Jax
I felt relieved when my mate readily agreed to allowing me to help her. I could already tell that she was used to doing everything on her own, but she did not have to anymore. I would make damn sure of it.
I would have to find some way to thank Ronnie later for all her help with my mate and for the suggestion of the bath, but, for now, I went about looking for supplies in the small room so I could prepare a soothing atmosphere for my mate. At some point, I was going to need to ask her what her name was. I could not keep going around calling her my mate all the time.
Well, I mean I could, but it would be nice to know her name too. It was honestly killing my wolf and me not to know the name of our other half. I had tried asking around so I would not have to bombard her with questions right away, but, to my dismay, not a single soul knew wha
Willow I let a small gasp escape from my lips the moment we stepped through the bathroom door. It was like being transported to a completely different world. The lights were turned off, but the illumination provided by the flickering candles established a relaxing atmosphere, not to mention a wonderful aroma that seemed to blanket the room. I took a deep breath and allowed my gaze to travel over to the massive tub before meeting Ronnie’s eyes. The tub appeared to be near overflowing with vanilla scented bubbles, while cherry scented candles covered the counter nearby. I could not wait to sink into the warm, frothy water and soothe all the aches in my body that seemed to be never ending. However, I felt a bit unnerved by the seemingly romantic setup, whether that was his intention or not. I was suddenly feeling infinitely grateful that Ronnie had been t
Willow I reclined against the side of the tub with my eyes closed, allowing the fragrant aroma and comforting water to lull me into a state of bliss. I allowed my mind to wander, thinking about how crazy it was that I had finally found my mate. My wolf rejoiced in my head. She wanted to run to his side; she did not understand why I hesitated. If I had found Jax two years ago, there was not a doubt in my mind that I would have run straight into his arms. It was killing me to resist what I thought was called the mating heat. I was not quite sure, but either way, it boiled down to me wanting to throw myself in Jax’s arms constantly. It had been so long ago since my mother had tried to talk to me about mating. I was not interested in listening then, so I had tuned most of it out. I wished like hell I had paid more attention now though, I thought despondently to
Willow I allowed a grateful sigh to escape as I looked down at the clothes Ronnie had given me. I pulled on the yoga pants and sports bra she had given me without a second thought and then went to pull the t-shirt over my head. However, I noticed that the size of the shirt was disproportionate to the rest of the clothing I had been given, and the giant t-shirt smelled just like Jax. I guess he wanted to make his own contribution to my wardrobe I mused; that, and the fact that he wanted his scent on me no doubt. I could not find it in myself to complain though as I pulled the soft fabric over my head. I took a deep breath of the rich coffee and fresh cut grass smell that was uniquely him. Taking a moment to steady myself, and my control over my wolf, I took several deep breaths before exiting the bathroom. Jax was waiting for m
Jax I watched my mate as she fought to stay awake. My wolf and I felt relief when we saw the trust shining out through her eyes. I knew she would still worry until I got rid of Zeke permanently, and make no mistake I would, but I also knew that she would trust me to protect her until that time came. I could hear Ronnie coming down the hall now. Willow’s chocolate colored eyes had been waging a losing war against the weight dragging her eyelids down. They had just closed for what appeared to be the last time when Ronnie walked through the door. Noticing Willow’s drowsy state, she kept her voice down when she spoke, “Hey, I see she is getting some rest. I was a little worried she would be anxious, but I guess there is something to be said about the mate bond after all.” My wolf rejoiced at her words, feeling ecstatic that we ha
Jax I clambered out of the bunker with Asher, not quite as angry as I was before I entered but still pretty pissed, despite the release of pent up energy and aggression I had expelled below. I noticed the sun was just rising above the canopy of trees in the east. I looked down at myself and grimaced at the large blood splatter that covered the front of my shirt, not to mention the dried blood that I knew still coated my skin. I gazed over at Asher, noticing that he fared little better, but at least he did not have a mate to return to yet. I considered my options while shooting a quick but sincere thanks to Reese through our mind link for offering to stick around with the remaining male until the bunker could be cleaned. We had agreed to split the alpha’s responsibilities here in the South until a replacement could be found; however, I was thankful that Rees
Willow I awoke sometime later, though I was not sure how much later, feeling a little sore and a lot weak, nothing new for me of course, yet I somehow still managed to feel better than I could remember feeling since arriving here in the South. I had been dealing with the exhaustion and physical pain for so long that it seemed a near constant, but maybe there would be a light at the end of the tunnel after all, I thought hopefully to myself. I stretched out in the soft bed, enjoying being able to do so with minimal pain for once, before rolling over and looking for Jax, at my wolf’s request. Okay, maybe I wanted to see him too. There. I could admit to myself at least. I noticed Ronnie sitting in his chair, the one I had started calling Jax’s in my head for some reason, seemingly lost in a book. I cleared
Jax As I neared the door to Willow’s room, I could sense her distress bleeding through the walls, driving my wolf and I insane with the urge to ease our mate’s anguish. I burst through the door without a second thought, my wolf having taken the reins, and barreled towards the bed where I saw her panic-stricken eyes, brimmed with salty tears, unaware that I had even smashed my way into the room. The tray of food that I had stopped in the kitchen for on my way in had thankfully survived somehow, though I shoved it into Ronnie’s arms as I rushed to my mate’s side. I did the only thing it crossed my mind to do in that moment, I picked her up and sat her in my lap, wrapping my arms securely around her small frame, not even considering that she might not want me so near her this soon. However, she me
Jax I glanced down at Willow after the door had shut completely. She still appeared to be doing alright, but my wolf and I would continue to worry until we completed the mating bond. I still had the overwhelming urge to claim Willow; it was nearly unbearable to resist, in fact, despite my exhausted state. The only thing that allowed me to abstain was knowing that her fragile mental state could not handle it yet. Her needs would always come before my own, and she just was not ready. I was thankful she allowed me to hold her, cradled in my lap as she did, but I suspected that had more to do with her alarm when I had first arrived in the room earlier. Nevertheless, I could see the clear adoration in her eyes as she gazed up into mine. I could also see the hesitation, unfortunately. I knew that was
