Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 44

Jax

I promptly finished rinsing off and taking care of my problem downstairs, though I knew it would not last for long with Willow’s lovely scent taunting my wolf and I at every turn. Her personal fragrance had persisted within the confines of the small closet that I had found myself within, already causing my d**k to stir de novo.

I could hear her moving around downstairs with my sister as I swiftly pulled on some jeans and reached for the first shirt that my hands touched.

I grabbed my shoes and socks and made my way back out into the bedroom. Yet, my half-dressed state was completely forgotten the moment that I heard the sound of shock escape Willow’s perfect lips.

I flew down the stairs like a bat out of hell, my wolf hounding me in my mind about our mate’s wellbeing, and frantically searched the room until my distraught eyes locked in on her curvy figure standing immobile by the fridge.

In the next second, she was wrapped securely in my strong arms, but my wolf had mercifully retreated once it had become evident what her reaction had been in response to.

Nonetheless, I felt the fierce, possessive edge that tinted his thoughts all the same, but I could not deny that I felt the same way.

I had not been sure how she would react to my own method of marking her delicate skin, but I knew for damn sure that I would not have been able to leave her side today if I had not done so.

She had seemed more surprised than anything by my bold action, but I had not missed the radiant smile that had appeared just before I had pulled her into a scorching k**s.

I moved back deliberately, making sure she was stable before I withdrew to make my own cup of joe. I then resumed my same seat from the previous night to watch Willow work. I could not deny the thrill that raced through me at the sight of her wearing my shirt, all wrapped up in my scent.

Nevertheless, I had mixed feelings about her cooking breakfast for us. On the one hand, her cooking was to die for. I had never tasted anything better, my mother’s cookery included. However, I was a bit apprehensive that she might equate this situation to how Zeke had expected her to behave.

I observed her carefully as she methodically went about her tasks, noticing the brief smiles that she shot my way as I conversed with Ronnie. She appeared content, though I would be sure to talk with her later and make it clear that she was free to do as she wished.

I briefly updated my sister on how things had changed at home since she had been gone, but I was also distracted by the sight of Willow bending over to get something out of a lower cabinet.

I mentally shook my head at myself, swinging my attention back towards Ronnie as the savory aroma began to fill the air. We talked for a few more minutes on and off, and I took the opportunity to mind link with Asher and Reese so that I could update them about the information Willow had shared with me earlier this morning.

We had agreed to meet in around an hour at Reese’s lodge, giving me enough time to enjoy breakfast with my mate and sister, and also allowing me to remain within the same vicinity as Willow in case she needed me throughout the day.

I had just focused my attention back on what Ronnie was saying about her ideas for the day when Willow approached the table, attempting to take a seat, after informing us that she was done cooking.

My wolf and I were not having that.

I surged up out of my seat, preventing Willow from sitting down without her own means of sustenance.

I knew that I had to be easy with her due to the circumstances in which we had met, but she would not be neglecting herself on my watch. My wolf’s ferocious growl echoed in my head, forcefully seconding my last assertion.

Thank Luna, Willow caved without a fight, conceding defeat and then making her own plate of food before I hauled her back into my lap to eat while I took large bites of my own food around her, my taste buds exploding with flavor.

I let Ronnie fill Willow in on what she had planned for them for the day, but I ensured she was aware that I would be close by.

I was overjoyed when Willow agreed straight away to Ronnie’s proposal, without an ounce of hesitation detectable in her soulful brown eyes. My wolf and I had always known that she would bounce back, but we were beyond elated with her fast progression.

I slipped away to finish dressing while the girls continued to chat, giving Willow a little squeeze before letting her slide out of my lap.

When I returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, Ronnie was washing the few dishes that Willow had used to cook and the utensils that we had used to eat while she was sitting at the table, appearing uneasy while my sister shot her a scowl.

If it had been anyone but Ronnie looking at my mate like that, my wolf and I would have been up in arms already. However, truth be told, and not that I would ever admit it out loud, I was a bit petrified of her when she had that glare on her face.

Willow’s next words confirmed that my inaction was in fact the best route of action when she said, “Are you sure I can’t help you at least dry the dishes, Ronnie? I do not like just sitting here while you do all of the work.”

It was comical that Willow truly believed that a few dishes was really any work for my sister, but rather than put my foot in my mouth, I decided on pulling her into my arms and crushing my lips against her coffee flavored ones, conveniently saving Ronnie from having to reply in the process.

As I had foreseen that she would respond, Willow’s resistance had liquefied the instant that her soft lips had collided with mine, her mouth immediately opening for my ravenous tongue as it twisted and turned with hers in an erotic dance.

In the meantime, Ronnie studiously ignored our heated exchange, continuing on with her chores as if we were not in the room, which suited my wolf and I just fine.

My hands trailed further south, gripping a generous handful of my mate’s rounded a*s as I enfolded her even more tightly into the hard lines of my body, but I did not allow myself to get too carried away, knowing that there was something imminently more important dividing my attention.

I slowly eased back, parting with a subdued, yet still lingering k**s on her pink lips before stepping back completely to give her room to breathe and opening my eyes to the world again.

I vaguely noticed that Willow had appeared just as dazed as I had felt when we had said our final goodbyes before splitting ways for now. I think I might have said bye to Ronnie too, but I would not bet money on it. I did, however, ensure that I thanked my mate for the delicious breakfast she had made before leaving.

As I walked out of the lodge and set out down the path towards Reese’s temporary residence, I allowed my mind to traverse the array of information that Willow had provided earlier this morning, searching for pertinent details that might help find Zeke sooner.

My wolf and I were ecstatic to finally be making an advancement towards pinpointing and, subsequently, ending the pathetic male that had dared to call himself Alpha of the South for so long.

Though with that last thought came the headache that was associated with the arduous burden of replacing him accordingly to prevent a power vacuum from being created with the absence of a leader to corral to masses, not to mention the disaster that was waiting to happen with the elder’s abrupt absence.