Chapter 37
37
J ake
Waking up with Alex pressed against me is the best feeling in the world.
I swear I only just opened my eyes when she stirs.
“Good morning, sleepy head.”
“Mmm. Is it morning?” She yawns.
I chuckle. “I see that someone is still worn out.”
“Yes, well, someone also shifted into a wolf for the first time before that marathon sex romp, so… I’m betting it’s normal for me to feel exhausted yet.”
I laugh and kiss her temple. “If you get up, I’ll make us coffee.”
“Make an entire pot.”
I burst out laughing. “I was going to.”
“Good. You know what else sounds good?”
“What?”
“Eggs. Bacon. Pancakes. Waffles would be even better. Oh, French toast! I can never make that right. It always gets too eggy. I think that means I flip them earlier than I should, but I try to wait longer and still… Sausage would be good. Do you patties? I prefer them to links, but links work too. I’m not too picky.”
I snort. “Not too picky but you want a gourmet breakfast?”
“Ah…” Her cheeks turn pink. “I’m just really hungry. We can go out to eat at a diner. I didn’t mean to suggest that you should cook for me.”
I cup her face and rub her cheek. “One, I can cook. I don’t cook breakfast all that often because I don’t usually eat breakfast, what with a bartender and the bar closing at the time it does. That said, I might’ve stocked up in preparation for this.”
“You knew I would be ravenously hungry?”
“I suspected, yes. Why don’t you hop in the shower while I whip something up for us?”
“I would love that,” she says softly, brushing back my hair from my forehead. “Thank you. You’re so good to me.”
“I try.”
The smile she gives me… the sparkle in her eyes… I couldn’t love this woman more. She’s everything to me.
And now that I’ve bitten her, gave her a little love bite, she’s a werewolf too.
My mate.
I still can’t believe it.
I point her in the direction of the bathroom and then head to the kitchen before I realize I’m naked. I’m not about to make bacon and risk getting splattered by hot grease so I return to my room. I shove on the clothes from last night and return to the kitchen, whistling as I work.
I feel almost domesticated. Right now, the rival pack feels so utterly far away.
All that matters is Alex.
I don’t own a waffle maker, so I make us pancakes instead. Eggs and bacon are also on the menu. I wish I had sausage, whether links or patties, but I don’t. I do also make toast, and I’m arranging everything on the table by the time Alex enters the kitchen.
“This is something I could get used to,” she says appreciatively.
“Whatever your heart desires is yours,” I assure her as I pull out a kitchen chair.
Alex kisses me before sitting in her seat. I push her in and then sit across from her.
“Dig in,” I tell her, waving my hands over the table.
Alex blinks a few times but makes no move to fill her plate.
My heart skips a beat. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“This just… I wish every morning could be like this.”
“It can be. It will be,” I assure her.
She sadly shakes her head. “Not until after…”
“We’ll handle things,” I say. “Let’s not worry about that right now.”
“I don’t want to pretend that everything is good and fine and dandy,” she protests.
“We aren’t pretending. Right now, everything is fine. It’s better than fine.” I pick up a piece of nice, thick, crispy bacon and take a bite. “If you don’t start eating, I’m going to eat all of this delicious bacon.”
She makes a face. “Jake…”
“Alex, I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll keep you safe. The entire pack will. You’re a part of Steel Falls. Don’t forget that.”
“When I woke this morning, I… I thought I might wake up and think it was all a dream, but…” She taps her chest. “I can feel her yet. My wolf. How did she… I don’t understand. I mean, being born a werewolf, that makes sense, but to be bitten and turn into one… where did she come from?”
“Maybe she was inside of you all along. Maybe that’s how it works with fated mates if the mate is a human. I don’t have all the answers.”
“No? You could’ve lied to me and pretended that you did.”
I snort. “I won’t ever lie to you, and if you believe that, then you should get eating or at least drink your coffee while it’s hot.”
She laughs and rolls her eyes. “You’re too much, Jake.”
“I take that as a compliment.” I lift my mug and cheer the air in her direction before taking a sip of the burning hot coffee.
Alex does the same and then fills her plate to overflowing. If I have to make more food, I will.
For a while, we eat in silence, and everything is so serene and perfect. Sitting here with her in my kitchen is surreal, and I pause mid-chew so I can watch her. Just the sight of her stirs something deep inside me—protectiveness, love, and fierce determination. She’s my mate, my future, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe, no matter what the world throws at us.
