Adam shuts the door gently after Mike stalks past him into the room. He gestures for Mike to take a seat.

Mike is too agitated to take a seat and instead paces back and forth along the wall. "What the fuck did you do to upset Margo?" Mike turns and faces Adam once Adam takes his seat in the throne, as Julie dubbed it.

"I didn't do anything. After Julie caught her up on how things were around here and a few impossibilities your wife became upset."

Mike growls at Adam, "Why did she become upset?"

"That I'm not entirely sure on that because I'm not her bosom buddy that she confides in. That would be Jewel who is even now upstairs trying to get her calmed down.

"She begged me to answer honestly a question about werewolves though."

Mike had taken up pacing again until Adam said that then he faced Adam and waited knowing that he wasn't going to like what comes next.

"She became agitated when I asked where you were. She told me that you got some last minute pack business and that you would come when you were finished. I got the feeling that she really didn't expect you to come though and her next words confirmed that feeling.

"She told me that you've been avoiding her, breaking dates and planned activities with her but always finding time for the kids. That you've been working late on pack business that you won't talk to her about. She said that if you were human she would think that you were having an affair. 

"She then asked me if it is possible for wolves to cheat on their mates." Adam is watching Mike closely and sees him blanch at Adam's words.

Mike nearly blindly finds his way to a chair and takes a seat.

"I see, what did you tell her?" Mike says his voice so low it was difficult for Adam to hear it.

"I told her what I know. I told her that I've only ever heard of one instance of a were cheating on his mate. It caused her such pain that it killed her. The wolf and the female that he cheated with were tried for adultery and murder and put to death and that the male was the alpha of his pack.

"Is that true?" Adam has always wondered, but has never had a chance to ask about it before.

"Yes. That story is told as a warning to all wolves, but it is very difficult to cheat on your mate. I imagine it's something like cheating on your special one."

"Margo  seemed actually relieved to hear about the pain. Whatever is going on is hurting your mate, Mike. That means it's hurting Jewel. What the hell are you doing? She's convinced that she's to blame for whatever."

Mike looks at Adam sharply with that. "She said that?"

Adam snorts, "As if. I read body sign and can smell guilt. Why are you punishing her? She doesn't know what she did wrong and it's hurting her, a lot."

Mike put his elbows on his knees and holds his face in his hands. "I never meant for her to be hurt. I haven't talked to her about this because I didn't want her to be hurt."

Adam narrows his eyes at Mike, "What the hell is going on?" This sounds like he needs to step in as president of the supers.

"I've been quietly preparing for war with the pack next to us. They want more territory and think ours would do nicely. I've tried negotiations and they fell through. I was actually going to ask you to keep Margo and the kids here for a bit. I have bags in the car she brought. She doesn't know the bags are there yet."

"The pack is no match for yours what the hell is going on?" Adam demands. Now it's his turn to get up and pace. This makes no sense. Mike has good relations with the packs around here. The idea of having Adam send his vampire's out always calms things down and they know that Mike is friendly with him.

"I've heard whispers, vague and rumor only or I'd have come to you sooner, that the other pack has a witch working for them. The vaguest whisper of them all is that she's black. As black as they come and wanting to break the absolute rule."

Mike finally says in the silence.

If Adam thought there had been silence before it was nothing after that announcement.

"She wants to call up and unleash a demon?" Adam says nearly choking on the words. Even if this is nothing more than mere rumor he can't not look into it.

"That's what I've heard. It's the only thing that makes sense. I've always been on good terms with the alpha of the Midnight pack before."

Adam turns pale, which is a good trick since he already is pale, "That bloody bitch. If she wasn't already dead I'd kill her."

"Adam, does that mean something to you?" Mike asks not understanding Adam's reaction to his words.

"You remember a few months ago when it looked like I was cheating on Jewel?"

"Yeah, the bitch said it was a look a like and she wanted you to get divorced so that she could marry you. What was implied was that she'd take the throne." Mike responds immediately still not understanding where this is going.

"That bitch used a black witch to make a potion with the second proscribed spell. Those photos were of me, but not of me willingly being with her.

"Once I was out of the spell I was able to question the bitch and collected all of her collaborators and had fun questioning them.

"I was able to find the black witch, but now I don't think I got all of the players. I have no doubts that there is another black witch and she's now with the Midnight pack. Have the children of your pack come here for safety. I assume you'll be having the females fight as well?"

Mike shakes his head, "Only if it becomes necessary. You know how protective we are of our mates. They will be sent to the border closest to your estate to protect our young. 

"I'm sorry I didn't bring this to your attention sooner. If I had believed the rumor-"

"It's commendable to not want to believe rumors, but when there's a possibility for a black witch in the mix always let me know. Especially if she's threatening to let loose one of those horrors."

"Are they really so bad then?" Mike had heard the tells of course but has never seen one.

"The last time angels had to fight them Santorini was nearly obliterated, what do you think?"

Mike swallows hard and could only nod his head.

"Go talk to your wife and let her know the truth of what's going on. It won't do to win a fight against your enemy and still lose your wife due to her  being heartbroken." Adam demands and has a maid take Mike up to Margo.

Once he is alone he rubs his head, the headache that has taken up residence pounding with a vengeance. And vampires don't get headaches. He now understands why his father was so happy to give up his throne and let him deal with everything.

He needs to talk to his parents. He'll need to wait until after the party though. There will be hell to pay if he upsets the kids at this point. 

Twenty upset tweens, the idea makes him shudder. Not to mention Margo and Mike's kids.

At least Jewel is only having six babies this time. 

He hopes that they are born before there is trouble from the witch. The kind of trouble that causes angels to appear.