Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Jayce
It felt so good to finally hold his mate in his arms that Jayce didn’t care if they ever made it back to their home. He could hold her like this forever. Inhaling her scent, stroking her small frame. He could do without the layers of clothing she was wearing, but that would come soon.
He sensed she was both relieved and nervous. Surely a tremendous weight had lifted off her shoulders at discovering he was the man she’d envisioned. She’d had no way of knowing.
This union was going to be the most unconventional one ever because unlike every other marked girl from the valley who found herself mated to an Alpha Protector at the age of twenty, Sienna knew things. She’d seen them prematurely.
Jayce assumed she knew damn near all things. He couldn’t blame her. There’d been no way for her to avoid the visions. In a way, he was grateful. The stress of introducing her to the new way of life she would be expected to assimilate into had eased tremendously.
She knew. She hadn’t even flinched when he mentioned her nursery. She was aware of its existence. She probably had a million questions, but she wouldn’t be nearly as shocked as any previous new mate.
It wasn’t just their own home she’d witnessed. She’d seen into the homes of others. Maybe everyone. She would have watched—albeit unwillingly—as his friends—other Alpha Protectors—took care of their mates in every intimate way.
Fuck, it felt good having her arms wrapped around his neck.
The best sensation ever. Jayce was the youngest of his generation to mate.
At twenty-eight, he’d only been eight years old when Sienna was born.
Some of his peers had been so much older, and they’d been forced to wait longer for their mates to come of age.
Hell, Felix had been twenty-five when his mate, Khloe, had been born.
Jayce felt fortunate. Considering all the unrest lately, it was possible Fate had stepped in to ensure Jayce’s mate would come of age earlier than the average Alpha Protector’s. Sienna was the last of the mates to be united with her Alpha for a while.
There was no denying Jayce had concerns. Lots of them. There was a distinct possibility that Sienna would prove to be a very important member of society. The thought unnerved him. The last thing he wanted was for his mate to ever be in danger or have to deal with undue stress.
It was out of his control, however. Fate was in charge here. Not Jayce or any other Alpha male.
The Alpha Protectors had existed in their current role for centuries, ensuring the safety of every wolf shifter living in the valley. They patrolled the mountains diligently.
Unrest had visited them several times in the past months, starting with the abduction of Suzette, Brock’s mate, on the day of their ceremony. She’d been taken from her home in the valley. Disappeared without a trace. Unheard of. How had it even been possible?
The Alphas soon learned that bear shifters had moved into the territory.
Most of them were peaceful and intended to live in harmony, but a few rogue members had other plans.
More importantly, the bears had enhanced abilities unknown among wolf shifters.
One bad apple had flexed his muscles by proving he could sneak into the valley and kidnap a woman undetected.
Their arrival and subsequent behavior were probably responsible for the newly discovered powers among recently mated females.
No Alpha Protector was particularly fond of finding out his mate might one day be needed to provide a crucial role in the safety of the entire extended pack.
It wasn’t a chauvinistic thing. It was a deep need to protect.
That need extended first and foremost to an Alpha’s mate.
The idea of any mate being placed in danger went against every fiber in their being.
Sienna was very quiet as Jayce carried her up the mountain.
He wasn’t sure what to make of her silence.
Maybe she was simply being polite so he could focus, but he suspected she was a quiet soul in general.
Perhaps shy. If that was the case, she was probably suffering even more than the average woman would from the things she’d witnessed in her visions.
When Jayce finally reached their home, he was grateful to find them alone. Several Alphas and their mates were patrolling the area, but luckily, for the moment, nothing pressing was happening within the pack to keep Jayce from spending time alone with his mate.
“We’re home, Baby girl.” He carried her into the house, rubbing her back. “Do you want to look around?”
She shrugged as she eased the tight hold she’d had on his neck. “I’ve seen your entire house many times,” she muttered.
He chuckled, though the idea was unsettling. “I guess you have.”
So far she’d only spoken to him in soft tones, and she hadn’t met his gaze enough for his liking.
He wanted to look into her eyes, so he carried her to the kitchen and set her on the counter before placing his hands on either side of her hips, remaining close enough that he crowded her with his abs against her knees.
“Can you look at me, Little one?”
She lifted her gaze to his, biting into her lower lip.
