Argent POV

We come across the border for Strand as we run together. It's an eery feeling, how I can feel so happy heading towards something so worrying. I need to keep a clear head, but all I can think about is last night ...

We come to the final leg of our journey, and I can now see Strand buildings coming into view. These are the houses on the outskirts of the pack house. It's almost sunrise now, and people are slowly filing out of their homes and heading for one destination.

The challenge.

We stick to the woods, but a few of the people walking turn in our direction, obviously catching our scent as we run close to them but remain out of view for now.

Aida runs to the right and slightly behind me, but she's keeping up well considering this is only the second time she has shifted. Only the second. She is a natural. Her father really let her down by holding this back from her.

Her father. Jasper. We still have so much to do aside of this detour.

We need to find him, we need to seek out help from other packs for Amalie, and we need to do all of this while steering clear of the council.

Sounds simple, right?

Actually, it sounds like fun. I love a challenge just as much as James, and that is why I'm not giving much thought to the plan B scenario we came up with should things turn bad. Plan B is that I take the girls and Kane and run. Should Elroy try to insist on ancient rules, which we assume he will, this could end up being a fight to the death.

That's James's plan B. And even though he made me promise, I will never let that happen. I have my own plan B in mind, and it pretty much contains me kicking Elroy's pompous ass as far and as hard as I can kick it.

And keeping James alive.

This all flows on repeat in my mind as we pad across the final few yards standing between us and the ever-growing crowd.

As we reach the end of the woods, we pause.

I link, Okay. This is it. We stay in wolf form. Father will be in human form.

I hear Aida, James I ...

He replies, Aida, I'm going to be okay. It's all going to be okay. But I need you all to swear right now, if anything happens to me, you will all leave. Fast. I cannot go into this with a clear mind if you don't swear this to me.

Jemma responds, I swear, babe.

Aida is next, I swear, James.

I ... I can't.

Arge! I need you to do this. I'm counting on you. I need you to take care of these two.

Ahh! Don't make me swear, James. Please.

Arge. It's not going to come to that, okay?

Finally, I give in. Okay.

Okay what?

Okay. I swear.

Thanks, mate.

We step out of the thinning cover and head towards the crowd. The pack members of Strand have communed around Elroy in the centre of the circle. Standing with him are Kane and George.

Father stands to the left just on the outskirts of the pack.

Son, James, ladies, we have ten members of our pack just outside the lines. They're undetected as of now, but I'm sure Elroy will put out scouts soon.

Okay, Dad.

James, good luck, son.

Thanks, Alpha.

Father steps forward and intercepts us. James moves closer to Jemma and brushes his face against her side.

She links, I love you, James Craig. Please kick Elroy's ass. Hard.

Okay, baby. Nice sentiment.

You're welcome, hun.

James pads forward with Father walking beside him.

Elroy smirks at the sight of them together. Fuck. I want to hit that prick so hard. He says aloud, so everyone can hear, "So, James needs a babysitter, does he? Or has your old Alpha come to see you perish?"

"I'm surprised you know what the word perish means, young man. Besides, I bear word from the council. Everyone, hear me. I am Alpha Argos Lake of the Mornington pack. The high regent of the council that governs us all has declared that this will not be a fight to the death. This will be a fight to submission. The submission must be clear and will be witnessed by myself, Kane, and another volunteer."

"What?" Elroy sputters. "What shit is this? When he accepted this challenge, he used ancient rules to qualify. Now he wants to drop that and go new rules on me? No. If he is scared, let him forfeit now."

The crowd mumbles, and some cheer. Some just look more confused and frightened than before.

"Quiet. This is not my ruling, Elroy. This has come from the high council. And if you refute, you may take it up with them. Of course, if you do not fight today this means you would be the one to forfeit."

Elroy steams on this news. His face goes red, and I can see him physically taking this news onboard.

Frigging idiot.

Father continues, ignoring his building fury, "As it happens, we have a member of the council with us today. He would be happy to be the third volunteer and also answer any queries you may have over the ruling stated."

Elroy's face goes white as a sheet, and he now looks more confused than ever as he sets eyes on the giant guard stepping out from the crowd. How the hell he stayed hidden before then is news to me.

My dad is one sneaky bugger. He must have told the council about Elroy's suspected plans. Well played, Dad.

"What the fuck? This is an outrage. See this, people of Strand? This is what I've been saying all along. The other packs are weak. They need to crawl to the council for protection."

A rumble starts in the crowd again. My father quickly shouts, "Silence. If anyone wishes to go against the council's ruling, please step forward now."

