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The following day had a slow start. Max didn’t get any rest until a decent amount of patchwork was done on his home with the door being replaced and Eli being able to keep a decent core body temperature without being relegated to beside the wood stove heater or under a heated blanket. She didn’t hear everything Max said whilst on the phone with Trevor but she could feel the tension build in his muscles, like steel cables ready to snap at the slightest provocation. She tried to comfort him in his aggravated state but every time she looked at the bruises he sustained from the other night sometimes brought her back to that moment. Flashes of that man’s awful smile plagued her thoughts as she recoiled away from both Ian and Max.

Max wasn’t a fool to how she was recoiling emotionally or that she was trying to use intimacy to distract her from the dark actions she was forced to take. He would catch her fingers twitching as she tried to help with some of the repairs or her hushed sobs as she stood in the shower. He held her tightly as she slept and thrashed in her nightmares. He whispered to her, reassuring her in her restless state that he was there. Calming her for an hour or two until the cycle repeated.

The only one of their small group that seemed well rested was Ian even though he was usually attempting to recover from the severe concussion he suffered from. Few words were shared between the newly minted group as unnecessary words seemed…trivial between them. Simple questions of dinner ideas or focused work talk were all that was shared in the otherwise still air as they repaired his small home.

“Max, you look like you want to say something,” Ian questioned as he sipped the dark coffee that was a staple in the human’s home. The early morning light broke through the partial clouds that heralded yet more snow to fall. “What’s up, man? Ya gotta talk to us.”

He simply scratched the back of his neck as he thought about a way to break the meeting between him and Jeffery that fateful night. With a heavy sigh, he took a mouthful of his breakfast before he opted for just ripping the band-aid off. “Jeffery was there the other night.”

Ian was indifferent to what was just said, seemingly more confused than anything as he dug into the venison steak in front of him. Eli, however, took a moment to process what was said. Then it hit her and her mug fell to the floor, shattering at her realization. “No…there's no way he would.” She began to pace back and forth, her features pulled into the emotions of desperation, sorrow, and disbelief. “Max, you must have been mistaken,” Her denial was wavering even as she spoke. “There's no way he would do something like that.”

“Even if his family was threatened? Trevor has run into him before and I assure you he would dirty leverage. Either family or friends aren't safe from those kinds of tactics.” Eli’s eyes fell, wide with shock as his words sunk in. “I need to confront him and by extension, I assume you want to as well.” She was silent as she nodded her confirmation. Emotional pain was evident in her posture and movements.

“I understand you feel that way but-”

“No!” Her harsh tone cut through the air as she dropped her fist onto the small table they shared. Plates and mugs clattered under her newly stoked anger. “I’m going. He HAS to have a reason. A good one.” Her anger ebbed and her clenched fists relaxed and let her eyes fall to the table to the plate of food that was now far more unappetizing than before. “He’s like a father to me.”

“If we’re going I doubt he’ll be in the shop,” Ian said plainly as he focused on the meal in front of him, unshaken from the recent outburst from the snake next to him.

“You’re not going, you still need to rest. Eli and I can handle ourselves so just try and get some sleep, alright?” Max tried to keep his tone steady as he tried to keep the wolf’s best interest in mind even as his head throbbed from the blows he took earlier.

Ian agreed silently as he finished his meal. “Well, I can at least do the dishes and repair a few more things while you're out as thanks.”

-

The ride was long and silent between the two lovers. Their relationship was seeing the first signs of extreme stress from the insinuation that Eli's found family had put her and Max under direct threat. Leading the youngest son of the gray family nearly to their doorstep was a big accusation and Eli was denying it was as simple as Max was saying it was. It couldn’t be true, at least in her eyes.

Jeffrey’s home was out in the sticks on the other end of town much like Max’s property but a large area was cleared of trees for a more lavish and trimmed yard. His eyes rolled as he thought of the water bill and the excess gas he would be wasting on all the trims and maintenance required to keep it in such a state when all the snow melted.

The doorbell rang with the two standing a surprising distance from each other even when Max tried to inch closer. She was furious, that much was clearly obvious but he could also see that she was on the verge of tears. He wanted to comfort her, tell her everything would make sense and things will be simple for her again. Like before she met him. That thought surprised him, he knew what she went through and that intrusive thought still seemed to burrow in deeper than it should. His mind kept screaming those doubts over and over as he called back with logic but was slowly being whittled down a small fraction at a time.

