McKenna POV.
I sighed, staring at the fly crawling over the outside of the tent. They say that tomorrow never comes. I guess that technically it’s true, but whatever was worrying you about tomorrow always comes. Next to me, I felt Syn stir. He rolled over and rested an arm across my waist. I smiled and let him pull me in closer.
“You awake already?” He murmured, kissing my cheek. I nodded.
“I’m terrified Syn.” I confessed, resting my head against his chest. He sighed and began to run his fingers through my hair.
“To be honest, I’d be worried if you weren’t babe.” He paused, before resuming stroking my hair. “I’ve watched you train Mac, you’re an amazing fighter. You have to be in order to have survived everything that you have.” I smiled gratefully at him, however I didn’t enlighten him that not only was Blake one of the ones who trained me, but this fight wasn’t exactly going to be a regular fight. We laid there for a while, just enjoying being close to one another. Eventually we heard the general cursing and clatter that accompanied the rest of the guys getting up. Despite my best reassurances, this still involved Jimmy and Johnny freaking out over the native wildlife. I sighed and sat up.
“Come on. We can’t hide in here forever.” I ordered, poking him lightly in the chest. Time to face the world. Or at least, a small part of it.

~*~

I was greeted by the smell of bacon as I left the tent. Mmmm. I was followed by an eagerly sniffing Syn. He wrapped and arm around my waist and led me over to where the others were sat eating breakfast. Zacky looked up and grinned at us as we sat down.
“You two look rather happy.” He commented, winking at us. I glared at him and made myself coffee. Sniggers went round the campfire. They were soon silenced as I pointed out the large spider sat on a rock between Jimmy and Johnny. For the most part we ate breakfast in silence, wolfing down bacon sandwiches and coffee. Once I was finished, I stood up and stretched, looking around the small clearing that we’d called home for the past couple of weeks. My gaze moved back over to the guys, who were all watching me intently, waiting for instruction.
“Pack up. It’s time we finished this once and for all.”

