Chapter 8

~ Jonathan's POV

I had Timber placed on breakfast duty a few weeks ago because I knew she was an early riser like myself. I wanted some alone time with her. To watch her. Study her. If I get up the nerve, speak to her.

I cannot believe I’m being such a frightened little schoolboy. I am an Alpha. Yet I go to jelly when she’s around. This past month I’ve been able to share my time with her wolf by the lake. She doesn’t know it’s me though.

I hope she doesn’t freak out when she does. I feel so calm when she’s around me. I wonder if she feels the same. Does she think of me like I think of her? How I long for her. To taste her lips. Feel her soft skin. Run my fingers through her silky dark hair.

Things seem to be getting better for her with her rejected mate bond. She hasn’t had any episodes lately… well not since we’ve been hanging out by the lake. I am hoping this is a good sign that she’s accepting it and moving on. Maybe moving on towards me? Hopeful and wishful thinking I’m sure.

She still goes through heat, but the pain of the bond is no longer a factor in its pain, so she gets through it a little easier. Well, sort of. I wish I could take that pain from her. She isolates herself in her room during heat to protect her from unmated warrior wolves in the house. Magda has been helping during those times. I want to ease that inferno within her. To soothe the burning flame that ignites in her every few months. Maybe I will be given the chance. Well, someday.

Bane feels it when she starts heat, and it drives him mad crazy. I have to keep all distance from her in those times to not put myself upon her. Bane has verbally claimed her as his a few weeks ago. ‘Mine’ he tells me. ‘MATE! MINE!’ he yells at me. Have I been granted a second chance mate? I am still not willing to take that chance… not fully at least.

I walked down to the kitchen to see Timber cutting fruit. I could smell bacon and biscuits already in the oven. I just leaned on the door frame with my arms folded across my chest smiling while watching her when she finally looked up at me.

She blushed like I embarrassed her just standing there watching. Thinking. Dreaming. “Good morning Alpha Johnathon. I did not hear you come in. Do you want some coffee or tea? Breakfast will be ready shortly.” She said smiling, not really looking directly at me. Oh, how I wish she would.

“No. I’m fine.” I said with a smile as wide as it would go. My heart, beating rapidly as I gain the courage to walk up to her and take a chance.

I never take coffee or tea because I do not like it, but she always asks. Very considerate of others she is. This I have noticed. “Would you like some help cutting the fruit?” I asked hoping she’ll say ‘sure’ but knowing she really won’t accept.

Normally I would just walk through, say good morning; and ask her to let me know when breakfast is ready. She seemed apprehensive having me in there with her.

Was she nervous being around me? She replied quickly with “No. I’m ok thank you. Did you want me to let you know when breakfast was ready?” With a smirky smile that stretched to my ears I said, “I think I’ll just stay down here with you… instead today. Sure, I can’t do something for you?” with an emphasis on something. She blushed again. As I slowly shifted my stance to start moving my position.

I love it when she turns that beautiful shade of rose. While walking over to her slightly I say, “here let me cut the pineapple while you finish the apples.” I leaned in to take a knife out of the drawer in front of her. I barely touched her when electricity ran through my body. ‘MATE!’ Bane jumped with excitement. Now, I’m not going to be able to deny it. Bane and I felt it. The connection. The mate bond.

I wanted to pull her into me. Kiss her. Exploring every inch of her mouth with my tongue and finding every hidden place on her body. I wanted to mark her. Make her mine so everyone knew she was meant for me and me alone. And that I was hers, and hers only. That we were each other’s.

It seemed like seconds before everyone came down for breakfast and the whole kitchen was alive with chatter and eating. I was smiling as I ate my food thinking about the innocent touch we had and how I was going to feel her skin again. Barely looking up at her periodically like a shy schoolboy.

I looked up to see Timber frowning in my direction. Why was she frowning at me? My thoughts were interrupted when Allie, a she-wolf, sat next to me with her plate. She kissed my cheek and ran her fingers through my hair.

I looked at her, “what do you think you are doing? Have you lost your place?” She looked at me confused and realized what she had done. “My apologies Alpha Johnathon. I was not paying attention. It will not happen again.” “It better not.” I finished my breakfast and left as soon as I was done, leaving her there.

I decided to get to the lake before Timber today. I wanted to get my thoughts clear before she arrived. I completed some necessary work, took a shower, and headed to the lake. I decided to walk there in my human form instead of shifting first. When I got to the lake I stood there for a while staring at the lake. Thinking about my dead mate and unborn pup. I missed them desperately. I truly did. I looked up to the friendly sky and smiled, knowing my cherished mate would want me to allow myself to be loved and love again if given another chance.

This thing I was feeling for Timber was real and I knew it was. Bane knew it. And now I accepted it. I shifted and laid down. It was not very long before Timber showed up in her wolf form. She looked at me strangely while walking around me sniffing.

What is going on? Does she not remember the times we spent here together? Then she growled lowly at me. Confusion started creeping in until it dawned on me. SHE KNOWS! She knows it’s me.

How did I let this happen? Calm down Johnathon. Maybe it’ll be fine. I started to panic as she continued to growl at me. I growled back, not harshly but enough for her to know I hear her and won’t back down before she finally did; like I knew she would. Very obedient, and submissive she is. I circled her and placed my nose on hers. She relaxed and laid down.

