CHAPTER 7. JAKE'S POV

The truck went off-road and just then I realized we were almost arriving at our packhouse. Our territory was... different. Almost completely hidden by trees was the huge perimeter fence with a high-tech gate on the Northern border. It was guarded twenty-four hours and there were security cameras all around. We even tried some motion sensors for a while, but there's too much wildlife in the area and it was constantly triggered.

Why so much protection?

When we started this pack, we had nothing. Nowhere to live, nothing to wear, to eat...  I was still fifteen when, one day, while stealing some things out of a supermarket, a man spotted us. Instead of reporting us to the police, he told us about some "opportunities" that were too risky for humans to take. He didn't care that we were minors. Thinking back, I don't even think he asked. He just wanted someone who was desperate enough to accept his offer. That was us. Theft, drug dealing, working as enforcers to collect debt for the "rich and shady" (as Kyle loves to call them). We made money and we made it fast, but it wasn't by making friends.

We got the job done, but with that came a reputation and many enemies. 

Anyone who was able to get past the gates would see more and more of the five acres where our wolves loved to run. Other than a huge variety of flora, there was a lake on the southern border and, in the very center of the land, there was the only one construction built: the packhouse. As I have mentioned before, my pack was small and we were all family, therefore it made no sense to build multiple houses spread across the territory. It was much safer this way and the packhouse was built with more than enough rooms for all of us to sleep in. We made sure that it had top-of-the-line security installed and a large bunker underground, since I intended on turning it into a safehouse as soon as I became the alpha of the Amethyst Pack. 

The truck stopped and I gestured for Gilan to go. He was my youngest, fastest and stealthiest warrior. Consequently, he was usually the one to stay behind and cover our tracks when we had to leave using vehicles. He erased every sign that we went by before getting to the fence without leaving any trace that he had ever been in the area either. 

He hopped off and tapped the side of the truck twice, letting Tyler know that we could advance. I glanced around and noticed that Kyle and Jane had almost identical worried expressions in their faces. 

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and folding my arms as I leaned on the side of the truck where I was sitting besides Delilah's sleeping form. 

"They are going to wake up soon..." Jane said as Kyle simulteaneously asked: "Are they going to stay locked in the bunker?"

Marte pushed forward enough that our eyes turned violet. "NO!" He growled to Ian, pissed by the idea of having Delilah locked away from him. "Plans have changed." It was my reply, as I took back control. 'Stop being this sentimental love-sick puppy, Marte. We are in the same side for crying out loud.' I added, speaking only to my wolf now. He didn't answer, yet I could feel that he would resign a little. For now, at least. "Let's tie them up." I said, looking at Jane. "We must be careful not to hurt them, but we can not let them run free around the packhouse just yet." I uttered, before taking a deep breath to figure out what to do about Delilah and Thomas. 

F*ck. 

I definitely did not take into consideration neither the fact that the Beta's daughter would be my mate nor the fact that my younger brother would be a kid with wolfsbane running through his veins, which was a problem in so many levels. Curiosity and concern were filling up my brain with all sorts of strange thoughts. 

What was undeniable was that there was no way in hell that I would let a sick kid or my mate in a bunker. No matter how comfortable and safe it was. 

The truck stopped and I realized someone - maybe Jane and Kendra, because they were closer? - had tied Delilah's and Thomas' hands and feet. I was so deep in though that I didn't even see the movement. 

"Jake?" Kyle asked, waiting for instructions. 

Time was up. I sighed. 

"Just take Delilah to my bedroom and Thomas to yours." I ordered, rubbing my eyes. Kyle nodded immediately, but I saw that it took him a couple seconds to understand why I made this decision. 

Although all bedrooms were really comfortable, ours were the largest ones and they were also on the top floor, which would make jumping out of the window as impossible as going all the way downstairs without being seen. 

Kyle moved to follow my order, but as he lowered himself to get Delilah, I growled. I don't even know what came over me. One second, I was sitting and, in the very next one, I was shoving my best friend out of the way. 

Henry just gaped at me, Kendra gasped loudly while Ian and Jane started cracking up. I didn't dare to see Kyle's reaction. 'Shit, I have to apologize to him... Later, when she is safe and sound in my bedroom.' 

"I will take her myself." I mumbled, since half of me felt embarassed by my reaction and the other half felt pissed at Kyle for even considering touching my mate. 'Don't feel embarassed. She is magnificent and she is ours. He should not try to touch her. No one should.' Marte proudly stated, making me snort. 'Magnificent?' I asked, completely amused by his new found vocabulary. 'Yes, that is what she is... And you agree.' And that, my friends, I could not contest.