Her hair is a little wild, and her eyes are still soft from sleep, and it’s only now that I realize she’s wearing one of my shirts. The sight of her like that, comfortable and at ease, makes my chest ache in the best way.
“I really am glad you can cook without burning the place down,” she jokes.
I snort. “Why don’t you think I’m competent?”
“No. I’m sorry. It’s just that my dad could never cook. He would burn toast and overcook pasta. My mom and I used to tease him about it all of the time.” She laughed. “They died, and I don’t have any family. Just friends.”
“And me,” I say softly. “The entire pack.”
“That’s going to take some getting used to.”
There’s a flicker of worry in her eyes that makes my stomach churn.
I reach across the table to take her hand in mind. “What’s on your mind?” I ask gently.
Alex hesitates, her fingers tracing patterns on the table. “It’s just… everything. The werewolves, the rival pack, the danger… it’s a lot to take in. And now, with us…”
I squeeze her hand. “Alex, listen to me. I know it’s a lot, but you don’t have to face any of it alone. I’ll protect you. Always.”
She looks at me, her eyes searching mine. “Jake, I’m not just worried about right now. What if something happens down the line? What if?—”
“Stop,” I say softly, cutting her off. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. Not while I’m around. You’re my mate, Alex. My everything . And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you live a long, happy life. You’re going to grow old, all wrinkled and gray-haired, and I’ll still be right there with you.”
Her lips twitch into a smile, and she laughs lightly. “Wrinkled and gray-haired, huh?”
“Absolutely,” I say, my voice firm but warm, “and I’ll love you just as much then as I do now. Probably even more.”
Her smile widens, and she squeezes my hand back. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Yeah,” I reply, grinning. “But I’m your impossible.”
The worry in her eyes softens, and I feel a surge of relief. I want her to feel safe, to know that no matter what happens, I’ll be there to face it with her.
“Eat your breakfast,” I say, nodding toward her plate. “You’ll need your strength if you’re going to keep up with me today.”
She laughs again, the sound filling the room and chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt. As we eat, I watch her, committing every smile, every laugh to memory. She’s my mate, my future, and I’ll fight with everything I have to make sure she stays safe and happy.
No rival pack, no danger, nothing will come between us. Not now, not ever.
After we finish breakfast, Alex leans back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. I watch her, intrigued. She clearly has something else on her mind.
Finally, she looks at me, her eyes steady but soft. “We’re basically married by werewolf standards, right?”
“Yes.”
“Courtesy of the love bite.”
I burst out laughing. “Yes, because of the love bite.”
“Well… down the road… when all of this is settled—if it ever does settle—I might want… I don’t know… a baby or two.”
Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning. My chest swells with something fierce and warm, a combination of love, pride, and a deep sense of rightness. The thought of Alex, my mate, as the mother of my children? There’s nothing I want more.
I take her hand in mine and hold it tightly. “Alex,” I say, my voice firm but full of warmth, “if that’s what you want, then I’m all for it. Nothing would make me happier.”
Her lips curl into a small, almost shy smile. “Really? I mean, I know things are complicated right now, but?—”
“But nothing,” I cut in, my tone unwavering. “When the time comes, we’ll make it happen. You and me, building a family together? That sounds perfect.”
She blushes slightly.
I can already picture it, a little one running around, maybe with her eyes and my stubbornness or the other way around. It’s a future I never thought I’d let myself want, but with Alex, it feels inevitable. Right.
“I didn’t know how you’d feel about it,” she admits, looking down at her plate. “With everything going on, I wasn’t sure if it was something you’d even consider.”
I gently lift her chin so she’s looking at me again. “Alex, you’re my mate. My future. I’ll consider anything as long as it’s with you. A family? Kids? That’s the kind of life I want with you. Whatever it takes, I’ll make sure it’s safe for us to have that someday.”
Her eyes shine with emotion, and she squeezes my hand. “You mean it?”
“With everything I’ve got,” I reply, leaning across the table to kiss her softly. “We’ve got a lot to handle right now, but when it’s all over, when we’re finally settled? Yeah, Alex, I want that too.”
She smiles and kisses me again, and I feel like the luckiest guy alive. The thought of a family with her and a future where we can have a little peace and a little normalcy… I will do anything and everything to make sure it happens.
Alex kisses me again, this time more insistently, and suddenly, I have a new goal.
To make love to her in every possible place and room possible.