The rumbling ceases immediately. Standing on the same side of an idiot with delusions of grandeur is one thing but standing against the council is another thing entirely.

Elroy puts his hands up. He slowly steps the internal perimeter of the circle, getting up in people's faces, waiting for someone to come forward. His face is smug, but I can sense his nerves.

He's walking one crazy ass line!

"Will no one stand with me?" he barks. "Stand against this bunch of sheep?"

Father scoffs. "You say too much, Elroy of Strand. Are you now renouncing the ruling and going against the council? Think carefully. This is a serious charge."

We all stand in silence, staring at the absolute idiot in front of us. I dare you, mate!

What's going on? Is this a challenge or a council meeting?

James, Father, what now?

Patience, boys. Let's hope he backs himself enough to be stupid and take on the council. Save us all a fight.

James links, I don't want to be Alpha by default.

Jemma instantly replies, I don't want you to risk fighting someone who is unhinged either, babe.

Aida chimes in, Here, here, brother. I'm with Jemma.

We all wait for Elroy to answer. He confers with an older man, perhaps his father. The man nods and shoves Elroy back into the circle.

The crowd waits for his response. Which stupid decision will he choose?

"I, Elroy of Strand, regretfully accept the terms of the challenge set by the council. I will fight James of Mornington pack to submission for the title of Strand Alpha."

A collective gasp escapes from the crowd. This is clearly not what they were expecting.

Jemma and Aida let out small, low howls, just loud enough for James to flick his head in response, his ears twitching and flicking back flat on his head.

"Very good. Let's begin. James and Elroy, you are challenging for Alpha of Strand pack. This fight will be to submission based on the decision from the three witnesses here before you. Kane of Strand, Argos of Mornington, and myself representing the council. There will be no break, no weapons of any kind, and no assistance in any way from other members of this pack or others. You may challenge in either of your forms. Whomever is judged the victor will be here and now deemed the Alpha of Strand until further notice. Do you each agree to the terms listed here as witnessed by the packs and others here today? Do you do so willingly, knowing the risk?"

James steps forward and makes his mark on the ground, drawing a line in front of the council member as a sign of agreement. He leans down and bows his head. Elroy steps forward and nods his head towards the guard and James.

It's on. Shit. This is really happening.

Elroy steps back and shifts. His wolf is gigantic and ripples with muscular limbs. The crowd cheers. They know this will be a difficult fight for both challengers.

James lets out a loud and menacing growl and paws the ground twice in anticipation.

I link, Patience. Watch his movement and gauge his strength before you leap in. You got this, brother.

His reply comes in, You know it.

Jemma adds, Good luck, babe.

Ahh. Aida is worried. I nudge closer to her.

Shift if you want to and stand with Father.

I'm okay. I feel safer like this.

I link to her, James is unmatched in our pack. He is fast and extremely adept in guessing peoples moves. He's got this, I swear.

Father adds in, Argent is right, Aida. I wouldn't let him risk his life if I didn't believe he could win. Trust me, sweetheart.

She sounds relieved when she replies, Thank you, Alpha,

It's Argos to you, Aida.

My father moves closer and stands between Aida and I, placing his hand on the middle of her furry back. She leans into him a little.

My father is many things, but he's always there for us. That includes Aida now too.

The guard steps out of the circle, holding up a white cloth, leading the two circling wolves in the centre. The tension between them is almost palpable. The guard drops the cloth to the ground, and as soon as it touches the grass below, Elroy lunges at James and James deflects him with a left paw to the head.

They're staring out at full force.

Elroy recovers and turns straight into James left hind leg, attempting to latch on. His mouth opens wide and snaps, but James shakes him off before he can bite down and kicks Elroy clean in the nose. He follows with a hard swipe to the face with his right front paw.

Elroy splits open just above his left eye, caught by a James extended claws. The blood runs into his nose, and he lets out an almighty growl. The crowd steps back a few feet in response, and worried murmurs follow.

Elroy is frothing at the mouth now. He starts to snap fiercely at James, scratching the grass a few times and lifting his paw slightly. He twists his paw towards his body and sends a sheet of dust into James's face.

Cheat! He's such a scumbag.

Jemma is moving before I can stop her, but Father steps in her way.

No, Jemma.

James recoils from the moment the dust hits his eyes, and Elroy wastes no time. He springs towards James and lunges for his throat. He makes a connection, and my heart stops in my chest. James makes a god-awful sound, a whine and a growl together, and the echo of it makes me sick to my stomach. I see Aida flinch beside be, but Father is with her.