The door opened with a confused Jessica in the entryway. “Eli, Max, what are you two doing here?” She waved the couple inside and quickly picked up on the tension between them. “What happened? Is everything alright?”

Eli stayed silent and nodded towards Max and sighed when he had to be the one to speak. “We’re looking for your father, is he here or…?”

She was confused by his question as she started to walk further into the house. “He’s in the living room, he got back pretty late last night and hasn’t moved much. Just keeps mumbling to himself and hasn’t eaten. Do you know anything about that?”

“More than likely.” Max bit his tongue as he thought about his next words carefully. “The good thing is that I'm certain that we can help him out of it. Give him an easy solution to this funk he’s found himself in.”

Jessica still looked concerned as she led them through the house, Constantly looking over her shoulder. Almost as if she was double-checking to see if they were still there. “Just through here, do you need me or-?”

“Honestly I think you should stay. It might be easier for you to hear it from him.” Jeffery was silent as they spoke, the living room was dark with its wood-lined walls and a fireplace in front of him. A warm half-drunk beer sat in his hands as he stared into the crackling dying fire in front of him. “Mister Jeffery, I think you know why Eli and I are here.”

His antler-clad head nodded slowly as he replied silently. He didn’t speak for a few moments as his hand shakily brought the warm can to his lips. “That I do, please, sit.”

The three took seats with Eli keeping her space from Max, forcing the words of doubt further into his mind. Burning a brand of blame into his consciousness that was quickly going to wedge between him and Eli if it wasn’t addressed. Here and now. “Do you want to say it or should I?”

Jeffery took a moment to think, mulling his options of what would be the least painful solution. Luckily for Max, he decided that the fast and direct route was the way to go. “Which part? Knowing the back of your property or escorting the Gray boy through it?” Eli and Jessica sat silent. The shock was written across their features before it shifted between several emotions. Anger, confusion, and betrayal were a select few emotions that danced across their features. “I guess I'll start with how I know your property since it’s easier. Been here all my life and that used to be my old stomping grounds, took Jess’ mother there on a date once.”

Max nodded as if something like that would make sense, he only moved in under ten years ago so he knew his property intimately when it was just an empty plot of land on the side of a mountain. “Then move on to point two. You told me out in the snow that I think needs more clarification.”

Jeffery spoke, recounting what he told Max the other night with heavy remorse in his voice. The threats, what was left of his family, and the regret for choosing his family over his found family. Over Eli. The words poured out into the world between the small group with their features souring throughout his explanation of the terms. “Please you two, understand that it was the ONLY choice I had. Jess after I lost your mother I can’t lose you either.” Tears were in his eyes as he pleaded, begging his daughter to understand his reasoning. To see it from his perspective and how cornered he felt.

Jess didn't speak, with a blank expression she simply rose to her feet and left the darker room. Long dancing shadows were cast on the far wall from the dim fire being the most active movement in the room before Jeffrey’s face fell to his hands. Soft weeping emanated from him as Max looked upon the broken man with a tinge of remorse. He didn’t want his family to fall apart from the conflict centered around him. He wanted the pain to stop.

Max looked to Eli and whispered, “I'm going to try and salvage this here. Go talk to Jess, see if she’s alright.” She nodded and squeezed Max’s hand. Her skin felt colder than what he was used to, a small reminder of the current distance between them. She left, following Jessica in her silent wake leaving the two men alone. “I know everything you’ve been going through is tough but-”

“But what? Do you have an idea of what any of this is like? To lose a wife and the only thing that keeps you going is your daughter? To have that daughter threatened just because you were seen TALKING to you?! Don't bullshit me, son. You don’t know anything about this.” Jeffery spat out the venom-like words with as much vitriol he could muster, trying to push the gravity of his situation across to the younger man.

“See you say I don't but you don’t know my past either. You haven't faced my demons and I know I haven't faced yours. So why don't we cut the bullshit and just talk.” Max leaned back as he let frustration sink into his features. “You’re not seeing reason and the obvious solution. Clouded by fear and desperation.”

The stag huffed in anger as he could in his grasp crumpled in his grip. Sending splashes of flat beer across the floor. “And what, pray tell, might that be?”

“You let me handle the Gray family. Every threat, every hostile action, every word. I will handle it. All you need to do is leave town. Take your daughter on a vacation, lord knows you two probably haven’t been on one for a while.”

Jeffery’s grip strengthened on the feeble can, crushing the thin aluminum in his anger. “Oh yes just run from the problem, That’ll work out fantastic when you turn up dead in a ditch. Meanwhile, everyone in your shadow including Eli and my daughter is caught in the wake of your fall.”