She knows who I am in wolf form now and has accepted me, at least for now. I opened a mind link between us and could hear her purring from within. Her eyes closed… mind calm. ‘Timber’ I said hoping she’ll speak to me. Silence. ‘Timber’ I said again, a little softer in a sing-song way.

Her wolf moved slightly under me before she said, ‘yes Alpha Johnathon’ sleepily.

‘I am sorry I did not tell you it was me. I did not want you to find out this way.’ I genuinely felt like I had betrayed her when she asked with hesitation and curiosity in her voice ‘How long have you known?’

With hesitation I replied, ‘Since the first time I saw you… and Andrew showed up.’ Silence again. I could feel her starting to panic, her secret was out.

‘Your wolf is beautiful.’ I said as I poured love and compassion through the link. She calmed her panic. We laid in the grass under the sun’s heat for the rest of the afternoon. I was so happy. I love her. ‘We love her’ Bane corrected. ‘Yes, Bane. We Love her.’ I smiled at the thought.

‘Bane’s the name of my wolf’ I said, ‘what’s yours?’ Hoping she’d answer. ‘Karin’ is all she replied with. And I closed my eyes once more.

~ Time Lapse ~

It has been almost a week since Timber found out it was Bane and I who had been with her by the lake. I would occasionally help her in the kitchen before everyone else got up for breakfast. This time she started letting me help her if I wanted without question. I would purposely brush up against her or find ways I could touch her. I do have to admit I think she liked the attention with the smiles and blushes that would be revealed on her beautiful face.

Bane adored her. He wanted to mate and mark her so badly it started consuming my every thought. I knew I had to take this slow with her given her past relations with others. Although Bane did not want to wait for his mate. Not that it mattered for me to mate with her. ‘

You’re being a coward’ he snarled at me. ‘I am not! I just want to make sure what I am getting into first.’ Coward! Coward! Coward!’ is all he would say. ‘Maybe I am being a coward. So what?! It’s not like we are supposed to have another mate. We already had ours.’ emphasizing supposed.

‘I want my mate. I want OUR mate!’ He bellowed again like a whiny child. ‘If she is willing to have us then I will. Are you satisfied now?!’ ‘YES!’ he growled at me again. All I could do is roll my eyes at him. As I could feel his sulking pout in the background.

Without hesitation like my life depended on it, I walked downstairs to the kitchen with great determination. I did not stop at the doorway. I did not stop at the counter. I went right up to her like an animal about to attack his prey. My eyes had turned emerald. I could feel my heart beating and my breath heavy with longing to kiss her. My skin was itching to touch her. Hold her. Caress her.

When I reached her standing in front of the stove, I placed my hand on her waist turning her into me and kissed her. I pulled her into me by the waist so she couldn’t let go or get away. Hard I kissed her and with all the passion I had built up inside of me for her.

Bane was wanting to take over, but I did not let him. She squirmed at first, then went numb as she fell into my arms. I heard her moan softly as I brushed my tongue against her lips to ask for entrance. She willingly accepted and moaned again in my mouth.

I caressed every inch of her mouth with my tongue as she let me. She played with my tongue with hers and I let a quick moan escape from low in my throat. She tasted sweeter than I could have ever imagined. She felt better than I could have ever dreamed.

Until she suddenly, she let go with an abruptness and I let out a low growl.

She looked at me now with fear and confusion on her face. Although she was blushing. I love it when she does that. Her face is so sweet underneath the rose color that forms on her soft cheeks. I gently brushed those rose-colored cheeks with my thumb to reassure all was well. She gave me a small smile, then looked up in shock. I turned my attention to see who walked into the kitchen.

Some of my warriors had come down to the kitchen smelling something burning. They looked at us and we stepped away from each other abruptly.

“Somethings burning Alpha, we came in to help…” someone started to say.

“I got it; it was the eggs. It’s fine now.” I said interrupting him. “How did she burn eggs?” I heard someone whisper in disbelief.

“I distracted her that’s how. Now let her be.” I growled back at them and they all backed down before sitting at the table.

“If anyone has anything negative to say about her you will keep it to yourself.” I looked directly at her “MINE!” I said with authority and they all understood. “Sorry Alpha” and “yes Alpha” was all that was said amongst them. A few minutes later she had fresh eggs made and we all ate in silence.

After everyone ate their breakfast, I could still hear those words from Alpha Johnathon like an echo. ‘MINE!’. He considered me his? When did that happen? Karin went crazy when he kissed me. I wanted him and he apparently wanted me too. She wanted to take over so badly, but I refused when he kissed me. Burning eggs would not have been the only thing the warriors would have walked in on if I did.

When I realized we were not the only ones in the kitchen I stopped it rather abruptly. I did not want them thinking I was seducing the Alpha. Everyone knows he did not go for other females after his mate and pup died. I felt pain deep within my chest when I backed away. But I had to protect him from ridicule. I am used to looks and snide remarks from others, but he was an Alpha with honor and pride.

After everyone left and I was alone with my thoughts and questions started pouring into my mind. Was I being given a second mate? Maybe this was my gift for everything I had to endure in my old pack. Maybe it was his gift too, for what he had to endure with the loss of his previous mate and child.