Ch. 80: Through Her Eyes

CHAPTER EIGHTY:
Jake~
It’s the night. The last day of the semester was today, and rather than partying with the other wolves, I’m sulking. I’m trying to get to bed early. I’m so over today.
Waiting. Waiting for news about my parents. Waiting for the pack to decide who would be temporary Alpha. Waiting for my first shift. Waiting for whatever the Goddess has in store. It was driving me crazy. There’s only so much destruction of our gym and surrounding forest I can do before becoming a real nuisance.
I close my eyes and am about to give into the dark when I feel it. Panic, fear. It’s not my own. A growl burns in my chest and I stumble out of bed. I know my eyes are swirling. Aamon is trying to push through. Rachel is in trouble. I feel him forcing a shift again and I hold my fists at my temples, trying to hold in screams from the pain.
I clutch my chest and my eyes take me somewhere else. I’m outside. No, inside. I’m in a garage. A thin evil-eyed man is coming for me. My hands are flying everywhere as I punch and smack. After some fighting I’m outside and looking around. It’s the apartment building Rachel lives in. And I know it like I know I’m a werewolf - I’m seeing through Rachel’s eyes. My heart bangs in my chest as I feel her fear, as I get trapped in whatever state I’m in where I can’t run to her, can’t help her.
The guy, I’ve never seen before, I assume he’s Vance. He’s talking to her but I can’t hear what’s being said. Her head whips around and then I feel her strength. It’s coming out from her in bursts. I’ve never felt anything like it. And then she’s waking up on the garage floor. They were fighting in a dream? He must be some demon of dark fae. She’s got a hand on this crazy pervert and he’s withering before her. I can see magic moving from him into her. What is that? He scurries off and I feel her strength and relief as she gazes at her hands.
I blink and I’m back in my room, holding my bed frame for dear life. Now what in the Goddess’ name was that? I pulled on the bond. I could feel it now. A fragile thing, but it was there. I just stood there stunned. And relieved. My little killer, she kicked his a*s. I smiled and felt her pride, which nearly matched my own.
I was going to kill that pathetic weasel. I smiled darkly to myself. Now I know what the bastard looks like. In the meantime, I was proud of my mate.
I sat down and exhaled, my mind jumping around. Nick is going to want to hear about this.

Nick~
Evan and I were in Jake’s room. Evan splayed out on the floor, as we listened to Jake explain what he had seen and felt. And the bond he could already feel.
Evan groaned and stretched, my head snapping to him. How could he look so calm about all of this? I took a quick check of my body and realized I was leaning far over, my head had gotten closer and closer to Jake as he told me more.
We all agreed we had never heard of anything like this. Seeing through your mate’s eyes, before you’ve sealed the bond - or literally ever, at all. Mind linking, sure. Sensing big emotions like elation, fear, fury - sure, after you’ve sealed the bond. But before? And in this totally mind-boggling 3D movie experience? What in the he*l?
I agreed to connect with my parents and my recent contacts about this, but I needed to be careful. This all felt very different. Dangerous even. We wouldn't just go announcing these things to people. It was rough enough that my future Alpha’s mate was human. Add all this to it…
“Wait,” I said aloud. “Are we even sure she’s human now? How could she have done that - hurt or taken power from a demon or fae or whatever, if she were just human?”
“I’ve been thinking about that too. I don’t know,” was all Jake could say as we sat there.
“Great,” Evan groaned from the floor. “My favorite. More da*n questions, with zero answers to go with them.”
He’s not wrong, Asher agreed in my mind.
I rolled my eyes at both of them.
After a moment I went to stand up but Jake held a hand up.
He looked at me intently. “What aren’t you telling me?” he asked after several uncomfortable seconds.
I pride myself on being able to handle Jake’s schedule, his moods, his training, whatever. I know how to phrase information and when to present it. But, sometimes, he could see through me.
I sighed. No use in denying it. “The pack elders have decided to have a vote. All wolves of age will have one vote. Anonymous. We’ll be voting between Evan’s dad or you for a temporary Alpha.”
“It’s a waste of-” he started.
“I know,” I cut him off. I looked at him sternly.
Evan and I knew he couldn’t care less. He wanted to find his parents and found this debate a waste of brain power and time. He wasn’t wrong.
“And?” he prompted again.
“You’ve both got to present some argument or speech or whatever. Presentations will be at noon. You’ve each got 3 minutes. Then others can speak on your behalf for 2 minutes. Then we vote,” Evan said gruffly, staring at the ceiling.
“And?” he prompted once more.
“Our parents want us to stay silent during the whole thing, not ‘play favorites’ or whatever,” Evan added, his arms flopping to the floor in exasperation.
Jake looked back at me and I shrugged.
“And, no. Before you ask, still no news yet from Elise since her last message this morning, that they still can verify your parents are alive. No changes,” I told him, pain in my voice.
Even one of these things would be hard for anyone. But my best friend here, who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders since forever - it just kept piling on. How much more could we take?