~*~

We split into two groups; Me, Syn and Johnny rode in the pick-up, while Matt, Zacky and Jimmy followed us in the SUV. The ride was silent and tense. I drove, my grip on the steering wheel so hard that my knuckles were white. I had to struggle not to turn the car around and run from the impending fight. No, that wasn’t an option. I’d run from this fight for too many years now. It needed to end. Here. Now. Today. I followed a dusty secluded road, driving almost completely on instinct and memory. Eventually I pulled to a halt, round the corner, just out of sight, stood a large ranch house and surrounding ranch. I could picture it in my head almost perfectly, although it had been more than six months since I’d last been there. Just round the corner lay my old pack. Just round the corner lay my future and the future for the guys. Just round that corner lay the orchestrator of every single one of my nightmares. Matt pulled up next to me and wound down his window.
“You ready?” He called, over the noise of both engines. I nodded, still far too tense for words. He nodded back and wound the window up, revving the engine. I pulled off in a cloud of dust, Matt following almost directly on my tail. I reached across Johnny and hit the volume button on the radio, turning it up to full. Slipknot’s Before I Forget blasted out of the radio. Usually I wouldn’t bother make such a showy entrance, but a large part of this fight would be bluffing. Hiding my fear from him. Making him believe that I had the confidence in myself to beat him. We rounded the corner almost simultaneously, there were a few scattered people outside the house. They all turned to look, surprised at the sudden entrance of unknown vehicles. I spun the pick-up to a stop in a handbrake turn, sending up a cloud of dust that covered the onlookers. Switching the engine off, I opened the door and jumped out of the pick-up, Slipknot still blaring from the car behind me. I stood by the door, one hand resting on the frame, the other on my hip, as I surveyed the collected people in front of me. All of them were staring at me, shocked expressions adorning all of their faces. I stared back at them, a stony expression firmly fixed on my face as the guys got out of the cars and stood next to me. It didn’t take long before one of the men in the crowd stepped forward, shock giving way to disdain as he walked towards me.
“What are you doing here bitch?” I ignored his insult and replied coolly.
“Where’s Blake?” Almost instantly, one of the house doors slammed open and the crowd parted. Blake Carmichael strolled almost arrogantly down the gap, his cold, blue gaze fixed firmly on me. Contempt was all over his face as he took in me and the guys.
“McKenna Liana Jenson,” He drawled, coming to a stop a few metres away. “the prodigal child returns. I knew that you wouldn’t be able to stay away. The fight is addicting isn’t it?” I narrowed my gaze as I stared him down. That shocked him, normally I wouldn’t meet his eyes. Ignoring the fear that pounded in my chest, I spoke.
“Blake Lawrence Carmichael, Alpha of Kowrowa Creek Pack, I challenge you for the rights of leadership.” Surprise flitted briefly across his gaze before he burst out laughing.
“Child, only Pack can challenge for Leadership, and you are no longer Pack. I made sure of that.” I snorted, smirking back at him as I reached for the Pack magic deep inside me.
“Did you? Because I’m pretty certain that I haven’t taken any blood oaths to Greg Sanders and the Huntingdon Beach Pack yet. Which makes me still a part of this one.” I let the magic surround me, let it flow through the bonds to him. This time he couldn’t hide the shock. “The Pack members behind you stand witness Blake. There is only one way for you to continue to hold this pack. This Pack was once held by the Jenson’s, it’s time that it returned to the leadership of the family that created it.” Blake growled at me, the sound low, deep, primal. He turned on his heel and strode round to the back of the house, where no doubt the rest of the pack was gathered. I smirked again and slammed the car door following him, the guys right behind me. Blake had come to a halt in the middle of an area surrounded by wooden fencing. The Arena. I ducked through the fence and walked up to him, forcing confidence into my every step. Again, I met his gaze and stared him down, letting him know that I was serious. Slowly, the Pack began to gather around the outside of the Arena.
“I suppose that it’s you I have to thank for the deaths of Adam, Gabriel, Patrin and the others?” I just widened my smirk in reply. He snarled at me. “You are going to pay for that, you little bitch.” He added in a near silent whisper. I ignored him and looked pointedly at the assembled Pack. He turned his attention to them. “Members of Kowrowa Creek Pack,” He called, instantly getting their attention. “Today, you were gathered here to enjoy the freedom of being a wolf.” I snorted at that. Freedom? In his Pack? Fucking hypocrite. “Instead, you stand witness to something many of you have never seen before. You stand witness to a Leadership Challenge.” Again I snorted and uncrossed my arms, rolling my shoulders. “McKenna Liana Jenson has Challenged me, and I accept.” The members of the Pack, that hadn’t yet seen me gasped in surprise. He turned back to me. “The Pack stands witness.”
“I stand Challenger.” I replied, reciting the formal words.
“I stand Challenged.” He looked at me, as if disgusted that he would have to fight me. “You are aware of the rules?” I sniffed indignantly.
“Of course.” He nodded.
“Then begin.” We both turned and walked to opposite corners of the Arena. The guys stood watching, Matt met my gaze as I approached. As an Alpha’s son, he was well aware of what was about to happen. The others? I think, probably had suspicions, but I wasn’t sure. He nodded at me, supporting me and my choice. I nodded back, silently thanking him and turned back to face the rest of the Arena. I began to stretch out, loosening, relaxing my muscles. As I do so, I scanned the crowd, searching the faces for the one that I wanted to see. I skipped over my Aunt Cassidy and Uncle Jake, ignoring their shocked and confused expressions. Eventually, I found her at the front of the crowd, gripping onto the wooden fencing, her face taut with worry. My Aunt Adrianne. The only member of my family who really cared about me. I smiled at her and nodded. She replied, her smile weak and worried. Having seen her, I returned to the business at hand. Across the Arena, Blake was limbering up too. I completed my last stretch and looked at him. Waiting for him. He noticed that I was finished and dipped his head, indicating that he too was ready. At that signal, I bent down and unlaced my boots, kicking them off. Without hesitation or preamble, I began to strip. I refused to look at the guys, knowing that Syn would be furious that I hadn’t told him. Once naked, I dropped to all fours and began to shift.