Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 50

Willow

My nerves had settled some since Zeke had disappeared into the night, but the adrenaline was fading fast, leaving me exhausted and sore from the full day of activity as Ronnie steered me to sit in one of the four matching chairs surrounding the breakfast table downstairs.

She apologized profusely that Zeke had been able to make it all the way into the lodge to me as she flitted around the kitchen, explaining that her brother had just warned her of the possibility of an interloper before she had registered the foreign voice speaking upstairs.

I could tell that she was beating herself up over the fact, despite her hasty reaction which had aided me in running him off, at least for the time being.

I hurried to assure her that I was fine, and I was. Although my wolf was still scratching at my skin to get out, frantic to either chase Zeke or sprint into our mate’s waiting arms. I shoved her desires away momentarily, knowing that Jax would be here soon as I refocused on my conversation with his sister.

Nothing had happened in the short span of time that I had been alone within the same vicinity as Zeke. Nonetheless, I knew it easily could have if Ronnie had not apparated when she had, making her prior suggestion all the more appealing now.

She subsequently ensured that I did not sustain any injuries from the attack and monitored the simmering pans on the stove while I attempted to clean the b***d off my arms before my overly protective mate showed up to witness the gore and mistook it for mine.

Around the same time that she had finished assessing my wellbeing, Jax was blasting his way into the room like a category five hurricane that had recently been unleashed on an unsuspecting seaside town.

He charged straight for me, his large hands coasting over every inch of my body as he checked me for injuries with a near feral look on his face, smearing the remainder of the drying red liquid in the process.

Once he was content that I would be okay, he located some shorts, apparently coming to the same conclusion that I had once his endorphins had calmed, and he realized that he was entirely naked in front of his sister again for the second time today.

He turned his officious gaze towards Ronnie after he was clothed, where she was currently in the process of placing slices of garlic toast on a baking sheet, paying no mind to the raging alpha that ranted on at her in the background.

I felt guilt rush through me as I realized that she had been the one to do all of the work for dinner while I had played the damsel in distress and while Jax berated her for something completely out of her control, no less.

The thought instantly caused me to surge to feet, determined to at least help finish cooking, but Jax’s strong arms wound around my waist as I swayed tremulously on my feet.

He immediately cut off whatever he had been saying to Ronnie as he pulled me down into a seated position in his lap from where I had moved to join her at the stove, asserting, “Love, I would feel much better if you allowed yourself a moment to recover from the stress of the situation. I know that you were not hurt, and I thank Luna for that small detail, but you need to take it easy for now.”

I glanced in Ronnie’s direction, pleading for some help, but I had already known it was a hopeless cause before I had begun.

She confirmed my fears when she piped up, leaving no room for argument as she said, “Jax is right, even if I never thought that statement would leave my mouth twice in one night. I have got this. You just rest your pretty little head while I pop these in the oven.”

I was so used to pushing through the discomfort and pain that it was unusual for me to have not one, but two people insist that I take proper care of myself, and again, I felt the wall encasing my heart crumble just that little bit more at their clear concern for me and what I had been subjected to.

I decided that I could adhere to Jax’s request, at least for tonight, but only if he also agreed to stop verbally harassing Ronnie over her failing to prevent the impossible.

He agreed reluctantly, needing someone to pin the blame on, but he also made sure to keep his disgruntlement to mere dirty looks aimed her way every now and then when he believed I was not looking.

My mind and wolf began to quiet as I allowed myself to pause fleetingly to process the events of the past hour or so, relaxing back into the safety of my mate’s warm embrace as my thoughts soared in every which direction.

Yet, before I could wander too far down the rabbit hole, my eyes landed upon several long scrapes that stretched down the length of Jax’s left arm. I must have missed them with all the other craziness that had broken out with his entrance, but I could not unsee them now that the injuries were locked within my line of vision.

I recalled being frightened for my mate’s welfare during the attack, and it appeared that I had had a good reason to be. Something had obviously happened during all of the commotion, preventing him from arriving any sooner than he had.

Nevertheless, Ronnie interjected before I could question him, “Well, in any case, you spared the door this time,” She said as she examined the frame, her eyes directed towards her task so she had missed the scathing look Jax shot her way in reply.

I sensed that there was a story behind her comment, but I let it go for now, intent on discussing how Jax had obtained the marks, even if they were already healing with the assistance of his werewolf genetics.

I spoke up in the sudden silence, drawing my mate’s attention back towards me where it had been focused on Ronnie as she removed the heavenly smelling bread from the oven, stating, “Baby, what happened? Ronnie mentioned that you knew someone might make it past you, and you are obviously hurt.”

He pulled me tighter into chest for a moment, dropping a light k**s to the top of my head before responding, “It seems Zeke was a bit smarter than anyone gave him credit for. Reese and Theo managed to secure the pack house where the main attack was carried out, but Zeke had evidently decided to make a little side trip along the way and brought his own distraction in the form of a couple of bears.”

The name Theo did not ring a bell, but I was happy all the same that the incursion had been successfully repelled, but before I could comment, Ronnie interrupted then, expressing in her typical bold fashion, “Wait, did you say bears?”

He rolled his eyes at her disruption, attempting to look peeved, but he still speedily responded, “Yes, two to be exact, but they will not be a problem anymore.”

He then returned his gaze to me before she could reply, reaching up to tuck a stray tendril of hair behind my ear, but he froze in the action when he took in the dried b***d staining his normally tanned skin.

Instead, he dropped his hand, going on with his eyes cemented to mine as he said, “Sweetheart, I am sincerely sorry that Zeke managed to slip by me, but I swear on my life that it will never happen again.” He promised solemnly as he gathered me closer in his arms and stood up, saying before he turned, “I apologize for overreacting in the moment, thank you for all your help, Ronnie.”

“Don’t mention it, big brother. Willow did most of the work anyway.”

As I struggled to find words, he strode out of the kitchen with me secure in his hold, not waiting for an answer as he threw over his shoulder at the last second, “We will be back shortly to eat after we clean up some.”