The next morning we all took our time getting up. Noon rolled around and Jake was there already. Early, like usual. Everyone was gathered by the side yard where a makeshift stage had been put together. Pack members from all over were coming together to hear both sides and cast their vote.
I spotted Mitchell and his parents coming from the parking areas. There must have been about two hundred werewolves so far. Others would likely trickle in. Wolves who lived in the packhouse or surrounding cabins, and those who lived offsite, were greeting each other and waving to Jake and Evan’s dad. They both stood awkwardly in front of everyone. Beta’s were not wolves of words, they were wolves of action. He was meant to get things done, to defend. And here he was, having to give a speech about why he should step in as Alpha when I knew he didn’t want to. Evan’s parents, and my own parents, just think Jake is too young. I tried explaining to them about his wolf being crazy strong and powerful enough that he has been almost shifting early. But if anything, that seemed to backfire and worry them more.
They weren’t wrong. It’s just, Jake has always been my Alpha in my eyes. I know Evan thinks of him in the same way. He’s always carried this serious weight with him. Legacy or not, he was born to lead. Dark Alpha or not.
My mom gathered everyone’s attention and led the event. No surprises there. In a few years that would be me or my future mate doing that.
She motioned the Beta forward and he cleared his throat before simply saying, “Thank you all for coming out today. I will keep this short and to the point. I am devoted to this pack, to our Alpha, and to his incredibly strong and mature son, Jake, who I love like a son. But at this time, our laws insist that until Jake makes his first shift, in the case that the Alpha is unable to perform his duties, the Beta must step in and assist until the next Alpha is capable of fulfilling the role. Thank you.”
He bowed his head to Jake and then to the pack who nodded back in return as a sign of respect.
“Would anyone like to speak further in favor of our Beta taking on the role of Alpha temporarily?” my mom called, turning to face the crowd.
Sophie’s dad raised his hand and we bowed to him. His wife’s brutal death was something you could see on his shadowed face. He would pass soon. Mates usually die together unless they have pups, and in that case the living one of the two lives long enough for their pup to turn 18. We all felt horrible for Sophie and her father. A senseless death by some crazed maniacs out there eager for their own power to grow, no matter what it cost anyone else.
“Yes packmember David,” my mom called upon him to speak his piece.
“Thank you Gamma. I just wanted to agree with what the Beta stated, which came out of our laws nearly word-for-word. I find this debate and following vote to be against our laws. And honestly, a waste of time, when we could be devoting everything we can to catching my mate’s murderers and our Alpha and Luna’s kidnappers,” he said, leaning against Sophie for support.
My mom thanked him for his comment and asked for any other comments. No one raised their hands so we moved on.
“Future Alpha Jake, please share your piece,” my mom said to him gently encouraging him to walk forward.
“Good afternoon. Like our Beta, I would like to thank you all for making this time today. I too, would like to save time and efforts to find my parents and avenge the deaths of our brave warriors. I have nothing to say in argument for myself. I would prefer if we could move forward with the day if that’s alright?” he asked the crowd who all seemed to exhale at once in relief.
I’m not sure what they were expecting him to say. Did they really think he wanted to do this when his family was missing?
“Thank you Future Alpha Jake. Would anyone like to add a comment before we break and cast our votes?” my mom asked the crowd.
Mitchell’s mom raised her hand. Her mate elbowed her a little for it but she ignored him.
“Yes, Packdoctor Sarah?” my mom prompted.
“Thank you Gamma. I don’t mean to take up time or make things difficult. But - I do need you all to know that Jake has shifted - well nearly shifted. I examined him myself recently. He had begun to shift, and the Goddess herself spoke to him. I think in order to show our full trust in the Goddess, we need to have Jake as our Alpha. He is going to be an incredibly large and strong wolf. More so than we’ve ever heard of. He will lead us through this, with the Goddess on our side,” she said resolutely.
The crowd whispered to each other and people looked back and forth between the Beta and Jake. Between Mitchell’s mom, and Evan and I who were trying our best to stay out of the way.
The crowd broke apart and off we went to cast our votes.

After two hours it was decided. Jake would step in as Alpha. A nearly unanimous vote.
“I think you may be the youngest Alpha in recorded history” I told him when my mom made the announcement.
“Alpha Jake,” Evan’s father rushed over, ear pressed to his phone. “We have a problem. The blood witches, they’ve attacked Dark Mountains.”