The defiant mate by Fennifer Francis

Chapter 36

Jay-la POV

She had no idea what to do, how to handle her parents at this point. She was really mad at them for

what they had done. But part of her was still happy to be here, to see them.

She had gone up stairs and had a hot shower, leaving the triplets alone with him. She doubted very

much that he would harm them.

Jay-la was just disappointed in both of them, Brad not so much, he hadn’t even really tried to convince

her, she now realised, probably hadn’t wanted to go along with the plan.

It was cold outside and the children didn’t really have anything warm to wear, Heck she didn’t even

know anyone anymore to borrow winter clothing from for her children. It was likely she could find spare

clothing in pack house’s laundry. She would have to head there with them after breakfast to sort

something out.

She seriously doubted Nathan would allow her to head into town with them to go shopping, wouldn’t

believe her.

Think she was running away. Not that Kora would ever let her anymore. It was clear Kora was going

nowhere.

She came back downstairs and popped one of her old winter coats on each of the girls, it hung like a

dress on both of them, and she’d fished out an old jacket of Brads from his wardrobe and put it on

Nate.

“Where are we going?” he asked her.

“To hopefully find you three, some warm clothing that will fit.”

“Oh,” was all he said.

She watched him for a minute and sighed. He was expecting something else. Perhaps her to tell them

everything she had not before. She had pretty much left out her entire life story to them, they had

grown up in the human world, and so she’d not seen fit to tell them about pack life, her family, their

extended family, but he had seen the photo’s in her room and was likely curious.

“Come with me,” she indicated to the three of them and they all followed her to the living area, she

settled them on the couch, noted her father came into the room. Glared at him, he just frowned back at

her.

“Why don’t you go and check on your Mate. she shot at him “not awake yet I guess.” Jay-la was likely

to be upset for awhile about what he had allowed to be done to her mother, his own Mate, and they

would just have to deal with it, how she would go and see her mother after the knowledge of what had

truly happened she didn’t know, but knew she would have to.

“No, not yet, but I will go if that is what you want.”

She just stared at him until he sighed and then walked away.

Turning back to the triplets, she found all of their eyes on her, “Are you mad, mum?” Nate asked.

“Not really, just disappointed in something your grandpa did, is all. I’ll get over it. I suppose, might take

a few days.”

“ls Auntie Rae-Rae here yet?” Rosalie piped up.

That got her attention. How did they know Rae-Rae was here? “Actually yes she is, in the main house,

but how did you know about that?”

“That man who talked to us yesterday, asked if we’d like Auntie Rae-Rae to come here,” she answered

back without thinking about it.

“What man?” she asked, but could hazard a guess.

“Said his name was Nathan,” Lilly answered. ” He’s in some of the pictures in your room.”

Jay-la ran her hand over her face. Is that what he had been about to say when Jackson interrupted him

this morning? She knew they had seen his picture but had no idea he had spoken to them. “When

exactly did this happen?”

“Just after we talked to Grandma Lauren and Grandpa Tony,” Nate answered.

“It was snowing outside, we showed them” Lilly piped up.

“Showed them?”

“Yep, that man, Ethan, said we could call him uncle Ethan if we liked. You wouldn’t mind, video called

them, they wanted to talk to us. Check on us” Rosalie smiled at her, he’s nice, mummy play games with

us and Grandpa.”

Right so she still didn’t know everything that had happened, Nathan had clearly seen and spoken to

them already, she sighed. Not much she could do about it now.

He’d apparently been about to tell her too.

“Who is he?” Nate asked, his question clear and direct.

Jay-la recalled the way he had looked at the photo of him, he was staring right at her, his green eyes

demanding her to answer him, a small smile touched her l!ps, his alpha gene’s were too bl00dy strong

even at five he was trying to assert his dominance and demand answers, and he didn’t even know what

he really was, or the power he would hold later in life, he was likely going to be an Alpha not be

reckoned with.

“Your father:” she said simply, looking right back at him, she had never truly lied to them, just declined

to tell them the whole truth. Now it was out, what would they think?

They were all silent, both the twins staring at her with their mouths open in shock.

Nate didn’t really say anything, he’d clearly already figured it out and just wanted to hear it from her.

“He is here, and he wants to meet you today. How would you feel about that?”