“If I do die I'll be taking enough of them with me that they won't want to mess with anyone affiliated with me. Their loved ones will be too focused on burying what's left of them to think about petty revenge.” The stag’s brow furrowed in rage, seeing only arrogance in Max’s words. “But I'm not going to die just yet. I still need to take Eli dancing in the summer.”

The death grip on the can lessened as Max’s softened voice brought up plans he was beginning to doubt he’d see to fruition. A question of choices and time that he’d have to build and fix over the coming winter months. “So that's your answer? Leave and let a stranger handle this for me?”

“As of now, it’ll keep both of you safe. I know it's not the ideal solution but I have a plan to make this all work out well for us. Eli can keep you informed of anything big that happens but otherwise, I’ll be silent as I handle everything. Think that would be alright?”

Jeffery rolled his eyes as he slumped back into his chair. “What would make me think that you’ll be able to carry out this plan? They have an army.”

“You saw my work in person. My plan only has me and that dickwad Trevor to take any moves.” Jeffery raised an eyebrow in a silent question of how he would manage that. “As for how I’ll force his hand. Won’t be too difficult, just have to bruise his ego.” The stag nodded without eye contact, seeing that he could easily do what was being proposed. Then Max continued. “After that, I’ll just need to make him suffer. Grind his nose into the dirt to teach him a lesson. If he doesn't understand then I’ll have to force the authorities' hands.”

“And you would do this how?”

“Small departments don't like spotlights being shined on them. Especially with how much they’ve ignored and swept under the rug. All you need is a bit of video and a good story.” The words made sense to Jeffery, he had cameras all over his property. Probably recorded every bit of evidence that he could since this whole thing kicked off as well. “I already have a few connections lined up but I'm holding off on pulling the trigger to see if the parents can get those children in line. I'm not holding out hope though. That's what my contact is for.”

Jeffery just leaned back in his seat and stared at the younger male in disbelief. He was going to try and topple the Gray family and from his plan, it seemed the heavy lifting was completed the other night. The stag made his decision to leave town for a bit. The shop was expendable and so was his home. Jess wasn’t. “We’ll leave tonight if she agrees. It's on her though.”

“That’s all I was looking for.”

-

“You shouldn’t be mad at him, he was looking out for your safety.” Eli was in the doorway of Jess’ room still mad. She was upset with Max for not telling her sooner but furious that Jeffery would even think of choosing favorites between her and Jess. For years she considered him a second father to her and she thought that she was like a daughter to him.

“I am and I'll stay mad at him for basically leaving you to hang out to dry. You’re my sister, he saved you before, why couldn’t he do it again huh? Why was he selfish this time?” Eli simply shrugged as she thought about the men in the living room. One sold her out but the other…had only ever told her the truth. Max hasn’t lied to her, hell he only protected her. Fought off a wave of home invaders with her. In turn, she saved his life.

Flashes of that bastard’s cocky smile ran through her mind as she sneered. It wasn’t as haunting as before but simply pissed her off now. She’ll have to ask Max if that was normal. “I'm still here aren't I? Max did a great job with preparations and none of us could have guessed someone would go through the back. If he didn’t none of us would be here right now. Even your dad.” Eli wasn’t able to see what she was doing until she got right behind her, she was packing. “Where are you going to go?”

“Anywhere away from him. I need some time to process that he’d sacrifice you. I don't care if you’re not blood. You’re more than that to me. More than family.” Jess hugged her found sister of over ten years close. So much information in such little time had cracked her family but strengthened her bond with Eli and brought a newfound respect to the humans in this snake’s life. “I’ll…probably go stay with some family the next state over. It’s a bit of a drive but it’ll give me time to process this.”

Eli nodded in agreement, happy that she at least had a plan to get away and handle everything happening in her way. She supported her wholeheartedly but knew that deep down Jeffery was just a man put in a tough situation. If she was in his shoes…would she do the same? “Well if you’re adamant. Drive safe and only stop for gas, no idea if the Gray family is targeting you too.”

Jess gave Eli a tight hug before she continued to pack leaving the two in silence. Letting Eli wonder how the talk between her boyfriend and Jeffery was going. That question was answered when later the two left in separate vehicles in different directions.

-

The ride back was silent between the two as the two opted to think things over between them. The only change was that Eli reached out to hold his hand in the warm silence between them. Max’s mind stilled the self-doubt for a moment before he thought of how best to poke the sleeping bear of a problem in front of him.