McKenna POV.
Thump. Thump. Thwack. The rhythmical sound of my bare fists thumping into the punch bag slowly began to calm me. Then I’d remember everything that Blake had put me through the past seven years and what he was still putting me through, and the anger just came flooding back. THUMP! My fist flew into the punch bag. Behind me, someone whistled quietly. I spun, my weight on the balls of my feet, to see Brian Jr leaning against the doorframe.
“That’s some right hook you’ve got.” He commented, raising his eyebrows. I just glared at him and went back to the punch bag. He sighed. “Look, I know how you feel.” Before he could blink I was in front of him. I resisted the urge to smile at the stunned look on his face. There were definitely some perks to being a half-breed.
“You know nothing about what I’m feeling right now.” I hissed. “Don’t pretend that you do.” For the second time, I returned to my punch bag. Brian continued anyway.
“You’re upset and confused. You’re wondering what you did to deserve this. But above all you’re angry at how they can just snatch your life away from you. How they can control your future and justify it. I may not know everything that you’re feeling, but believe me, I know some of it. I felt exactly the same when they told me.” Behind me, I heard him move further into the dojo. Ignoring him, I gave the punch bag a ferocious roundhouse. The bag swung wildly, making me dodge to one side. Brian steadied it and held it, gesturing for me to continue. “Look, I’m not happy about it either, and I guess that I’ve had longer to get used to the idea, but we just have to get used to it. Alpha’s always make decision that pack members don’t like. It’s the way of the pack.” Every sentence of his was punctuated by a thump as I continued to hit the punch bag, trying to pretend that it was my Alpha’s face. “I guess what I’m trying to say here, is that this isn’t my fault and I really don’t like it either, but it’s going to happen whether we like it or not, so we should just adapt to the idea and learn to get along. Hopefully we’ll actually have something in common and can become friends, at least.” I stopped and looked at him properly for the first time. He wasn’t bad looking. He was tall, although to me, most people look tall and toned. His long black hair had obviously been straightened, only to be put under a bandana. He had gorgeous brown eyes that were slightly lined with black. He had various piercings and his arms were covered in tats. He looked like he was in some kind of band, he just had that air about him. All in all, he was the kind of guy that I would go for. I smiled inwardly. Things could be a lot worse. I thought to myself. He could have been Justin Beiber.
“Sorry. I know that it’s not your fault.” I looked away, his eyes seemed to be staring deep into my soul. It was like he knew everything about me. It made me uncomfortable. There were things about me that I hated. Things that would make the hairs on peoples arms curl. Things that no-one, not even me, should know. Ever. “I have serious temper issues. You’re right, hopefully we’ll get on and become friends.” Anything else that either of us could have said was destroyed by my treacherous family and Brian Sr walking in. My aunt and uncle looked uncomfortable, while Brian Sr smiled broadly. I liked him. He seemed nice enough. Nicer that my family anyway.
“Glad to see that you two are starting to get along.” He commented.
“McKenna, Brian Sr needs to know how long it’ll take you to get packed up and out to California.” I resisted the urge to snort. They were eager to get rid of me. Not that I expected any less from the aunt and uncle from hell. Well heaven would be a more accurate word. Goddamn happy clappy relatives.
“It’ll take me a couple of days Mr Haner. I’ve got quite a bit to pack up and I have to arrange the transport for the dogs as well as the shipment of some larger bits. There’s my horses to sort out too.” I explained.
“So it’ll probably be nearer three days.” He nodded, as if confirming something in his mind. “I’ll leave Brian here to give you a hand and you can fly out in three days’ time. I’ll arrange for someone to meet you at the airport.”

~*~

“How the fuck can you have so much stuff?” Asked Brian, who insisted on being called Syn due to his stage name; Synyster Gates. It turns out that I was right; he is in a band. Avenged Sevenfold. I recognised the name, having heard a couple of songs played on a local pirate radio station that I listened to. He was stood in the middle of the garage, surrounded by boxes of my stuff. I laughed and shrugged.
“If you suddenly had to move countries, you’d probably find that you had a lot of stuff that you wanted to take with you too.” He nodded.
“Fair enough.” I stood, brushing dust off my knees.
“That’s the last of them.” Syn pretended to cheers, making me smile. “What time’s our flight?” He checked his watch.
“We have to be at the airport in an hour to check the dogs in.” He replied. I nodded.
“Ok. I’ll go grab my stuff and meet you at the car.” Kowrowa, the small town that most of my pack lived in, was about three quarters of an hour’s drive away from Cairns International Airport in Cairns, Queensland. Our flight took off at 6, but I had to get there at 4 to oversee the boarding of my five dogs. After assuring myself that my aunt and uncle had a list of everything that I wanted shipped out to me and dates of the shipments, I grabbed my bags and headed out to the car, where Syn was loading the last of my suitcases into the boot. I chucked my bags in the back and made sure that the dogs were on board before turning to look at my aunt and uncle. Aunt Cassidy stepped forwards to hug me. I stepped back.
“Don’t pretend that this is all emotional for you. Please. We both know that you’re glad to get rid of me. The whole pack is.” I knew my cold expression shocked Syn, but if he knew what these people had put me through, then he’d probably understand. Maybe even feel the same. I turned and opened the car door. “I’m almost glad to be rid of the lot of you.” I slid into the car and buckled by seatbelt up. The driver started the engine and pulled away. This was it. My life out in Aus was over. For better or for worse, I didn’t know. But I was about to find out.