Naomi punches into the punching pad that Benedict is holding up. She is sweating profusely and her heart is pounding from the intensity of the training. She licks her dry lips and lifts her arms up to her face, her hands in tight fists on either side of her face. Her upper arms are burning but she still holds them up firmly.

"Come on Naomi, why are we stopping?" Benedict asks loudly.

"Just give me a minute, Ben."

"Did Brody give you a minute?"

Naomi punches the pad squarely in the middle and the pain sears through her knuckles. She inhales sharply and glares at Benedict who has an intent look on his face. Naomi knows that he is trying to get her to come to terms with what happened but ignoring it has been working just fine for her.

"Don't Benedict" Naomi instructs as she punches the pad with her right hand then her left. Raurlin and the younger wolves are jogging towards them in the distance.

"Did Brody give you a minute Naomi?"

Punch, punch "no...he didn't" punch, punch.

"Good. How does it make you feel?"

"How does what make me feel?" Naomi asks as she wipes at her forehead.

"Arms up. That he tried to kill you. How does it make you feel?"

Naomi punches the pad with all her might and Benedict takes a surprising step backwards. Raurlin comes to a halt beside him and he looks at Naomi with a frown. Naomi steps to Benedict and continues punching the pad with grunts of anger.

"It pisses...me...off that he...tried...to...kill...me..."

Naomi doesn't allow Benedict to recover and Raurlin steps towards her but Benedict shakes his head at him and allows Naomi to continue to push against him.

"It pisses me off that...he tried to kill me to hurt Raurlin... to hurt my aeturnum."

With that and a final punch Benedict lands on the floor with a hard thud and Naomi inhales and exhales deeply. Raurlin's eyes widen as he looks at Naomi. Her eyes for a brief moment are a gleaming red. She blinks and they're back to their normal colour. Raurlin steps forward and pulls Naomi into a quick hug then helps Benedict to his feet. "Thank you," Raurlin says to Benedict and he nods once.

"Alright let's break here," Benedict announces and he walks to the house.

Naomi drops down and sits cross legged on the ground. She lifts her arms and tries to settle her breathing. Raurlin drops down in front of her and is silently watching her. Naomi gives him a look then rolls his eyes.

"I know what you're thinking," she tells him.

"Yeah and what's that?"

"Workout therapy is the best thing for me right now. I'll apologise to Ben. How are you feeling about tomorrow?"

"I feel fine I guess-"

"-Did you know that by undergoing the awakening you're accepting Mikain as your Alpha?"

There's a pause.

"No I did not. That's very interesting. Sandy told you?"

Naomi nods her head at Raurlin and as she does Benedict jogs back to where the group is gathered. He has a water bottle in his hand and a towel around his neck. Naomi and Raurlin stand up and face each other as Benedict instructs everyone to pair up. Naomi inhales and lifts her hands to protect her face and she and Raurlin run through the same drill they had been over the days. Naomi can tell that Raurlin is distracted but she too is deep in her own thoughts and chooses not to point out his level of distraction.

Upstairs Jackson sits on the edge of the bed and gently rubs Sarah's back. Sarah slowly opens her eyes and they're still bloodshot and they look painful. Jackson tries not to show it on his face. He smiles warmly and says in a low voice "good morning sunshine. Can you sit up?" Sarah nods and Jackson helps ease her to a sitting position. He fluffs a pillow behind her back and Sarah leans against it.

"How long have I been out?" Sarah croaks then clears her throat.

She is pale and her hair is damp and sticking to her forehead. Jackson smoothes the red curls out her face.

"Since last night my love, it's mid morning. I asked Sandy to have oatmeal made for you. Ready to eat?"

Sarah nods and Jackson places a tray over her legs. There's a bowl of steaming oatmeal, a glass of water and another glass of orange juice. Jackson stirs the oatmeal and then holds the spoon out to Sarah. Sarah lifts her arm but she's weak and her arm trembles.

"It's okay. I can help."