I can't move my eyes from James.

He's on the grass now, flattened with the huge form of Elroy on his back, in full grip of his neck. James's eyes land on me. Elroy is ripping to and fro with a grip so hard on his neck that chunks of fur and flesh are being shredded each time he moves.

Fuck.

James. James. You can do this. He's a cheating bastard. You'll heal, but you need to do something now.

Arge ...

But then I remember. This is James. It's not over till it's over.

Elroy starts to get cocky. He releases his grip ever so slightly and judges James's response. James keeps trying to stand and lets out a soft whimper. Elroy starts to play with his challenger like a cat with a dead mouse. James keeps on the move ever so lightly, but he's bleeding quite heavily.

Argos, please. Help him. Call it.

Just wait, Jemma. He made me swear. He'll give me the sign.

But Argos—

Jemma, just wait.

Elroy prances around, pawing dirt here and there. He turns his back to James's face and stands up on his hind legs.

At this moment, when his back is turned, while he gloats and pretends to kick dirt at James again, James flips over and grabs him by the scruff of the neck. The force of the flip causes Elroy's spine to twist at an unnatural angle.

Elroy's muzzle contorts into a mask of terror and pain. James shakes his hold on his neck so fiercely that Elroy's neck shakes back and forth and causes him to release a deafening screeching sound.

James throws him to the grass and lunges into his front, pinning him down and grabbing him by the throat. Elroy's paws all scratch out in vain at the grass and towards James, but it's no good. He can't move.

James lets him go just as the guard steps into the circle.

Elroy attempts to stand, but he's bleeding fiercely from his wound, which wraps around his neck. He looks at the guard and shifts.

He stands there, naked and bleeding, hands on either side of his neck. The guard hands him the cloth, and he takes it begrudgingly. He looks James up and down and throws the cloth at his feet.

He submits. It's over. The guard steps in and gives a wave of his hand. The volunteers, Father and Kane, step into the circle and nod towards the guard.

"James, shift please."

Elroy limps towards the edge of the circle, followed by a woman and the older man from before.

"Not so fast Elroy. You have fought bravely today. You, however, have submitted to James, now of Strand. James, you are the victor here today and as such, you are the new Alpha of Strand, by way of challenge. As the new Alpha, it is your decision to allow Elroy and his family to remain here at Strand or banish them."

James stands in human form now. He has been given some clothing from father and holds a towel on his neck where he's still bleeding.

"I accept the Alpha role with pride and swear to uphold the dignity and morals that were taught to you and shown to you by your former Alpha, George. I want to ask Elroy if he wishes to remain here. And if so, if he willingly and honestly agrees to follow rules set by me, his new Alpha."

Elroy turns to face James. He looks bewildered that James would even think of letting him stay. James is all class. As always. I can't say I would have said the same.

A cruel scowl crosses his lips as he faces James. He spits in his direction. Everyone gasps. How low is this guy?

"I will never bow to an outside Alpha. An imposter is now your leader, Strand. We will leave today. I would rather be rogue than remain in this weak pack." He turns to the council guard now. "I reject the council and all its rules. As far as I'm concerned, you're all my enemy."

He limps off, and the crowd starts to mumble again. Three young guys around my age follow him. No one else makes a move.

"Consider this a warning then, Elroy and company, you are now rogue and therefore have no further protection from us. From this moment onwards, you are against us and all we protect and serve."

Elroy and his small group don't stop, instead heading straight to a car and getting in. I guess they were prepared just in case.

James limps over towards us and falls in front of us onto his knees. Father steps forward and embraces him while Jemma nudges his face.

"Strand people, your new Alpha needs your help. Let's go!" Father commands.

The pack moves into action, and two men step forward to assist James back to the house. The crowd slowly separates and disperses.

Jemma, Aida, and I slip into the woods and shift. We return dressed and come to James's side.

"Congrats, Alpha. Nice fake and bake man. I forgot about that!" I said, patting him on the back.

James grins, laughing. "Come on, you know I love a charade, Arge. It always worked against you." I chuckle and let out a sigh. This could have gone in such a different direction today.

The girls hug on James and help him to his feet as two guys come at him with medical supplies.

"Alpha James, I'm Jesse, and this is Alfred. We're the doctors here. Can we assist you back to the clinic?"

James smiles and lets them help him. "Shall we go check out my new digs?"

I nod and slip my arms around the girls. Father follows, and we all head into the house. I'm bloody glad that's over.