Willow About Three Weeks Later… “Baby, we talked about this. You know we have to go help Ronnie with the final details before the ball. She has been complaining nonstop since we left, and then Scarlett bailed right after, leaving only Mari and her to organize the whole thing.” “We still have three days until the ball, sweetheart. This will only delay us a few hours, and I think we deserve to celebrate a little longer. My sister will be fine once she hears that she is going to be an aunt.” There was no more talking after that, at least nothing coherent as Jax sealed his alluring lips over my kiss-swollen ones once more in a passionate caress that left no questions concerning how he was feeling about my unexpected information. I had not even considered pregnancy when we had completed our bond, but of course I would be the one to get pregnant on the first go around. I was somewhere on the spectrum of freaking the fuck out and overwhelmingly joyful to be bringing another life into
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 blood that still streaked across
Jax I had followed Willow’s lead, shifting back into human form and blindly advancing towards the kitchen with my eyes glued to her naked ass. I pulled on some pants, content to follow my mate’s lead, but I realized how stupid the action was when I discarded them a few minutes later so that I could check the house’s security one last time. I was shocked when my wolf was hesitant to leave, but after another careful assessment of the area with my enhanced senses turning up nothing unusual, I pushed aside his worry and set off at a fast clip so that I could return to my mate sooner. I had traveled a few miles, my wolf fighting me the entire way, when the influx of warnings swamped my mind. The border was under attack, and it was by none other than the bear shifters that we had been keeping an eye on. I did not understand how they c
Willow After about an hour of practicing, with Jax refusing to so much as kiss me while we were training, we agreed to call it quits for now. He had only managed to go over a few of the basics due to us being pressed for time, but I felt good about what he did teach me during the allotted period. I also thought that it was kind of cute how serious he was about my preparation if I was being honest. Don’t get me wrong, I was just as invested in making sure that I knew how to protect myself, but I did not think one kiss would deter me from that goal. Irrespective, I was in heaven when he finally leaned down and closed the distance between our bodies, smashing me against his chest as he hoisted me up with ease and thoroughly plundered my mouth. He kissed me until I was out of breath, but then he pul
Willow Jax’s pronouncement of his fears relating to the bears’ possible forthcoming incursion instantly dragged my memories back to the disastrous day that I had found both of my parent’s murdered, the cataclysm that had flipped my whole world upside down on its axis. My vision clouded as my haunted past consumed my awareness, sending me back down into the pit of despair that I had only recently clawed my way out of. I could hear my wolf shouting for me, reaching out to help pull me back from my spiraling downfall, but her presence was muted by the horrific images still revolving through my mind on a reel. Then, out of nowhere, the light fragrance of freshly cut grass began to seep into my consciousness, followed by the aromatic smell of rich coffee as I vaguely felt sturdy arms encircle my waist.
Jax I had known this conversation was coming all along. Regardless, Willow’s words managed to succeed in startling my thoughts away from the dark path that they were previously headed down. While I was thankful for the reprieve, not looking forward to thinking about Ryker being anywhere near my baby sister without my regulation any more than necessary, I found my trepidation almost equal when I considered the topic that she wanted me to fill her in on. I never wanted to keep secrets from my mate, but I also did not want her to worry about the added difficulties that Ryker had heretofore been keeping me up to date with on top of the stress that Zeke’s reappearance had produced. I found myself stuck between a rock and hard place as I was forced to choose between total honesty and protecting her, both mentally and physically.
Willow I muttered a perfunctory greeting in response, not really awake enough to make conversation, but I pulled my long tresses over my shoulders and darted my eyes away from his general direction as I did so. I had not been expecting to see anyone else or I probably would have showered former to coming downstairs, but it was too late to change now, so I resolved on making the best of my current predicament. If I had been thinking clearly earlier, I would have apprehended that there might be others rambling about. This was the pack house of the Northern Province, after all. I could guess that he was trying to be friendly, but I still felt uncomfortable around large men by myself after my experiences with Zeke, so I had remained quiet as I beelined straight for the coffee that drew me in like a magnet wit
Willow I tiredly rolled around in the bed when I awoke, wincing at the soreness I could feel suffusing scarcely used muscles and electing to leave my eyes firmly shut as I reached out blindly, searching for my mate’s large form. Nevertheless, they soared open abruptly when my wandering hands came up with nothing but an empty space and cold sheets during their hunt. Blinking my groggy eyes open, I allowed them a minute to adjust to the bright light of a fully risen sun filtering through the white colored curtains, I had not realized that I had slept in so long, but it did not surprise me with how late Jax had kept me up last night, not that I was complaining. Still, I knew one thing for certain. Those window coverings would be exchanged for a much darker alternative in the near future if I had anything to say about it.
Jax With one powerful lunge forward, my mind fractured momentarily as it was overwhelmed with the sensations of claiming my soulmate at long last. I nebulously noticed that my wolf had managed to express his excitement through a low howl that I could feel all the way down to the tips of my toes as my shoulders strained with exertion and my claws tore into the wooden rail behind my mate’s head. I was struggling to not blow my load, holding my raging member stock-still so that the sensory overload would not send me sprinting over the edge prematurely as I was besieged by the lust drenching me in its deluge at the feeling of her wet heat ensconcing me. I wanted this to last at least until I had her screaming my name as her center compressed around my pulsing length with the resulting tremors of her release before we started the s