CHAPTER 2. JAKE'S POV

Our temporary camp was cleared and thanks to the rain that had just started pouring, our tracks would soon be erased. It would also help hide our scent on the way. I had brought with me Jane - Kyle's sister and one of our pack's healers - and some of my best warriors: Ian, Henry, Gilan, Kendra, Tyler and Kyle.

Tyler headed to the truck while the rest of us shifted. It was dark, especially due to the lack of the moon and stars brightness, but that wasn't a problem for us. Wolves' sights adjusted well to the darkness. My black fur also made sure that I could blend into the shadows. If I wanted, I could stay completely hidden at night, as long as I had my eyes shut. Marte's eyes were too bright, afterall. They were also just another reminder of his origin. They were the reason why the pack was called Amethyst Pack. Marte's eyes shone just as if they were made of the crystal. 

We ran for about twenty minutes, following the route we knew they'd take going uphill. When the roar of the engine could be heard, I opened the mindlink. "Remember what you need to..." I couldn't even finish before it all happened. 

The bus was making a turn in one of the many curves around the mountain when it skidded out of control. It went offroad and flipped over. Thankfully, we were still not very high up. 

"Did we do that?" Gilan asked using the mindlink, in shock.

"Obviously not." I honestly don't know if it were Marte or I that answered him with a growl at that moment. Probably both. "Tyler, be ready for us." I mindlinked him, since he was staying behind on purpose so nobody would notice the lights of the truck. "Kendra, Kyle and Gilan, you will help me get our targets. The rest of you... Dammit."  I could feel Marte's feelings as mixed as my own. "Just make sure nobody is injured." The request made them faulter. They weren't expecting this. We all knew the overall objective of the step one to my plan: Make sure the buses would stop and get Delilah and Thomas - my half-brother - out. We had planned different ways to do it, even practiced, if I'm being honest. However... I couldn't leave the place knowing someone was seriously hurt. Those people were going to be my pack soon. More than that, they should've been my family.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the bitterness took over and I remembered why I was doing this. It was not sentimental, it was never about feelings or having a family. That pack belongs to Marte. That pack belongs to me. I may sound petty, but you must understand: My wolf had been the Amethyst Pack's Alpha for many generations. Every few centuries he returns to be their Alpha. I will make sure that, in this life, he is again. No matter what it takes.  

We went off road and got to the side of the bus quickly. It all happened so fast that most people inside were either passed out or too confused, their minds trying to grasp what had happened. Wolves healed fast. Unless there was any serious damage, soon they'd all be awake. The bus had flipped to its side and windows were broken which made it easier for me to jump in. The smell of blood was the first thing to hit me, but it barely processed as another scent completely mutted everything else. 

"Mate." My wolf took control. "Marte, we will have the Pack soon. We can fucking meet her then. Remember our mission." I argued, trying to control our wolf shape or shift. He didn't allow me to do either. "No." He growled. "Mate!" That was his only reply, sounding more feral than I've ever heard him, as he turned around, following the scent. We found her quickly. Her head had hit the floor of the bus and some girl - probably her friend - was passed out, laying over half of my mate's body.

F*ck.

What a f*cking bad timing to find my mate. I needed to focus on the Beta's daughter and my half-brother. Where were they? 

I felt myself shifting to human form, but as I tried to control my body, I found out I couldn't. "Marte?! What the hell?" I screamed in our head, but was simply ignored this time.  Marte bent our human form and grabbed her, lifting her off the floor. Without even glancing around or acknowledging anything that was happening, he jumped out of the bus holding our mate in his arms, pressing her against our chest. Faster than I thought it was possible for my human body to run, we were back on the road, where Tyler was waiting for us. 

"Alpha, wher..." Tyler started to ask goddess knows what. 

"Go help the others. We will leave in two minutes!" Marte growled using his aura in full force so Tyler wouldn't even have the chance to ask anything about it. 

"I won't risk her waking up and trying to run. I won't risk her being too hurt and dying. I won't risk it, Jake." Marte answered before I could even ask what was going on. I felt his pain, I felt how much he loved her and how much he missed her. Not every wolf remembers their past lives, but mine remembered each and every one of them. He barely talks about our mate, though. Judging by the pain we were feeling right now, I knew that something bad had happened in Marte's last life. Our human hands caressed her face and, for the first time, I actually saw my mate. 

Dammit. Heat flooded my entire body. If I had control of my body, I'm sure my jaw would have dropped. I guess we would love her no matter what her human form looked like, but f*ck... She was mind-blowingly beautiful. Shoulder-length blonde curls. I stared at my mate's plump lips and thanked the Moon Goddess. They were meant to be kissed, bitten, sucked. There didn't seem to be an ounce of make up on her golden skin and yet... She was beautiful the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, with all her freckles and a beauty mark under her left eye. My eyes slowly moved downward and despite the loose clothes, I had a feeling she had curves that would make any man drop to his knees.