Alice.

　　Turning my attention back to a waiting Alice, embarrassment crossed my features, noticing the knowing look on her face. Without a word, she looked behind me in the direction her companions had just gone and back at me.

　　"Like I was saying, I am sorry for my godson Damiens's behaviour today; he can be a little overzealous when interested in a female." When she mentioned the male, the twinkle in her eye was not lost on me. "I will speak with him." She added, nodding respectfully.

　　"Honestly... Alice... It's fine. I should have controlled my temper better. Don't worry; I hope I haven't scared the girl too much." I fished, looking for information. The look on her face told me I would have to work harder than that if I wanted her to spill anything.

　　"She looked petrified." Archer groaned dramatically. "She wouldn't even look at us before she left!"

　　"And whose fault is that, hmm," I stated honestly, not wanting to argue, but he needed to control his temper better and take some responsibility for today. We hadn't even seen my Father yet; he undoubtedly would be pissed with us.

　　"It's that dick's fault! He started it." Archer countered with a snarl.

　　"No, you did, buddy. He is allowed to touch her. They are friends, she trusts him." I explained with a sigh.

　　"He is a dead friend" I couldn't disagree with him. I understood why he was angry. I wasn't thrilled at being challenged in front of my Father either, but I understood that there was a time and a place for things, and in that hall surrounded by people was not the time to teach that cocky shit a lesson.

　　"Abigail is a big girl, Jason. She is just not used to how things work around here." She grinned, watching me through expert eyes.

　　"Do you have a phone number for her? I want to put this right, sooner rather than later." I coaxed with a charming smile that usually got me what I wanted!

　　"Give her time. I am sure this will all be forgotten." With a reassuring pat on my hand, quickly changing the subject to the town's renovations.

　　"HA! Little rusty in the art of seduction, huh? What's wrong with your charms not working today, Casanova?" Archer said, enjoying himself at my expense.

　　"Fuck off, Archer. I am trying to fix your mess." I hissed, annoyed at being called out on my failings.

　　"You just got shut down by an O.A.P. You're an Alpha's son! We have Alpha blood! Use it!" His frustrations were evident in his tone.

　　"I am not forcing her to give me something she clearly doesn't want to! And that is final! I won't be THAT sort of Alpha! There is such a thing as free will, something you and my Father seem to forget." I snapped angrily. I knew what I was and where my bloodline came from. That didn't mean I wanted to use it as a power over people, even if they were just humans.

　　"You're weak!" My wolf declared with a growl. "How will you ever run a pack if you can't make tough decisions?"

　　"Forcing an old lady to give me a number, just so you can fuck your next target is not exactly a priority, is it?" I shot back, feeling just as frustrated as my wolf. We were usually on the same page regarding our principles, so why was he willing to act like a savage beast? Shutting him and his bad mood out of my head, I focused back on Alice, who was still discussing the town's renovation. She was obviously very proud of the town and its plans to 'attract more visitors.'

　　Feeling my Father's presence beside me, I closed my eyes cautiously. With a firm pat on my back letting me know he would take it from here. Tensing, readying myself for a scolding as soon as he saw Alice off, which he would!

　　"Not too many visitors, I hope! Blue Moon Creak likes its privacy." He interjected; Alice's hand dropped to her side, releasing me from her iron-tight grasp. I could feel her unease around my father, something most people felt, including me. He was a force to be reckoned with... on a good day!

　　"Maxwell," She greeted him politely. "Insightful meeting." Her tone was a little curt but still pleasant enough to pass as respectful.

　　"Well, it was certainly entertaining, if nothing else." His eyes fell on me with a curious smirk that unsettled me. I Prepared myself to face the anger he kept well hidden from mortals, but I knew it would be lurking behind his eyes given my outburst today. However Archer and I were confused when we only saw amusement swirling in his eyes.

　　"I am sorry for my Godson's behaviour; I was just telling your son here that Damien can be a little excitable at times," Alice repeated with what I thought was a flirtatious smile, obviously switching approach.

　　"I know someone with a puppy like that, pissing over everyone it met, too. It just needed to learn its place." Closing my eyes, I inwardly sighed; my Father was not known for his subtleness. "I hope your godson learns his place... and soon."

　　"Hmm" All flirtatious charm gone from her voice, looking between us, she forced a smile onto her wrinkled face.

　　"Will you excuse me, I must speak to Ronny about the town flower beds." With a curt nod to us both, she walked towards a group of men. I smiled apologetically at her, feeling for her. Conversing with an Alpha was never easy, but my Father was known to be particularly prickly.

　　"Not like he is wrong, though, is it!" Archer grumbled. "Perhaps we need to cut his balls off; it works for overactive puppies! I heard it calms them right down." He continued with a smirk. “If we cut properly, it could calm him down permanently." He added in all seriousness.

　　"I am not saying no, buddy, but maybe we try a less murderous approach first." I tried to compromise with a smirk.

　　"And if it doesn't work?" He asked bluntly, his eyes darkening with each passing thought of Damien.

　　"We do it your way!" I relented with a sigh, knowing that Archer would only be satisfied once he got a taste of blood—a certain someone's blood in particular.

　　"DEAL"