McKenna POV.
I was caught in an Avenged Sevenfold sandwich. A very squishy, sweaty, smelly Avenged Sevenfold sandwich. They’d just finished playing a one-off gig in L.A while they were recording and I’d been forced along as a make-shift roadie, along with Val. I tell you, I do not envy the roadies that travelled with them – guitar/bass tech-ing for both Syn and Johnny was … an interesting experience, that somehow involved me being dragged onstage.
“Can’t … breathe… Jimmy’s… armpit … in … face … suffocating …” I choked, trying unsuccessfully to remove my face from the offending area. Jimmy just laughed and pulled me in closer.
“You love it really, Lemon-Pie.” I gagged. Thankfully someone removed me from his death grip before I threw up. I gulped down fresh air as fast as I could, glaring at Jimmy.
“Dear lord, you stink.” He just grinned at me. I turned to face my saviour, who just happened to be the amazingly sexy Synyster Gates. I smiled at him and stepped into his hug, pressing my lips firmly against his. He smiled into the kiss and began to deepen it. For once, I didn’t pull away. Instead, I responded just a passionately as him. I could tell that I’d shocked him. He paused slightly in the kiss, then pulled me in closer, his tongue brushing against my lip. I was just about to open my mouth when someone cleared their throat right behind me. We pulled apart as if we’d been shocked. I blushed and stared at the ground, suddenly very interested in my converse. Matt was stood behind us, tapping his foot and holding his mobile out to one side. He raised an eyebrow at us.
“If you two have finished sucking face, the Alpha is on the phone. He wants a conference call.” Syn glared at his back as he lead us into their dressing room.
“Please, you and I both know that you and Val are much worse than we are.” He snorted, flopping down into a seat and pulling me onto his lap. Matt sent him a withering look and pressed a button on his phone, setting it in the middle of a table covered in beer bottles.
“Dad? We’re all here.” I looked at Syn. Dad? Greg was Matt’s dad? I suppose it made sense considering the similarities in their appearance. Syn just raised one shoulder in a shrug and nuzzled into my neck.
“Good, good. Is McKenna there?” Crackled the rather static-sounding voice of Greg.
“Alive and kicking.” I replied, saluting the phone even if he couldn’t see it.
“Excellent. Basically, in short, Sam is missing.” He paused as, as a group, everyone started yelling. I was the only exception, having only briefly met Sam at the full moon, I didn’t know him very well.
“HEY! QUIET!” Roared Matt, effectively shutting everyone’s jabbering up. “Let Dad explain.”
“Thank you Mathew. He has been missing for roughly a week. No-one has seen or heard from him. I’ve had whatever members of the pack are available searching for him. They’ve found no trace of where he could have gone nor where he has been.” He paused and inhaled deeply, before continuing. “I’ve sent a help request to McKenna’s former pack for more man-power to search for him.” I inhaled sharply and felt the colour drain from my face, I hadn’t expected that given what I had told him about Blake. “What I need to know, McKenna, is if my request will be listened to. If I will get the man power that I have asked for.” I didn’t hesitate, my heart pounding as I spoke.
“No. Blake won’t send anyone. It doesn’t directly benefit him and it means forking out the cost of flights, travel and expenses.” On the other end of the phone, Greg sighed.
“I was afraid that that would be your answer.” He sighed again. “If that is the case, then I’m going to need all of you back here as soon as possible in order to help search. How quickly can you wrap up everything your end?” The guys all exchanged glances.
“Tomorrow, maybe the day after?” Suggested Jimmy, gaining nods from everyone else.
“Val and I will head back tonight. We’ll say that there’s been a family bereavement and the guys don’t want to record without me there, so we’ll reschedule.” Decided Matt. Everyone nodded and mumbled their agreement.
“Good, good. I’ll see you all back here in a couple of days.” And with that, Greg hung up.

~*~
I tapped my fingers nervously against my thigh as I stared vacantly at the empty chair opposite me. Memories were running on a loop, round and round, in my brain. Haunting me. Terrorising me. Slowly tearing me apart. I wasn’t even aware that anyone was talking to me until a hand on my shoulder jolted me out of the recurring nightmares. I looked up to meet a pair of warm, deep brown eyes, staring at me with compassion. Syn. I smiled weakly at him.
“You ok?” I bit my lip. I knew that he needed to know. I knew that I should tell him. I knew that it would do me good to talk about it. But I didn’t know if I physically could. I was scarred inside and out. And I didn’t know which scars were worse. I licked my lips, moistening them, trying to force myself to speak. All that came out was a hoarse whisper.
“No.” He frowned, before moving round the couch and pulling me to my feet. He wrapped both of his arms around me and just held me close, one hand gently stroking my hair. He pulled away slightly to look at me, then leaned in, pressing his lips to my forehead.
“You want to talk about it?” I nodded, still not trusting my voice. “Come on.” he whispered, taking my hand and leading me out onto the balcony.