Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 57

Jax

She did not meet my eyes as she informed me that she was ready to take the next step in our relationship, but I knew she was still shy, even with me. Therefore, her spoken words were enough for my wolf and me to pounce forward in a flash, pulling her tightly against my chest as my lips descended.

The words had barely passed the threshold of her lips before mine were on them in a brutal k**s that left no questions concerning my feelings on the matter.

However, before I could get carried away, she eased back some to gain my attention, letting the fog clear an adequate amount for me to regain a semblance of order while she began speaking.

“Baby, I would love nothing more than to lose myself in you right this second, but we have too many things to accomplish before we leave tomorrow.” She finished in a reluctant tone of voice, her discontentment with the situation shining through in every word she spoke.

In spite of that particular, I hated with the fire of thousand suns that she was right. My wolf snarled loudly in my head in sheer defiance, lunging headlong in an attempt to seize control, an action I barely succeeded in forestalling.

I noted that the hungry expression in her eyes did not coalesce with the words that she had uttered only moments ago, but I grudgingly relinquished my hold on her when she moved to get up so that she could put some space between us.

I could not deny that it was not the worst idea considering the inner struggle I was currently embattled with in my mind. My wolf refusing to back down now that he was aware that Willow was ready to irrevocably accept our claim at long last.

It may not have seemed like much time had elapsed to outsiders, but wolves were well-known for claiming their soul mates on sight once they had been recognized. My wolf continued to test my limits, scratching at my skin to get out and claim what was ours so that everyone would know.

I could not say I blamed him. Hell, I was right there with him, but I knew she was worth more than a quick f**k on the kitchen table for her first time being taken. She was too special for something disrespectful like that. She deserved to have her body worshipped and near boneless by the time I had finally sank my c**k balls deep into her warmth.

Damn. I was only working myself into more of a frenzy with my present train of thoughts. I swiftly searched my mind for a distraction, the distance between our overheated bodies aiding me in regaining my clarity and control.

My eyes tracked Willow as she flew around the kitchen like the breeze, efficiently cleaning up the mess while I bargained with my wolf for compliance, something I had never had to do previously. Eventually we came to an arrangement, though neither of us were entirely satisfied with the outcome.

Additionally, I continued to feel the uncomfortable facets that came with unrequited s****l arousal, but I brushed off the annoyance and mild unease, determined to do what was best for my mate, regardless of the consequences.

Subsequently, I approached Willow where she had her back turned away from me while she rifled through the contents of the fridge. I proceeded to wrap my muscled arms around her rounded figure, and instantly pulled her flush against my body.

She wiggled minutely at the rigid pole pressing adamantly against her backside, eliciting a m**n from my mouth at the divine pressure and soft gasp that she had released at the initial contact before she remained motionless in my embrace.

It did not help that the lingering traces of her excitement persisted to envelop the room with its hypnotizing smell, driving my wolf mad despite our newly fashioned truce.

“What do you need for tonight, sweetheart? I have a feeling we are going to have to stop by a store first.” I said, attempting to steer the conversation in the direction it needed to go in before the tension rose to a fever pitch de novo.

She did not respond for a moment, but then she extricated herself from my grip and closed the fridge before rotating to meet my gaze as she replied in a bold voice, outright stating what she wanted, “I was thinking I could make fried chicken and possibly an apple pie, but I will need some things from the store first.”

I could see the happiness in her eyes as she effused about the food that she wanted to make for us, her family. I could also perceive that my former worries about her not being able to separate her traumas from the present were unfounded.

Cooking was obviously one of the ways in which she showed her affection, which only pissed my wolf and I off more to know how Zeke had twisted this passion for her.

Nonetheless, I pushed aside the negativity for now, enjoying the time I had with her presently before the disquiet that always accompanied travel through the territories began tomorrow, and that definitely included savoring every last morsel of food that she prepared tonight.

“Of course, love. We need to be on our way soon if you do not want to be up all night, at any rate.”

“Okay, we can leave now if you want. I am already finished here anyway, but will you make sure the others know to show up later for the dinner?”

“Sweetheart do not act like you did not know you were going to get your way all along. I will mind link with them while you are picking out what you want in the store. We were going to have a final meeting anyway. Your suggestion will only make a boring event something spectacular. I hope you know that Asher has not shut up about your cooking as of yet.”

I loved the blush that speedily spread on her cheeks, dispersing downward towards the neck of my t-shirt that she was wearing and past the heavily faded marks I had left on her slender neck. A fact which seriously displeased my wolf and I, and one that would be remedied before we departed in the morning.

The trip into town was uneventful, Reese and Theo having locked down the security in the area after the last breech in the perimeter, and the others had wholeheartedly agreed to come to the dinner, which Willow insisted on making for everyone, when I had reached out to them.

I had to admit that I was surprised to see how capable Theo was turning out to be, but then again, he had been smart enough to defect from Zeke before everything had went to shit.

I resolved to contact Ryker about the new developments after we had returned to the lodge and Willow was busy with her own tasks. Consequently, with nothing left to do but monitor the environment as an extra precaution, I permitted my mind to wander while Willow selected the ingredients that she wanted.

I admired her thick curves as she bent over to grab something off a lower shelf, but I forced myself to glance away when my c**k thrummed painfully behind my zipper in response.

My mate’s body was to die for, but I also became even more enamored with her other features, in addition, as the days passed and she came more into her own as the female I knew her to be all along: strong, fierce, and independent.

As much as I hated the last one, I knew there would come a time where I would have to let her fly while I waited worried out of my mind on the sidelines. I could not fight every battle for her, no matter how much my wolf and I wished that we could.