"Challenged?!" Jax asked angrily.

After the man left Dean immediately called a family meeting over to the pack house, of course this meant his parents and Jaxon, for me this meant my parents and my best friend.

Dean nodded as he looked over at the letter our fathers were both looking over.

"Kirk Fletcher...apparently he's a cousin of the former Alpha Richard and feels that the title should have been passed to him and his sons as they carry the family name." Dean filled everyone in now.

"That isn't how the title works." Lola put in, "only direct descendants or appointed titles by the former Alphas are valid."

"Nevertheless" Jax sounded. "We all know any challenge can be made at any time by anyone...family ties to the previous Alpha or otherwise."

The reality was we all knew Jax was right, and worse...we'd already been warned of this danger potentially happening.

"He's giving me two days...a challenge on full display for the pack, and I can appoint any second of my choosing." Dean said as he walked over and took my hand into his, I don't know if it was to comfort himself or me as my stomach had been in knots since the man left, either way I was grateful for the small action.

"I'm sure Carter could help in someway." Stephanie put in "I mean two Alphas are better chances of winning."

I offered her a small smile of thanks.

"That's really kind to offer Steph, but I wouldn't Ask Alpha Carter to risk his neck...he has his own pack to think about." Dean offered kindly, "But thank you."

She nodded.

"No, the fact is that we will use this to our advantage." He added.

"How so son?" Mr Giles asked.

"The guy has given us the oppourtunity to show the whole pack their new Alpha and Beta, but not just two new guys in over their heads...but an Alpha and Beta ready to prove themselves."

Jax nodded in approval.

The guys could be as cavalier as they wanted to be in this situation but I was worried, this is my mate and he is going to put his life on the line...and call me selfish but I genuinely didn't want him to do this. Granted I know he has to, I just wish there was another way.

When everyone started leaving Jax stayed behind to begin discussing plans of attack for the challenger and whoever his second would be.

"Hey Dean...Can I talk to you really quick?" I asked.

He looked at me and offered me a smile before he excused himself from his cousin and joined me upstairs to our bedroom.

"What's wrong My Love?" He asked gently.

"I'm scared." I admitted.

He nodded and stepped in to close the space between us before he wrapped his arms around me, "I know...and I am too."

"I don't want anything to happen to you."

He sighed, "I can't lie to you and say I'll be fine...truth is I don't know what will happen during the fight, and we all know the challenge only ends when one of the main opponents dies."

"Or submits." I added. "As the Luna of this pack I will not allow your first act as Alpha to be a bloody one...for all that it's worth you are still the chosen Alpha going into the fight, and more so...you're a Giles, you have Alpha blood in your veins...you have the power to require this match be submission only."

"The pack could see me as weak." He sounded with obvious doubt.

I shook my head, "Forgive me...but I don't care." I said with finality now, "Yes some may see the submission as weakness, but there are others who will see you as kind, and just, and forgiving...rule with respect, not fear...also I don't want you to be a murderer unless you absolutely have no other choice..."

He looked down at me, his face was filled with so much worry, "As Alpha I'll have to get bloody every now and again."

I nodded, "I know...but this time you have the choice not to."

He sighed and kissed me once and then looked at me once again, "Try and rest Love...I've got to get back down there."

I knew he was struggling with this and now I'd added another layer to this all.

I went to lay down but the thought of Dean fighting and killing someone literally made me sick to my stomach so I bolted to the bathroom.

_____

{Dean's POV}

"Everything okay?" Jax asked as I rejoined him in the office.

"Yeah." I sighed, "Cassie's just worried about me."

"Well, she is your mate...it's her job to worry about you, just as you're suppose to worry about her, this can't be easy on her Dean." He put in.

"I know."

He smirked, "You're lucky to have your mate by your side."

I offer him a sympathetic sort of look...he'd told me all about his mate and how it was because of her he had initial hesitations to accepting the Beta position.

"Don't." He sounded, "I don't need your sympathy, Kendra and I doing good given our circumstances and as long as she's happy I'm happy."

"But you wish she were here." I put in.

He nodded, "Of course I do...and with this Challenge I know she's going to freak out about it when I tell her, and she'll be pissed if I don't tell her."

"Well try having a Luna who's basically ordering me not to kill my opponent."

"That's smart of her." He said.

"Oh you're on her side then?" I asked a little humored, Honestly I thought bringing in Jax as my Beta would be a slight problem for Cassandra as the two have very opposite personalities. But so far they seem to be on the same page.

"Well, it's the responsible road to take, a political choice if I'm being honest."

"How so?" I asked.

"Well the obvious choice would be to kill him and send a message...but what message would that send...Alpha Dean the ruthless killer, don't cross him or you'll fell his wrath, a no nonsense, vengeful Alpha...no your Luna is right, submission is the best choice for everyone involved."

"I need the people to respect me as the rightful Alpha of this pack."

"And they will, Submission isn't giving up and it also doesn't mean you can't still send a message...no you won't kill him, but you can hurt him very badly." He pointed out. "Plus, living with the fact that you challenged an Alpha and Lost...having to live with that everyday for the rest of your life...it's kinda punishment in and of itself for not only him but his family as well."

"He could always win too."

"More reason to offer submission...do you want Cassandra left alone if you should be killed?"

My wolf howled with sadness at the thought of leaving our Mate alone. I nodded, "I have a lot to think about..."

"Don't take too long, we've only got 2 days." He said before he showed himself out.

I sighed heavily and finally made my way back upstairs to find Cassie fast asleep.