If Nick's nonchalant way of marking his father for death had shocked them, Matt's declaration blew them away. They were shocked into silence for the second time in as many minutes. Only this time the disbelief was directed at him.

And he could understand how they felt; a part of him was also shocked. He couldn't believe he'd just volunteered to challenge an Alpha.

He, who always feared having others depend on him. He, the one who'd always raged against the fate that had dictated that he be born to lead. He, who never wanted to be the leader to any pack, had just offered to be just that.

His aversion to leadership would never change, but he knew that he couldn't allow Nick to kill his own father.

Not when he could do it instead.

Out of everyone in the room, other than Nick, he was the only male who could take on an Alpha as powerful as Nick's father. He had the best chance of challenging him and coming out victorious. He was also the only other male with the skills, the knowledge and the power to take over pack like the Pacific Pack.

When power was wrested from the ruling Alpha, more often than not, the transition could be difficult for everyone, from the Alpha to the Omega.

The pack had to get used to a new leader, new laws, and in his case, a new way of life. While, he as the new Alpha would have to work hard to earn their respect, something he couldn't win through the challenge. As a new Alpha he would have to be ready to defend his position, take on anyone daring enough to challenge his rule.

With every possibility that crossed his mind so did the grudging admittance that it really was up to him. That didn't mean that he considered Axel and Christian too weak to take on such a challenge. No they were not weak by any means; their strengths just lay somewhere else. He may be afraid to face his destiny but he wasn't a coward to stand back let his friends attempt to do what he knew he could.

Not everyone was meant to be an Alpha.

He was.

Through and through he was an Alpha male.

He'd done his hardest to destroy the inner instinct to lead. Everything he could think of to obliterate the need to take charge, he'd done it. He'd even tried drowning the urge to dominate with a daily dose of wolfs bane-it hadn't worked.

Nothing worked, it seemed like his destiny was tired of waiting.

"You are going to do what?" Jessica asked, finally breaking the silence.

"I'm going to challenge Nick's father for the right to lead the Pacific Pack." A feral smile unfurled across his lips allowing his canines-now elongated-to show. "I'm going to challenge him and I am going to win."

With every second that passed, the longer the idea sank in, the more he liked it. The sudden lust for the upcoming battle took root within him and it gleamed in his eyes. It transformed him, transformed his features.

There was a sudden ruthlessness where there was none before. Such fierceness was a side of him reserved only for his enemies. It was a part of him that his friends only saw during battle. To his friends he would always be the easy going guy who avoided being in charge like the plague.

He thought he'd finally found himself a niche. Being the Pack Enforcer allowed his wolf to feel dominant without him having to be responsible for other people's lives. All he had to do was enforce Pack law, protect his Alphas and allow Nick to deal with everything else.

For the most part his life had been pure bliss. Fate finally caught up to him and was forcing him to confront all demons. Every single one, it seemed.

Jessica raised her hand, "hold on," she exclaimed. "I'm lost here, if I'm the big bad wolf, shouldn't I be the one doing the challenging?"

Looking around the room at his closest friends, Matt was glad to find that he wasn't the only one unsure of whether to laugh or groan. Jessica's sarcastic sense of humor made it almost impossible to know if she was being serious or kidding.

She also had an explosive temper.

And if she didn't get the answer she liked, her newly awakened powers could go haywire. Now was one of those moments where everyone was unsure of her reaction if she didn't like the answer.

Matt didn't know what to tell her. He didn't know and didn't want to be the one to answer her. By the uneasy looks that Christian and Axel were giving Nick, it was clear that they didn't want to answer her either.

Taking pity on them, Nick clasped Jessica's shoulders and turned her towards him. "You are the big bad wolf but you're just a female."

Feeling the sudden spike of power radiating from her, he, Christian and Axel groaned in unison. As they had feared, Jessica took immediate offense to his condescending tone. She put her hands on her hips and glared at her mate.

Aware of the imminent explosion, he began to back out of the room, followed by Axel and Christian. Sensing their retreat, Jessica turned and caught them in her glare. Like wild animals caught in headlight they stood rooted to their spots.

She encompassed them with a look that made it clear that she didn't want them going anywhere. They nodded in acquiesce and she turned her attention back to Nick.

