Awakening Hope (Book 2 of the Bloodmoon Academy Series)

Chapter 3: Jake

I was nervous, by the way Jaz made it sound I was bringing my still not fully recovered mate into a seriously bad situation. Pulling back from her I pressed a kiss to her forehead. I wouldn't let them so much as touch her, but I couldn't help but to worry. I knew she could hold her own but this was a whole other ballgame. 

She leaned against my side resting her head on my shoulder and I pulled her into me holding her there before brushing a hand through her silky golden hair. I pulled her blanket off the seat beside her wrapping it around her shoulders knowing she was getting tired and wouldn't be able to sleep with out it. The plan was to get her to my house without anyone else noticing and giving her that whole afternoon to rest and get situated there. Then I would slowly start to introduce her to everything. I had another plan for while we were there as well, but I would make those arrangements later when she was more comfortable there.

I was hoping more that anything that I would have to deal with the Alpha as little as possible.

For the last two years he's left me alone for the most part since I've really gotten a grip on my power and he knew I could beat him if I really tried at this point. I knew all of his games and I knew how to play them better than he did. The last time he tried to drug me I put him in the hospital claiming that he was in a fight with another Alpha after drinking and since then he didn't really bother with it anymore. My worry was that he would go after Belle.

I instinctively pulled her into me a little tighter, leaning down resting my cheek to the top of her head and taking in her scent letting it calm me a little. "What's wrong?" She asked, pressing a kiss to my neck and I sighed.

"I'm just worried, I don't want to put you into the middle of things and with how Jaz reacted it's really bad right now. He is really trying to push them out and I'm worried he will try to come after you."

"But you're stronger than the Alpha, so doesn't that mean he won't mess with you for fear of losing his title to you?" 

"Not exactly, while I am stronger than him now he still knows exactly how I fight. I mean he taught me most of what I know so it only works to the extent that I can utilize my beast's power. Although in that regard he knows every one of my weaknesses he tested all of them and found what works." I felt her shiver and she buried her face into my neck. "While I can still fend him off I'm more worried that he is going to go after you. I've never brought anyone to the pack with me before and they will automatically recognize you as a weakness to me, but there was no way I was leaving you back there alone."

"While I know that's all true and a very valid reason to be worried, I also know that I'm not as big of a weakness as you think considering you would fight tooth and nail if something happened not to mention that if they hurt you like that I would also mess someone up without thinking twice about it. I've seen you fully pissed off and that isn't something anyone would be willing to deal with. I would bet he's the same. If he understands you that much then he should know by now that you're willing to put everything on the line to protect something you love and that is a strength." She wasn't wrong but I still couldn't get over it. "So why don't you tell me more about your family? I know some things about Jaz, and your parents run a clinic right?"

"It's mostly my father that runs the clinic, my mom helps, but she mainly does more of the paperwork and cleaning things. My father is the actual doctor there and takes care of everyone. I used to help him when I was living with them, that's why I know so much about medical and first aid things. My mother will love you because she also loves to cook and bake so she will probably try to kidnap you the second she finds out about your skills." She giggled and it brought a smile to my face. She could always change my mood so easily and it made me love her that much more.

"They sound nice," she said and I was hoping she would enjoy at least some parts of this. We talked for a little while longer before she curled up against my side pulling the blanket up to her chin and ended up falling asleep.

We stopped in the morning at around ten to get some breakfast and stretch our legs before finishing the last two hours of the drive and I was getting more on edge by the second. "So what's the plan for when we get there?" Belle asked, looking up at me.

"Chill for the night and go out tomorrow to do a few things."

"Like?" She asked and I smiled. I knew she was just trying to get my mind off things, but I appreciated it anyway.

"Like going shopping and getting you clothes that are more suited to being in the mountains in the winter along with probably going to the best diner in the town."

"That will be fun. You're all stressed, but I'm excited. I know you wouldn't let anything happen so just relax and have a little fun," she said before poking me in the chest and grinning at me. I couldn't help but to smile at her. I was ready to get back to my own space, but I was even more excited to see what she thought of it. She gasped looking out the window, "it's snowing!" She climbed up onto my lap to get a better look out the window and I chuckled at her wrapping my arms around her waist. "It's so pretty."

I never minded the cold. The snow and ice made things look so peaceful and undisturbed. I liked seeing it fall floating down, it was always so pure, but right now even the beauty that I would admire every winter paled in comparison to the gorgeous woman sitting on my lap.

It was another one of those moments that I couldn't help but to stare at her. The snow falling was being reflected in her beautiful eyes, she had a huge smile on her face lighting up all of her flawless features, and her silky golden hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders making me want to run my fingers through it. She looked back over her shoulder at me with the same smile gracing her lips. "Don't you think it's pretty?" She asked and I just nodded, still stunned at the sight. "You aren't even looking at it," she said with a giggle and I couldn't help but to smile at her.

"I don't have to look at it to know it pales in comparison to what I'm looking at right now." She blushed, casting her eyes down making her look that much more damn adorable and I leaned in pressing a kiss to each of her pink cheeks before claiming her lips.

She stayed there watching as the landscape changed the further we drove into my familiar area. We lived on the border between Virginia and West Virginia. I frequently traveled to other packs around the borders so I was very familiar with the whole span of land form the North Carolina border all the way to West Virginia. The landscape changed dramatically the closer you got to our pack lands. Getting steeper hills and valleys making the drive much slower with the amount of snow falling.

Luckily the driver handled it well, not slipping or faltering on the steep hills or across cliff sides making me feel a little better. Belle was really enjoying the view and I loved watching her face light up every time she saw something new that she liked. She would always point it out to me with such enthusiasm and I couldn't help but to chuckle at how animated she was about all of it. Although I also knew the second she opened the door to the car she wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much as she did in the warm car.

She always ran cold so I knew she wouldn't enjoy being out in it, but it also gave me even more of a reason to hold her closer. She gasped pointing out the window as we crossed the bridge onto the backside of the property. Looking down into the ravine below you could see the snow sticking to the trees and the river was flowing cutting through the snow covered banks as it wound it's way through our property.