Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 30

Jax

I felt a mixture of emotions as Willow moved to get out of my lap, especially after the words I had just spoken.

However, before I could panic too much, Willow turned and met my eyes with a mischievous expression on her face, and then she had spoken those words that had driven my wolf insane.

He was clawing at my skin to get out as she stepped away. I was dying to see what her wolf looked like, but I was seriously in awe of her bravery.

The clear taunt in her eyes was also driving me up the wall, despite her attempt to bring levity to the situation.

I did another quick sweep of our surroundings with my superior senses, ensuring that we remained alone while my mate was vulnerable. Then, I glanced over to where Willow had just been standing.

She was still standing there, looking as gorgeous as ever, but she looked like she had a serious case of the nerves. She fiddled with the hem of her t-shirt, looking between the fabric and me.

I was no expert, but something told me she was a little nervous about getting naked in front of me. Nudity was normally no big deal for shifters. However, I was not sure about her experiences with Zeke, and it was a little different with me being her mate, after all.

I could tell that she was shy, and a lot inexperienced, but that only made me crave her more. My wolf howled in agreement, though he longed to see her delicious curves without any barriers between us.

I did the only thing I could think of doing to ease her discomfort. I started nonchalantly shedding my own clothes as I belatedly answered her unspoken challenge, “My wolf wants nothing more than to meet our mate in any form, so I am going to go ahead and shift. Take your time, but if you decide you want my help at any point, you only have to ask, my love.”

I unfastened the button on my borrowed jeans, but I paused in removing my garments to close the short distance between Willow and me. I placed a soft k**s on her lips before stepping back again and casually shrugging out of the remainder of my clothes.

I spared one last look at Willow’s lovely face, loving the red hue that had spread down her neck, before finally allowing my wolf to come out to play. He immediately lunged forward, sensing the chink in my armor that I had allowed to show.

I felt my bones crack as they began to reshape, though every shift hurt, it was an almost pleasant type of pain. I gave so little of myself, but I got so much in return.

My wolf took over then, causing me to fall to four paws on the damp earth as the pain receded and my large gray wolf stood in place of my human form.

My wolf yipped with joy when he turned around and saw Willow standing there, seemingly awestruck. I would readily admit that I was a bit bigger than other wolves, but I would also wager that it had been quite some time since she had even seen another person shift.

I felt saddened again that so much had been taken from Willow. She should have been able to shift without restriction and to run free with her own kind. I could not even imagine what all she had been through. The thought quickly brought the ever-present anger to the front of my mind.

However, my wolf quickly reminded me that now was not the time for such matters when he bounded forward out of nowhere and began giving Willow long, wet k****s, covering every inch of her face that she was not blocking with her arms.

I swiftly retook some measure of control, but I did not revert back to human. I did not want to make her uncomfortable again, but I also could not let my wolf scare her half to death either. I glanced over at her to appraise her reaction with bated breath.

I soon realized my concern was unnecessary, however, when I noticed that she was laughing. She moved forward to tangle her slim hands in my soft fur, my wolf preened smugly while I allowed him to bask in the moment.

After a minute or two, she backed up some and then started to slowly shimmy out of the slim-fitting pants. I watched as the material fell to the forest floor, and she stepped out of the stretchy fabric.

The hem of my t-shirt reached just above her knees, providing a tantalizing glimpse of her creamy thighs, causing me to swiftly look down from the temptation.

As I searched for a distraction, I realized, a bit shamefacedly, that she had not had any type of footwear the entire time we had been traipsing through the trees.

She had not uttered one word of complaint, but I had a feeling she would not regardless of the circumstances. I would have to do a better job of taking care of her. I quickly looked away, to my wolf’s protest, not wanting to have any other cause for feeling guilty.

I also did not want to see Willow bare until she was ready for me to do so. I knew her trust was a fragile thing, and I had no intention of breaking it, despite my wolf’s impatient desires.

I was dying to see my mate with nothing on. She was gorgeous as is, but I knew her curves would fill in even more the longer she continued to get a plentiful and nutritious diet, something I would obviously ensure she received.

My wolf was getting antsy as we waited for some sign that Willow had been able to shift or that she needed us. I did not like the waiting game anymore than he did.

Soon, I found myself slowly inching backward, though my head flew in Willow’s direction at the first sound of pain that escaped her lips.

I made sure I kept my eyes on her pain-stricken face as she was curled up on the forest floor, though her lack of clothing was the furthest thing from my wolf or I’s train of thought.

I was impressed with her ability to hide her pain for as long as she had, but I also wished that she had not felt the need to do so.

Ronnie had told me to be prepared for the immense amount of pain she would feel when she shifted for the first time, and I thought that I had been, but her tear-filled eyes nearly brought me to my knees.

My wolf rushed forward, working his way into the circle of her arms, hopefully providing an anchor to ground her back in the moment, here with her mate.

She immediately responded, reaching out and latching her arms around my muscled body while she nuzzled her face into my soft coat, taking several deep inhales.

Willow remained in the same position for a few moments before I noticed her skin begin to ripple. My wolf pulled back slowly as Willow’s body began to contort, a few pained cries escaped her lips, though not nearly as heart-wrenching as the ones that had caused me to bolt to her side.

I wished there were more that I could do as I watched the painfully slow transformation progress, but there was nothing to be done. I looked on as her face contorted into the muzzle of a wolf, her face elongating as her wolf took control. Her pained whimpers cut off as she finished sprouting fur over the rest of her now lupine form.

I paused for a moment to thank Luna that Willow had been able to shift, and of her own accord at that, and then my wolf was leaping forward again, delighted to finally meet our mate in her wolf form.

I helped rein his enthusiasm in for the moment, stopping him before he could frighten Willow’s wolf. I was not sure how skittish she would be after being cooped up and repressed for so long.

I was enraptured with her deep chocolate colored fur that matched her soulful eyes to a t. She was honestly a bit small for a werewolf, my wolf nearly dwarfing her diminutive size by double.

I watched as she stretched, testing her weight with each limb, before swiftly turning in a circle until her eyes met my hazel orbs. She yipped playfully and then took off sprinting in the direction of the river, though I was not entirely sure she was aware of that fact.

I gave her a few minutes head start, letting her enjoy her newfound sense of freedom, before I allowed my wolf to give chase.