"Did you say, just a female?"

Nick crossed his arms over his chest. He looked down smugly at her. "Yes I did just say that."

The power flowing from her began to push against them all. It became harder to breathe, as if someone was slowly sucking all of the oxygen out of the room. Anymore and they would soon be down on their knees gasping for air.

It took great effort from him- from all of them-to act unaffected by her suffocating power. And just when he thought it couldn't get worse, it did.

Nick raised an eyebrow in response to the wave's anger and power coming from her and added condescendingly, "a female wouldn't survive one second in a challenge against a puny Alpha. Forget surviving a challenge against an Alpha as powerful as my father."

Matt took in a deep breath through his nostrils, sweat began to form on his forehead but he didn't bother to wipe it away. He was too focused on the scene unfolding before him. It was like watching the beginning of a train wreck.

A wreck between two trains transporting high powered explosives.

Jessica's glare intensified. Her power began to push against him. He braced himself against the urge to go down on his knees. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Axel and Christian were doing the same.

"Excuse me?" He heard Jessica ask Nick as if from a long distance.

Nick turned to look at them, chuckled and turned back to Jessica. He pulled her into his arms, against her resistance at first, and ran soothing circles across her back. "Careful, your powers are spiking."

Belatedly, Matt recognized Nicks ploy to teach Jessica a lesson and he allowed the built up tension to leave him in a gust of air. Jessica also seemed to release a deep breath and relaxed against Nick. Immediately her powers began to recede, like waves going back to the ocean after crashing against the coast, and Matt could breathe once again.

"You will often hear things you won't like." He heard Nick tell Jessica in a soft tone. "But you can't lose control of your powers; you have to stay level headed."

Jessica sighed and buried her face in his chest, "I know, I know."

The endearing picture they presented caused his jealousy to rear its ugly head once again. It felt like a poison eating at his insides. He hated feeling the way he did and he was only thankful that he was better adept at hiding his turmoil then Jessica.

"Women can't challenge for any position in a pack. Their position is determined by, first their father and later their mate."

Incredulously, Jessica gapped at him. "What century did you guys get stuck in?"

"The one where women knew their place, and they took their baths after us," Christian chimed in jokingly and earned himself a glare.

Matt shook his head and stepped up to explain. "We treasure our woman. The law isn't there to make women feel like less, it's there to protect them. If such challenges were allowed, a power hungry man wouldn't hesitate to challenge the female mate instead of the man. Do you understand what that could do to our society? We don't have to like the law, they might be outdated but it's because of them that we've managed to survive this long."

Jessica eyed him through narrow eyes, Matt didn't bat an eye and she finally sighed. "Fine, I understand- I don't like it- but I understand." She pointed at them all, "but be warned, some of the laws are outdated and they will be getting the boot."

Matt nodded.

Nick wrapped his arms around her from behind; he rested his chin on her shoulder and said, "Before you can start shaking up our laws, we have to do some shaking of our own. We've managed to keep your existence from the general public, but it won't stay that way for long. We need as many of our enemies dispatched before then."

Matt could sense her faltering and he added the last dart, "if not for your safety, than for Aleksey's. Nick's father wouldn't hesitate to kill his own grandson."

A fire sprang into her eyes, she straightened her spine, looked at Nick and then back at him. "If he is really a threat to my son, than he dies."

The protectiveness she showed towards those she loved earned her his admiration, more than before. One day he hoped to be as lucky as Nick. He'd finally accepted the fact that it wouldn't be with his soul mate but he could live with a close second.

And maybe giving up on Sarah was a blessing in disguise. Now he could find a mate among his class, one who wouldn't demand more than he could give. He would find a mate that wouldn't be ashamed of his half-blood.

And he would do everything in his power to love her and make her happy.

Matt heard his name being called and he shook his head, pulling himself back from his introspection.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" He asked Nick.

"I asked when you want to challenge my father."

Matt straightened and looked at everyone around the room. "Right away, there is no point in waiting."

Even as he spoke the words he felt a sudden thrill shoot through him. He would be killing two birds with one stone. He would kill Nick's father and before he went in search of his future mate, he planned to satisfy his lust for Sarah. He would get her out of his system once and for all.

*****