He smiled, hoping to calm her. “I know you’re nervous. It’s natural for you to be, even under the best of circumstances, but our mating is extremely unconventional, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
“You know things mates do not ordinarily know before their ceremony. I’m sure it’s been lonely carrying that knowledge around with you.”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
Jayce slid his hands up her arms and finally cupped her face, gently tipping her head back to ensure she didn’t look away. Her eyes were indeed the most gorgeous green he’d ever seen. He could stare into them for hours, and hopefully would be able to in the course of their lives.
Her pulse was elevated. Her cheeks were pink.
“I’m going to tell you a lot of things in the coming hours and days. Some of it I suspect you will already know. Some of it you will not. It’s my understanding that you’ve had the power to see into many of our homes and watch live interactions, right?”
The red in her cheeks deepened as if she were embarrassed to admit this fact. “Yes, Sir.”
“But you have not been able to hear anyone speaking?”
“No, Sir.”
He stroked her jaw with his thumb. “Then let’s start with something you don’t know.
The mates of Alpha Protectors most often refer to their mate as Daddy.
It’s an endearment. It stems from the fact that I will care for you in every way for the rest of our lives.
I will always protect you and do everything in my power to ensure you are safe and happy.
That means I will have strict rules meant to ensure that’s the case. ”
“Yes, Sir.”
He gave her another smile. “Though I don’t mind you speaking to me with such reverence, I won’t insist on you calling me Sir all the time, Little one.”
“Um, okay.”
“I assume your mother taught you to be respectful and submissive, and she was not wrong, but she has no idea what life looks like up here among the Alphas and their mates. Our existence and norms are very different. You already know that.”
“Yes, Sir.” Sienna squirmed against the counter. She was so precious and also obviously shy.
He decided to address that fact. “Amber told me that you kept your mark hidden from society your entire life.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“That must have made you very lonely.”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
“You won’t be lonely anymore, Baby girl. You will make friends with all the other mates, including Amber. They’re looking forward to meeting you.”
“I’ll do my best, if it pleases you, Sir.”
He frowned and drew in a deep breath. “It’s not about pleasing me, Baby girl. It’s about your happiness.”
“Amber was nice to me when I met her, but girls are not usually kind, Sir.”
“I get that. I know that’s the experience you’ve had in the valley, but I assure you no one will treat you with anything but kindness up here in the mountains. I won’t require you to develop friendships, Little one. They will just happen. I promise.”
“Okay.”
She clearly didn’t believe him. That was fine. She would learn.
He lowered his thumbs to her lips and grazed over the little pink bow of her mouth. “Are you hungry, Sienna?”
“No, Sir.”
“No, you’re not hungry? Or do you really mean you’re too nervous to swallow?”
Her breath hitched. “Too nervous.”
“When was the last time you ate a substantial meal, Baby girl?”
She swallowed, not looking away. Being brave. “A few months ago,” she admitted.
“That’s what I suspected. Nerves will do that. You’ve experienced more nervous energy than any previous mate. Instead of fretting over the unknown, you’ve had to worry about things you weren’t meant to know prematurely. I bet your tummy has been in knots.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“On top of that, you think I’m seconds away from stripping this ceremonial dress off you and forcing you to consummate our union.” The dress was a pretty white with gold lace at the sleeves, hem, and neckline. She had on pretty gold sandals, too.
Her face turned an even darker shade of red at his words, and she bit into her bottom lip again.
“Let me assure you that’s not going to happen. I will never pressure you to submit your body to me sexually. Our consummation will be your choice the first time and every time we come together. If that means waiting a day or a week or however long you need, that’s what we will do.”
Her eyes widened as she released that plump lip.
“Fair warning, though. The bond between us is already strong. You can feel it growing. It will continue to do so for months before it feels like it finally levels off. Fate means for us to be together in every way, and She does not make mistakes. She has aligned our bodies to ensure we are so attracted to each other that we can’t put off the union for very long. ”
Sienna bit into that lip again. Her gaze lowered to his mouth. Her heart rate increased. She started panting. That was a good sign. But he still would never rush her.
Grabbing her hips, he said, “How about I let you explore your nursery a bit. I know you probably watched me put everything together and fill the shelves with toys and games I hope will entertain you, but maybe you’d like to look around in person.
Touch things. After that, I want you to take a bottle. I promise you will like the taste.”
“Yes, Sir.” She was being too agreeable. It was in her nature and upbringing. He didn’t like it, but hopefully she would lighten up soon and figure out that she was allowed to defy him. She would find herself over his knees when she did so, but that too would likely be cathartic and welcome.
Fuck, he wished he could fast-forward through this awkward stage, but it was a necessary part of life. All they could do was trudge through it.