As we walked in Dean put down his keys and I went to kick of my shoes.

"Woah...I'm gonna toss this into the wash and then I have to call the pack over."

I sighed, "miraculously for even just the briefest split second...I actually forgot about the challenge."

He offered me a sad smile, "I know love...this will all be over this time tomorrow."

I nodded and knew he was right, one way or another this would all be done tomorrow...and he had agreed to submission, so if by some chance he loses I'd still get to be with him, he would still be here with me."

I smiled as I watched him make his way into the laundry room, and I thought about today.

Just a girl and a boy...loving one another openly; the hugs, the kisses, the smiles, talking about our future, casually washing a blanket...these things were all so simple, so average and everyday...but today with him meant everything for me, and things I had so easily overlooked in the past.

When he came back into the sitting room he moved to walk past me but I reached out and gently grabbed his arm.

He looked at me.

"I love you."

A warm smile filled his face now as he took a seat on the back of the sofa and reached down to cradle my face, his thumb delicately caressing my cheek. "I love you..." but as his smile went away he leaned down and kissed me, "...come on love, let's get this show on the road."

I got up and he walked to my side, he took my hand into his and just closed his eyes and before I knew it his voice was filling my every thought and I knew every single person in the pack would hear the same thing.

_____

I stood with our pack members.

Last night after Dean had called everyone to the pack house where he filled them in, and surprisingly many of them were pissed.

"He's just an outsider."

"A brother Alpha Fletcher didn't even acknowledge."

"He's a bastardized Fletcher."

Needless to say, the pack wasn't too thrilled with the idea that someone who had no claim in their eyes would come in and try and take the pack for themselves.

This whole time Dean and I thought the pack didn't accept us, and as it turned out they stood behind us all the way on this.

Stephanie held my hand and we watched on as an unfamiliar man walked into the center of the circle with another young man none of us knew.

The pack guard were in their wolf form and barred their teeth at the challengers, and they both looked at them with extremes distaste.

'Be strong, stay strong.' I said to myself over and over. The pack needed to see me as the Luna...unwavering and undeterred. Also I had to be calm and collected for Dean.

I knew he was worried enough as is and I didn't need him to worry about me too.

Just then Dean and Jaxon walked into the circle, our pack cheered excitedly but they walked right over to us.

"You know what I'm going to do love but listen to me...if anything happens go with Steph no matter what."

I looked at him and he turned his gaze to Steph, "take her to your Mates pack if shit hits the fan, my parents will meet you there...that's my mom's childhood pack."

She simply nodded.

Now I was worried again, he offered me a smile before he and Jax turned to face the new guy.

"Dean Giles...I Kirk Fletcher challenge you for rightful reign as Alpha of this pack...do you accept this challenge?"

Dean nodded, "I do...on the condition that this be a fight to submission."

"Submission?!" Kirk Fletcher asked almost humored. "You looking to give up when the going gets tough?"

"Not at all Mister Fletcher...just giving you the chance to live when there no reason for you to die...now as Fully appointed and the only True and Rightful Alpha of this pack I Alpha Dean Giles accept your challenge, a challenge to submission...we each get a second and should either one of us or one of our seconds submits the fight is over."

Kirk Fletcher seemed to be looking at Dean but turned to say something to his second.

"No one is permitted to enter the fight...the pack guard will keep the fight fair and keep all outsiders from entering the fight."

Kirk Fletcher do you accept my terms?"

"I do." He said with a slight sneer.

And immediately after the fight began.

All four of the men shifted into their wolves but I couldn't keep my eyes off of Dean for anything.

Dean was wild when he fought. To be honest a slight shiver ran down my spine at how at ease he seemed to be fighting this man. But in the same sense it was more than a relief to know he could take care of himself.

"He's got this Cass." Steph sounded confidently.

I nodded, I knew she was right.

Then Dean did a move so quick my eyes barely registered it, he had the mans throat between his teeth.

Kirks second readied himself anxiously, trying to do anything to ramp up Kirk and get him to break free from Dean's clutches.

We all stood there and watched as Deans jaws moved closer and closer to closing a little at a time, he did not want to kill this man but if worse came to worse and Kirk didn't submit he'd end up doing just that.

I was worried that Dean would have to end up killing him, and sure I know killing is part of being a Were...there will be rogues and intruders that need to be dealt with eventually...but this, like Dean said earlier, this man didn't have to die.

When it seemed like Dean had no other choice but to kill Kirk a commotion sounded as a wolf jumped into the center of the circle and went straight for Dean.

This wasn't just a challenge, this was an ambush.

I watched on unsure as another wolf entered before the guards stepped in and all hell broke loose.

"We have to go now." Stephanie sounded worried.

I didn't want to leave but I knew Dean would get hurt if he worried about me so I left along with her.

Stephanie and I were soon in the safety of her car, and she assured me she would let my parents know so they wouldn't be worried as well.

Stephanie hightailed it out of town without a second thought, no doubt her own mate would've asked her to steer clear of harm.

I looked down at my phone and didn't bother ringing anyone...The Giles would know to go to Alpha Carter's pack, Steph would call my parents when we got there (in case my number was being tracked or anything. And Dean, I knew him well enough that he'd call me as soon as he knew the danger was fully gone and he was fine.

With my wolf whining for our mate I sat back against the passenger seat and let my friend drive on.