The girls looked a !little nervous, but Nate appeared almost emotionless on the subject, for such a

happy boy, she didn’t like it. “Why now?” he suddenly asked.

“He just found out about the three of you, I never told him,” short and to the point, truthful.

She could see he was thinking about it. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m sure it will be fine to

wait a few days, but..”

“He’s like you, with a wolf?” Nate asked.

“Yes…actually this is his pack we are in, he is known as the Alpha. He is in-charge of all other wolves

in the pack.

Jay-la noted that both her daughters were holding hands and watching the conversation between her

and him.

“Do you girls want to ask anything?”

They both shook their heads indicating no, Nate was more then covering what they wanted to ask in

other words, they might not be just like him, but they were ail in sync most of the time, the bond

between the three of them was strong and they could often ask questions directly after each other and

not interrupt the flow or topic. It had been a little unnerving at first, but she had gotten used to it.

“What does Kora think?” he asked, surprising her completely.

She felt Kora pushing forward so she could see them, speak with them You should meet him” she told

them “his wolf, wants to meet you too. Very eager to meet his children.”

She stayed on the surface and watched them absorb the news along with Jay-la.

Whatever he wants, the girls will follow: Kora told Jay-la.

I know, they always follow his lead.

Kora chortled Typical behaviour for Alpha siblings.

‘Mm I know’

Their conversation was interrupted by her father mind-linking her, “Jay-la your mother is awake and

asking to see you.”

“Fine, on my way.” she severed the link. Stood up, looked down at the triplets, “your grandma is awake,

let’s go see her:” She would not deny her mother the chance to see her grandchildren. That was a guilt

she could not survive again if something actually did happen to her and her children had the right to

know her as well.

The Alpha could wait, she still didn’t want to deal with him yet. Kora was instantly annoyed with her for

not wanting to be with their Mate yet. She had fully accepted him, and couldn’t understand why Jay-la

hadn’t. Didn’t like that she was still trying to resist him or keep her distance.

Jay-la ignored her feeling of annoyance for the moment, it had barely been a few hours of realisation

and she was still awfully confused about somethings, including when he knew and why he hadn’t told

her right away. She wanted that cleared up before she made any concrete plans. He had either lied to

her or didn’t want her when he had realised.

She wanted to know which it was, regardless of the fact that his wolf was not going to let go of Kora,

had wanted her without question. She had no idea of Nathan’s motives at all.

His feelings on the subject…

Her mother, Vera sat in her hospital bed. Her wounds were healing well now that lvy was back. She

smiled right at Jay-la and reached out her arms to hug her daughter. Even though Jay-la was

disappointed in her actions, she could not deny the need to hug her mother and feel her embrace. She

stepped into it and hugged her back.

“I’m not happy with you, but we’ll get to that later l suppose,” she spoke softly into her mother’s ear.

Then pulled herself back and introduced her to the triplets. Her mother seemed completely taken

aback. Her father had clearly not told her, perhaps he thought Jay-la would like to do it herself.

She watched as her mother’s eyes widened in complete shock, as she looked at them, then she was

out of bed in a flash to hug them all in one big hug, squishing them altogether and telling them how

much she loved them, and that they should call her Grandma. Are they the Alphas?” Vera asked.

‘Yes’

She saw her eyes move to her questioningly ‘does he know?’

‘Does now’ she shrugged.

‘Has he met them?

‘Not officially, that is up to them.

l guess fair enough, considering the circumstances around your leaving and all!’ it appeared her mother

was actually on her side, despite what she had done.

Jay-la felt today was going to be a long day. She was really tired to be honest, hadn’t slept all night,

and was emotionally drawn out from having found out the Alpha, a man she’d believed for the past 6

years, hated her, was now her Mate, she is second chance Mate. She wondered what happened to

Sophia? Made a point to remember to ask him.

She needed a lot of answers from him.

But you wont reject him. Kora stated flatly.

Jay-la sighed was silent for a moment ‘No Kora, I will not, if he is honest with me, actually wants me.

He does: Kora stated simply. Your so sure of that!’

Yes, you can’t deny my bond with Havoc, and his wolf feels what he feels’ Kora replied. ‘you always

loved him, even after he banished us, I know this. You can’t hide your feelings from me.’