Jackson scoops a spoonful of the oatmeal and blows on it gently before holding the spoon to Sarah's lips. Sarah eats the spoonful slowly. The two continue the process until the bowl of oatmeal is completely finished. Jackson wraps an arm around Sarah's shoulders and holds the glass of orange juice to her lips and Sarah takes a few sips.

"Naomi? Raurlin?" Sarah asks softly as she lies back down against the pillow. There is a level of colour that returns to her face and Jackson feels more at ease.

"They're both fine. In fact I think I may have heard them on a midnight ice cream trip." Jackson chuckles.

Sarah smiles and shuts her eyes. She is soon asleep and Jackson sits watching her and once he's sure she's in a deep sleep he makes his way downstairs where Raurlin and Naomi are sitting at the table. Naomi smiles at Jackson brightly as he sits down beside her.

"Sarah doing okay?"

"Yes she's fine. She just had some breakfast and she's asleep. I'm sure by tomorrow she'll be right as rain."

Raurlin nods his head in agreement and Naomi turns in her chair to face Jackson.

"Hey Jax...did you know that in order for Raurlin to undergo the awakening he has to accept Mikain as his Alpha?"

Jackon raises an eyebrow at Raurlin and Raurlin merely shrugs. Jackson frowns at Raurlin feeling a surge of annoyance.

"Raur, how long have you known about this? Did you just find out? Please tell me you just found out."

Raurlin nods his head again.

"This is an important detail that Miakin conveniently left out," Jackson murmurs more to himself.

Raurlin shrugs again and Jakcson rolls his eyes at him then stands up and walks away leaving his chair at a length from the table. Raurlin frowns and turns to Naomi.

"I think he's feeling frustrated because you're not taking this seriously, Raur."

Raurlin leans to Naomi and kisses her then mutters "I much preferred it when you called me boyfriend."

Jackson knocks on Mikain's office door. He strains to listen to the conversation behind the door but all he can make out is muffled voices. Jackson clenches his fists and knocks again and just as he does the door swiftly opens and Armon smiles at him warmly. Jackson merely brushes past him and sits down in a seat in front of Mikain. Mikain closes a file on his desk a little too quickly.

"Jackson what brings you-"

"I mean no offense, Armon, but I'd like to have a word with your Alpha alone."

Armon shakes his head and as he does Mikain lifts a hand. Armon frowns at Mikain visibly agitated but he leaves the room shutting the door loudly after himself. After a brief moment of silence Mikain is the first to speak.

"Please forgive him, Jax. We seem to be butting heads at the moment."

"What seems to be the problem?"

Mikain pauses. "Nothing you need to worry about, now what can I do for you Jackson."

Jackson leans back and shuts his eyes briefly trying his best to formulate his sentences in an appropriate way.

"Mikain, may I speak freely?"

"Of course," Mikains answer is immediate and firm.

"As much as you have been incredibly hospitable to us during our stay I know a little something about both our species to know that there has been strategy in everything you've done since our arrival. Having Raurlin's room be set up beside yours, allowing Sarah and Naomi to find their footing and allowing me the space to explore a little of your history. It is because of this strategy that you knew there would be a time I would come knocking with questions."

Mikain leans back in his chair and rubs at his chin. He inhales and exhales a big breath and he nods slowly.

"I must admit. I anticipated Raurlin would accompany you for this part."

"What he lacks in thought and diplomacy he makes up for with a quick and fierce temper. Trust me it's best that I handle this part of things. Now where shall we begin?"

Mikain lifts the file off his desk and he hands it to Jackson saying "perhaps with a confession."

Jackson flips the file open and begins packing through it. A deep frown on his face. His hands begin to tremble with anger and he shuts the file and leans back in his chair to prevent him from lunging at the Alpha. Mikain continues.

"I apologize for compiling this without your consent or knowledge. It is common practice for wolves to document our history as it happens."

"Yes you've mentioned this before but you haven't provided any of this accounting of history to Raurlin pertaining to his father of course. What are you hiding? Perhaps it's the secret you conceal in the crypt beneath this house?"

