Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 43

Willow

Ronnie’s words immediately sobered my thoughts and halted the next words that were on the tip of my tongue from falling out. She was right, I had marked Jax this morning.

Well, my wolf had, but I could not really be upset at him for doing the same thing, just in a different manner. Could I? My wolf yipped a resounding no in my head, but I was still disregarding her.

Even so, most of the unmitigated indignancy had drained out of me when I grasped how quickly my mate had sprinted to my side when he had thought that I needed him. It warmed my heart and sent a shot of confidence racing through my b***d when I comprehended that he had been telling the truth earlier.

Jax completely ignored Ronnie, reaching down and gently guiding my face up before asking, “What happened, love?”

I just wanted to melt right there at the soft look he had in his eyes as he gazed down at me, but remembering Ronnie’s existence within the same small space as us, I quickly answered, “It is nothing, baby. I was just surprised by your handiwork on my neck was all.” I said in a low voice, gazing up at him through my eyelashes.

I wanted to be mad or maybe even embarrassed, but I found that I quite enjoyed the possessive look that entered his eyes as he bent down and pressed his lips against the skin of my neck, sending shivers running down my spine.

His next words further exacerbating the issue, as he leaned impossibly closer and whispered in my ear, “You are mine, sweetheart. Make no mistake about it, but now everyone else will know you are taken until you are ready to wear my mating bite permanently.”

He finished, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin before releasing me and taking a step back, but I noticed he kept his hands on my shoulders, making sure I was steady before he let go completely.

I speedily pulled myself together, shaking off the lingering effect Jax always seemed to have on me when he was near and got to work searching the minuscule kitchen for the utensils that I would need to make omelets. However, I swiftly came to the realization that the lodge’s kitchen was poorly stocked in all departments.

I guess it made sense if I really thought about it. I had been the one doing most of the cooking for the unmated males of the pack during my time here, and any visitors that Zeke had deemed important up until recently. Hell, I had not even known that there were lodges set up for visitors.

I noticed Jax had walked over to make his own cup of coffee, drinking it black, before moving to sit at the table while his eyes tracked my movements around the room as I cooked breakfast.

I had finally found a pan that would suffice, and I settled for using a fork instead of a whisk due to my limited options.

There were a few spices in the cabinet, though Luna only knew how old they were. Needless to say, this was not going to be the best meal I had ever served, but something told me neither of them would mind.

I still made a mental note to ask Ronnie about stopping by a store later to pick up some fresh ingredients and other supplies.

I was already planning out the fried chicken and homemade mashed potatoes that I wanted to make tonight for dinner. Ooh, maybe an apple pie too, I mused to myself, turning the stove on.

Jax and Ronnie had been talking while I moved around the kitchen, but I had not paid much attention to their conversation, too preoccupied with the job before me and my own scatterbrained thoughts. Yet, I tuned back in to Jax’s words now that I had a minute to spare between tasks.

He was telling Ronnie something about a male named Ryker and what was going on in the Northern Province right now. I was not too engrossed in the details, though I probably should have been, but I did notice that Ronnie’s reaction seemed a bit off after Jax had mentioned his name.

I paused, recalling that Jax had talked about him before when Ronnie had not been present, but I still could not understand Ronnie’s strange response or the slight blush I saw appearing on her tanned cheeks. It appeared that my new sister might have a crush if I was reading all the indicators right.

My mate seemed to be clueless to the subtle cues his sister was putting out, and I did not want to be the one to point it out to him. So, I resolved on bringing Ryker up again later after Jax had left to take care of whatever he needed to for the day.

Ronnie definitely owed me all of the juicy details that I was sensing rolling off her in waves; it was the least she could do after she had so shamelessly teased me earlier this morning about her brother.

I put the thought out of my head for now, elated to have come up with a solution and feeling more at peace with the numerous changes that had been occurring over the past few days. Then, I turned back to the stove to finish the last of the omelets after taking another large gulp of my lukewarm coffee, relishing the pungent flavor.

I could already feel the caffeine zipping through my b***d, giving me an unprecedented energy boost that I had not felt heretofore.

Ronnie and Jax were discussing their plans for the day as I approached the table, letting them know that the food was ready.

I went to sit in one of the chairs by Jax’s side at the tiny breakfast table, but he rapidly stood up, reaching out and bundling me up in his arms, preventing me from taking a seat, as he said, “Where is your plate, sweetheart?”

I was so used to not eating the food that I had made that I had not even considered making myself a plate. However, I felt another crack form in the wall that I had constructed around my heart as I looked around and noticed that Ronnie had not moved to touch the food that I had prepared yet either.

I was overwhelmed with emotions, but I shoved them all down, not wanting to let the moisture flow out through my eyes for the second time today, notwithstanding the vastly different circumstances behind each incident.

I thrust down the feelings boiling over inside of me, and I leaned up on my tiptoes to press a quick k**s against Jax’s alluring lips, even if I normally would not have been able to reach them without him bending down to close the remaining distance between us.

Thankfully, he had caught on to what I was wanting, and he easily acquiesced, bowing down for a brief peck before I stepped back, finally responding, “I was going to wait until after you both had eaten, but it is starting to dawn on me that that will not be happening.”

His answer was immediate and final, “No, it will not, love. You can either go make your own plate or I will do so for you, but either way you are eating this wonderful breakfast that you cooked for us.”

I noticed Jax’s sharp tone and the emphasis that he had placed on the word us, and I realized then that any inclination that I’d had to remonstrate his highhandedness would be in vain.

He was just looking out for me, the way that a mate should, my wolf piped up. Also, one glance at Ronnie further assured me that I did not have a leg to stand on when it came to this, my wolf yapping her agreement with my assessment in my mind.

Deciding to let his domineering tone go for the time being, I elected to grab some food myself, and then I refreshed my half empty drink still sitting on the counter before going back to the table, not that I needed more stimulation right now or anything.

Meanwhile Ronnie and Jax finished plating the remaining eggs and buttering the crispy bread that had just popped up out of the toaster. The enticing aroma that saturated the air was making me a bit lightheaded with hunger.

I found myself cocooned in Jax’s lap yet again, but this time, I gave into the craving and sank into the comfort of being encircled by his strong arms without a fight.

We sat this way the entire time we ate, and he kept me firmly in place even after we were done and the topic of activities for today was brought up once more.

Ronnie had finished her food much quicker than Jax or I, seeing as she was not entangled with another person whilst trying to eat, therefore she had started filling us in on what she wanted to do today while we finished, “So Willow, I was thinking I could show you around town today and maybe introduce you to a few of the girls if you want.”

I had just wrapped my lips around the last bite of my omelet before I pushed my plate away from me when Ronnie had sprung her question, consequently I was unprepared to respond.

Fortunately, Jax spoke up then, giving me the time to compose myself, as he said reassuringly, “I am staying near town, as well, so Ronnie will be able to mind link with me if you need anything for whatever reason during the day.”

I swallowed the last bite, chasing it down with the remnants of my coffee, before responding brightly, “I think that all sounds perfect.”