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?"
