Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 62

Willow

I was jolted awake by the decreasing momentum of the car, or at least I think that was what had roused me. The last thing I had recollected was staring out the window as the trees surrounding us on either side of the small road blurred while we had sped onward, leaving the Eastern Province far behind us in the distance.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a gorgeous sight, especially after approximately two years of staring at the same monotonous walls most days, but I could only admire the nature encircling me for so long before my wolf would start scratching at my skin to get out.

I shook the grogginess from my sleep away, permitting my eyes to pivot around until they conclusively locked with Jax’s.

Next, he had spoken those sweet words that had made me melt a little inside, but I could see by the darkening of his gaze as his pupils constricted that his mind was currently two steps ahead.

My wolf was instantly onboard with whatever he had in mind, though the quickening of my pulse proclaimed my readiness to catch up, irrespective of the fact that I persisted to feel the jitters that came along with experiencing anything so monumental for the first time.

All the same, this situation was more nerve-wracking than any previous experience that had come before it, admittedly.

Still, feeling bold, I unbuckled my seatbelt without responding and leaned forward to meet him halfway while he mimicked my movements, and then his hands were reaching out to pull me recklessly closer before I could even register the movement.

My mate’s unique fragrance filtered through the confines of the car, helping to calm my anxiety nearly as much as his look of desire, that shined clear as day from his sizzling hazel eyes, had given me the confidence to advance forward in defiance of all my self-doubts that had coalesced over the years I was trapped with Zeke.

And yet, his k**s was pure perfection in that single moment, everything else ceasing to matter while Jax annihilated my thought process with the strength of his passion hitting me head on.

He did not waste time with formalities as he crashed his lips roughly against mine in a searing k**s, instantaneously spearing his tongue into my eager mouth with a single-minded purpose.

My wolf leaped to the forefront of my mind, combining her enthusiasm with my own and driving me near insane as the l**t threatened to become all encompassing.

My eyes slammed shut as I redoubled my efforts in answer to his fervor, my tongue dueling with his for dominance as his strong arms made to pull me over the divider separating us.

Tap, tap, tap.

The knocking on the glass of the driver’s side window startled us both out of the stupor we had been in, lost in each other and completely oblivious to when the male standing outside Jax’s door had approached.

Jax released a frustrated growl at the interruption, swinging his head around to see who had dared to encroach on our moment of bliss, but I observed his shoulders slump as recognition filled his handsome face.

“It is only Ryker, my beta. As much as I hate to acknowledge it, I need a few minutes to talk with him, but then I swear that you are all mine for the rest of the night, love.”

He promised the last words solemnly while he turned to face me wholly with a rueful smile painting his face as he made his vow, prior to giving me one last lingering k**s as he opened the car door and stepped out into the cool evening air of the Northern Province.

I hastily followed his example, still gasping for breath after the rapid shift in intensity, although my mind was racing internally with the knowledge that this was the male that Ronnie was so enamored with.

It was enough to temporarily mute the arousal coursing through my system, heating my b***d to a fever pitch after the forceful k**s that we had just shared, enough to at least catalog some of the male’s features, and I could clearly see why she had fallen as hard as she had for him.

I felt a thrill run down my spine as I heard Jax introduce me as his mate to the man in question while he simultaneously wrapped a possessive arm securely around my rounded waist, holding me firmly against his side.

I could visibly see how close to the edge he was, not that I could blame him, I was right there with him.

The males conversed succinctly, but I found my notice transiently drawn by what I assumed was the pack house displayed in front of me, leaving me a bit in awe at its understated beauty. It was a breathtaking two-story log cabin, nestled seamlessly in its own little clearing, but I felt it could use some color to liven it up at first glance.

However, before long, Jax’s sharp voice intruded into my awareness as he barked out at Ryker, “Is there anything else that absolutely cannot wait until tomorrow morning?”

Ryker cut off whatever he had been about to say, stuttering out at Jax’s severe tone, “Uh…n…no, nothing other than what we have already discussed.”

I felt the arm around my middle tighten momentarily, and then he was rotating and strolling straight for the door with me in tow, tossing belatedly over his shoulder as he went, “Good, you are in charge until then. Do not disturb us for anything less than a dire emergency.”

I tried to pull away from my mate, not really wanting to protest his present course of actions, but also not liking the abrupt and callous manner he had dismissed his beta in.

“Baby, you did not have to rush off like that.” I said, struggling to keep up with his quick pace, going on in between huffs, “All of our stuff is in the car, too, in case you forgot.”

Rather than deign to reply to me, he paused, making me think that I had gotten somewhere at least. That was until he summarily revolved and bent down, throwing me over his shoulder and marching off in the direction we were previously heading in, entirely ignoring my shrieks of protest as he did so.

To make matters worse, Ryker had simply laughed when I had caught his eye in the distance during my wild flailing. Laughed.

I would be having a conversation with Ronnie about him in the near future, which was for damn sure. I definitely could not see any redeeming qualities in him for the time being, but I could also admit to myself that perhaps now was not the appropriate point to make judgement calls.

“What the hell, Jax? Put me down.”

I continued to whip around as he advanced forward without breaking stride, apparently not bothered by my added weight, but then, Jax, remaining stoically silent, had only wrapped his muscled forearm around my thrashing legs, preventing me from continuing to throw a fit over the inevitable.

I pondered biting him to get him to put me back on a flat surface for one second before I discarded the idea. I may not have liked my current predicament, but I did not genuinely want to hurt him.

My wolf urged me to get the over my indignity and accept what we both knew, and secretly desired, was about to occur.

Normally, I would be the one tempering her crazy reactions, but I was a bit annoyed to replace that she was the one playing the role of saint this time around.

She had hit the nail right on the head, too.

I did covertly relish the feelings that my mate’s dominant actions evoked inside me, but I was also embarrassed by him physically flinging me over his shoulder like a sack of flour.

Anyhow, I eventually elected to droop down, letting the fight flee out of me when he strode into the house and no one else came into view.

I could not deny the scent of my arousal permeating the air, or the wetness seeping into my lace panties as Jax hurriedly ascended the stairs. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as his hand slid up to settle on my a*s when he shifted me minutely to open the closed door to our presumed new bedroom.

He slowly slid me down the expanse of his body as he kicked the door shut, ensuring I remained pressed tightly against him even after my feet touched the ground.

He forced me back a step until I felt the unforgiving solidity of the door against me, his arms immediately shot up to cage me in as he asked, “You are not having second thoughts now, are you, sweetheart?”

As my eyes zoned in on his, only one word fell from my lips before my mate surged forward, picking right back up where we had left off outside, “Never.”