Jay-la sighed, her wolf was not wrong on that account, she had just been so scared for her children

that she had pushed herself to be their protector at all times, to allow nothing and no one to come to

hurt them, not even him or his mate.

Her fear of Sophia’s retribution if she ever found out was real. No Luna would stand for bastard children

trying to claim what was her children’s birth right. She bit her l!p, wondered, did he have children with

Sophia? Alpha Blaine had told her Sophia was gone, but that didn’t mean there weren’t children

running around. Just one more thing to ask him, perhaps she should make a list and just hand it to him,

let him answer in whatever order he saw fit.

She was in the pack house headed for the laundry to find suitable clothing for the triplets. They were all

looking around at the pack house. Stephen had walked over to her the minute she walked into the pack

house and smiled at her. “how are you feeling?” he asked her. She could hear the concern in his voice.

“You’re all bastards, do you know that?” she shot at him. Knowing he would understand her meaning.

He laughed “yes…but that’s okay’ his Gamma Charm fell over her and his southern accent fell out of

his mouth, she punched him-hard in the arm and he burst out laughing sorry Jay-la, I did want to tell

you but was under orders not to. You’ll need to speak to him about why, but he had his reasons. I

personally would have just sedated you and dumped you right in his bed, boom, problem solved” he

grinned.

“You think so, huh?”

“Yep.” he nodded, “on the topic, Suzzy, could you call her and have her come here to assist with the

pups?”

Jay-la stopped walking down the hallway, turned to look at him. “Why?” but she wasn’t so dumb, no

wolf would just ask for a human to be brought here for no reason, and the stupid boyish grin on his face

told her she knew the reason.

Well, thank the goddess she had insisted on Suzzy not letting them in the apartment that day, he might

have bl00dy se*duced her.

“She’s my mate.” he shrugged, but couldn’t wipe that stupid grin off his face. then handed her her

phone, surprisingly.

First Rae-Rae and now Suzzy, poor women had no idea what they were in for.

“Where are you going?” he suddenly asked her.

“Well, I have no winter clothing appropriate for the children” she indicated the three of them wearing

oversized adult jackets. “so I figured the Pack Laundry would have some in the lost and found!”

He shook his head. “No, that won’t do. Come on. Alpha has been preparing for your arrival for weeks

now. The pups are already enrolled in school, just no start date I believe, and their rooms are all set up

and though I was not here, my Luna was with you, the whole time. He has likely gone ahead and

prepared clothing for them, as well as you, I’m sure.

Come, let’s go up and see.” he grabbed onto her arm and turned her to head back the way they came.

“What, wait…I don’t want to go up there.”

Stephen laughed “Oh yes you do…and I know Kora definitely does.” he turned to tease her lightly.

Just great Kora was already excited, wagging her tail and prancing happily inside Jay-la’s mind at the

thought of being in her Mate’s room. He called to the children and they ran towards them, catching up

to him.

“Stephen,” she warned him.

“What! you think you can get past my Charm..” he laughed softly “| dare you to try,” he teased her

playfully. As he punched the elevator button and they stood waiting for it.

“Where is he?” she asked nervously. She had made the decision to accept him and this would be the

first time coming across him since then. Goddess knows Kora was crazy happy with her, and excited

that finally she and Nathan would mark and mate each other, which would give her access to her mate

via the mind-link.

“Haven’t seen him this morning. I crashed out after Havoc ran off to find Kora. You, my dear, are an

emotional mess and exhaust me to no end.”

“Sorry about that.”

He shrugged, “comes with the job.” They stepped into the elevator and rode it up the five floors.

She found Luna Darla and Alpha Blaine standing not far from the elevator, clearly expecting them. Both

their eyes fell on the triplets right away as they stepped out and onto the floor.

She watched as Alpha Blaine’s eyes glazed over for a few seconds, then he refocused on the children.

Could she introduce them to his parents before him? He was the Alpha. She had no idea what the

protocol was here, but clearly Alpha Blaine and Luna Darla didn’t seem to care much, as they walked © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

over towards them.

To her surprise, Luna Darla sank down on her knees and introduced herself and her Mate to the triplets

right away, no hesitation at all, clearly she didn’t care what Nathan might think about it. Her interest was

in meeting her grandchildren, that much was clear. The triplets looked up at her for confirmation and

she simply nodded at them.

