Mated To The Alpha Of The North
Chapter 71

Willow

I was startled out of my deep slumber when Jax jumped up with me still ensconced in his arms, the sudden action jostling me awake.

I was confused for about a second, but then my brain gradually caught up with the sounds that were filtering into my ears, and I spun my head around in a circle until my eyes connected with Ronnie’s.

I did not register the others in the room until after I had leaped up and ensnared my sister in a giant hug in my excitement to see her again so soon.

She let out a chuckle before gently pushing me back with a scrunched nose and look of discomfort coloring her expression.

I was a bit hurt a first, but I immediately understood her apprehension when she said, “It is great to see you Willow, but you kind of need a bath. It appears that my brother could use one too.”

I glanced back to where Jax was currently conversing with his beta and Asher, and I could not deny the actuality of her statement as I took in the dried b***d that still streaked across his tanned skin. I was sure that I did not look much better after falling asleep tangled up with him.

“Yeah, you are probably right about that.”

“Of course, I am, so you two go take care of that while I scrounge up some food and the guys get rid of the mess. It seems like we missed one hell of a fight judging by all of the damage.”

I laughed out loud at her implication, drawing the attention of the males in the room as I did so, but I answered anyway, saying, “You would think so, but it was sad how fast Jax ended the whole debacle honestly.”

Jax spoke up then, adding his two cents, “Not really love, I pegged him as a coward from day one. It did not surprise me at all when he tried to run. I am simply happy that it is over now.”

“Okay, now I really want the full story, but not until after you shower. Go!”

“Have I mentioned how bossy you are?”

Ronnie did not reply to my rhetorical question, but then again, I had not expected her too. Jax only rolled his eyes at his sister, but he dismissed himself from the other males and slung a possessive arm around my waist as he led me upstairs, regardless.

We did not speak as he led me straight into the bathroom and proceeded to peel every piece of clothing off my body before urging me backwards into the steamy shower where he tenderly washed away all traces of the violence that had taken place.

“I am fairly sure I am supposed to be the one doing this for you. You are not even completely healed from all of your wounds yet baby.” I said as my eyes landed on the partially healed gashes than ran down his left side.

He raised his l*p in a half smile, not appearing bothered at all by the cuts, before he replied, “Don’t worry, love. You can run your soapy hands over my body as much as you want. I just need to feel that you are here, that you are truly okay, first. I was terrified that I would be too late.”

“I was scared at first too, but I knew that you were on your way. That is what gave me the courage to face him and finally demand all of the answers that I needed for closure.”

Jax had finished lathering my lengthy locks with conditioner while we had talked, but I brushed his hands aside as I took his earlier suggestion literally and began running my soaped-up palms over his chiseled abdominal muscles as we conversed.

“I am so proud of you love, but are you okay with everything that you learned? We did not have a chance to talk about it much before we both passed out from the enervation.”

I had been horrified when Zeke had told me the truth about why he had been so adamant that I was his, despite all of the signs disproving his assertion, and then, I was just saddened for the loss of the beautiful soul who had been taken too soon by Zeke’s dangerous dealings.

Yet, I was able to make peace with that part of my history now that he was no longer a threat, so after a long pause I responded, “Yeah, I am okay. I feel sorry for the girl that was his true mate, and I wish that we could have saved her like you rescued me. But there was nothing that we could have done; she was gone before I had even arrived in the South. We do need to let the others know about the rest of what he filled me in on though. ”

“You are right sweetheart. I wanted to enjoy a few more minutes alone with you, but this cannot wait.”

We had finished our shower and were both dressed by this point, but I took another minute to twirl my dark tresses into a bun before taking my mate’s hand as we descended the stairs together.

We found the others scattered around what remained of the cooking area. The island that had once stood in the center of the gorgeous kitchen was gone, an empty spot taking its place and making the room seem too big with its absence.

My eyes were drawn by the eclectic spread of food that Ronnie had set out on one of the remaining counters.

She must have noticed my befuddled expression because she spoke up before I could ask, saying “Hey, don’t look at me. This was all I could replace that was salvageable, and I am guessing that there was not much to begin with.”

I had taken note of the sparse cabinets this morning, but I had not thought about it again until I saw the strange assortment that Ronnie had laid out.

All the same, I realized that I was famished at the mere sight of food, so I advanced forward and snagged a partially crushed bag of barbecue chips and some pizza rolls before scurrying out of the way of the following fray of males vying for the remaining sustenance.

I was almost done with the bag of chips by the time the others crowded around where Ronnie and I were sitting in the two remaining chairs at the breakfast table.

Jax scooped me up, placing me in his lap, as Asher exclaimed, “Damn girl, I don’t think I have ever seen you put away food that fast.”

I felt my cheeks heat at being called out for my hearty appetite, but Ryker interceded, retorting, “It is not surprising considering how long they both slept for. They did not even hear us lugging Zeke’s corpse out of here.”

I was confused by Ryker’s statement briefly, but then it dawned on me that Ronnie and Asher had originally been in the Southern Territory when Zeke had started the whole chain of events that had led to his ultimate ruin.

My eyes flew to the window, seeing the last rays of sunshine lingering in the dusky sky before nightfall reigned. Shit, I guess we must have dozed through the night and most of the succeeding day.

Jax told the others about how he had busted in here and ended Zeke before he could flee again like in the past while I stuffed my face with the food left on my plate.

I was shocked when he mentioned the bears that had apparently been guarding the pack house while Zeke was inside, but it explained how he had received his injuries.

I had been wondering what had happened since it did not look like Zeke had been able to get any blows in, but I had not gotten the chance to ask my mate yet with everything else going on.

No one had interrupted while he had been talking, but Ryker cut in when it appeared that he was done, “Okay, I want to know how they managed to get so close without being detected. I know for a fact that I did not smell any outsiders in our province.”

I swallowed the last bite of food that was in my mouth before clearing my throat as I said, “That would be where I come in. See, Zeke and I played twenty questions while I stalled him until Jax got here, and he had some interesting information. Evidently, the elders decided to betray us to the bear shifters. I don’t know all of the details of their agreement, but the chemical that Zeke and the invading bears used to hide their movement here was only one of the things they gained. In exchange, parcels of our territories were one of the stipulations for their aid in overthrowing the current alphas.”

My soliloquy was initially met with stunned silence before a flurry of conversation erupted. The discussion went on as every angle was considered, but, ultimately, it was decided that Asher would follow the trail of the elders while Jax and I took care of the mess here from the attack.

One final decision was made that night, one that I whole-heartedly believed was fitting: Ryker was promoted to the new Alpha of the Southern Province.