Mikain smiles slowly and it's unexpected to Jackson who remains straight faced.

"Your incredible perception does not surprise me, Jackson. In fact Stellan did warn me of this prior to your arrival. He said you were diplomatic and that in these situations I'd be better off dealing with you than with the wrath of Raurlin."

"Make no mistake, Mikain, my wrath matches Raurlin but my patience is far greater. You're avoiding my question."

Mikian stands up suddenly and Jackson does the same, bracing himself for a moment then relaxing as Mikain produces a set of keys from the drawer beside him. There are several large keys dangling on the key chain and Mikain gestures for the door. Jackson pulls the door open and steps back then follows Mikain out the office.

Mikain slips the key into the large wooden door and he turns the key. The door clicks unlocked and Mikain pushes it open, the old door creaks with the effort. Jackson squints as he looks into the crypt the air around him is thick and musty and coughs then sneezes. Mikain presses along the wall then turns on a light switch.

"I'll leave you with the key in case it gets too claustrophobic down here."

Jackson shrugs as he follows Mikain into the crypt and he mumbles "nothing more claustrophobic than death."

They walk into the crypt in silence with an array of dim lights brightening the room just enough to see. On both sides of the crypt there are filing cabinets that are caked in thick layers of dust and right at the end of the crypt there is a small cell that is made with heavy steel bars. Jackson reaches up and touches it but the bar burns his hand and he pulls away wincing with the pain.

"Wolfsbane" Mikain states "harmful to vampires, fatal to wolves."

"So who exactly are you trying to keep locked up?"

Mikain taps a filing cabinet beside the cell that has been covered in heavy chains and sealed with a large padlock. Mikain unlocks it and then hands Jackson the padlock and the key. On the left of the crypt is a small wooden desk and chair and Mikain points at it.

"I trust the truth you learn here, Jackson, you will delegate in an effective manner. I would encourage you to lock the door once I've left. Not many know about this crypt or the hidden history enclosed in these walls. Oh and also it's easy to lose track of time down here. I'll come check on you in a few hours."

Mikain walks towards the door and Jackson calls out after him. Mikain turns to face Jackson.

"Raurlin will not renounce his allegiance to Stellan in order to accept you as his one true Alpha."

Mikain nods his agreement and he responds "I fear with Raurlin this entire process is a mere formality."

With that Jackson is left alone in the crypt. Once Mikain has shut the door Jackson immediately locks it and takes his time examining the crypt. All of the cabinets are able to be opened except the one that was locked shut. Beside the cell there is a passageway that is closed with a sturdy gate. Jackson turns his ear to the passageway and listens. Once he is satisfied he walks to the cell and squats in front of it.

There is dry blood on the floor of the cell and an indentation on the floor. Jackson squats and reaches his hand in between the bars, he ignores the searing burn of the wolf's bain and he rubs a finger in the dried blood. He pulls his arm out and the burns heal instantly. He licks the dry blood of his finger and raises a surprised eyebrow before walking to the cabinet. He pulls open the first drawer and places a stack of files on the table.

He flips through the scanning of each page with an impressive speed. He pauses on a few pages but makes quick work with reading through the first set of files. Jackson continues the same process until he opens the last drawer. Enclosed in the final drawer is a single file. There is a crest on the front that is familiar to Jackson. He frowns deeply as he looks at it. He sets the file down on the table and pulls his phone out of his pocket. There's barely any signal but there's just enough for Jackson to scan the contents of the file to an email that he sends to himself.

He shuts the file and locks the cabinet as it had been when Mikain brought him downstairs. He unlocks the door and then locks it once he's outside. He freezes as he locks the door hearing a heart racing behind him, close to him. He turns and the heartbeat is gone. Jackson frowns and walks back to Mikain's office. The office doors are open and Mikain is not inside. Jackson slips the keys into his pocket. He can hear Raurlin and Naomi chatting in the distance.