She saw him appear in the hallway, stepped out of the Alpha Suite, he was running his hands through

his blonde hair, was trying to smooth it over. He was wearing blue jeans and a white tee-shirt that was

well fitted and showed off his ch3st muscles, as well as his abdomen. She could see the outline of his

eight-pack. Wow, he’d only had a six-pack last time she’d been with him, he was barefoot and there

was stubble on his chin, he honestly looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, and thrown on whatever

was closest to him.

When her eyes met his, there was a smile on his face, and she realised he’d seen her take him in from

head to toe, damn it stupid Mate Bond. She heard Kora chuckle inside her head ‘our Mate is hot: Jay-la

shook her head and tried to stop the blush that was creeping up her face at being caught checking him

out. How embarrassing.

He walked right over to her, the triplets were all staring at him, he smiled down at them, bl00dy hell how

was she supposed to keep her senses about her when he smiled like that, she’d forgotten how much

his smile could affect her.

Had buried her feelings for him for so darn long that some of them were actually forgotten, but now

they were coming back in full force due to the Mate Bond.

Being this close to him, after making the decision to accept him was not helping her, she was being

drawn to him and she really did want answers before being se*duced by him.

Kora chortled in her mind, ‘Mark and Mate, then get answers.

“No, I need answer’s Kora.I know we want him, but too much stuff to ignore. I’m sorry I know you want

full access to your mate, but please…”

Kora huffed ‘fine.

She refocused on the people around her to find Nathan staring right at her. He had probably asked her

a question, she realised but she had been talking with Kora and had not been listening. So used to

them being on their own that she had just tuned everything out like she always did, giving Kora her full

and undivided attention.

“Sorry, did you ask something?”

“What brings you this way?”

Her eyes turned to the children who were all still staring at him, “um, well I wasn’t coming up here but

Stephen kind of dragged me.”

“Mum says your our father,” Lilly said quietly. She had a hand on his jeans on his knee, tugging at it to

get his attention.

Jay-la bit her l!p and watched as his eyes moved to the small girl in front of him. She was staring up at

him and even Jay-la could see the look of hope in her daughters’ eyes.

They would feel a connection to him as they had with her father, it would likely be pretty instant,

especially with him being the Alpha.

She watched as he hunkered down and smiled at her, Yes sweetheart, I am your father, now let me

see.. which one are you?” his head tilted to the side and his eyes narrowed, as if to really look at her.

Jay-la watched as Rosalie hurriedly stepped up to stand next to her twin sister. They were identical and

the girls were clearly wondering if he could tell the difference between them. She had no idea if he

knew which girl was which, was a bit curious herself if he could tell them apart. Lilly was the more

brazen whereas Rosalie was a little reserved, but if you didn’t know that you wouldn’t be able to tell

them apart, Jay-la and Kora could pick them by the inflection in their voices and their scents were

different, though not by much.

He looked from one to the other for a full minute then tapped Lilly right on her cute button nose. You

are Lilly, I believe.”

The squeal that peeled out of her in her excitement and joy that he knew which child she was, was ear

piercing, even Kora whined and shook her head. She watched as both her girls jumped on him in their

excitement that their father could tell them apart even though he’d never met them before. He laughed

out loud and hugged them to him, as they knocked him off balance and he fell backwards onto his

backside.

Jay-la watched him close his eyes as he hugged them, felt tears well up in her own eyes and had to

turn her head to look away from the scene before her. It was something she had always dreamed

about, but never ever dared to let herself believe would ever happen. It pulled at all her heartstrings, to

see him accept them so readily. She felt a hand on her back and knew it was Stephen breath”, he

whispered to her through the mind-link.

Oh, this was going to be more difficult than she thought.

She took a moment to pinch the bridge of her nose and gain her composure, blink away the tears that

were threatening to spill down her face, it took a good 30 seconds and she had to breathe her way

through it. When her eyes finally moved back to them, he was looking right at her, concern written all

over his stupid handsome face. She waved him off, not trusting her voice. If she had to talk to him it

might just break her resolve and she was still mad at him.

She watched as he popped the girls back on to their feet and turned to look at his son. Nate was

standing there with his arms folded over his ch3st, he wasn’t going to be so easily won over. Jay-la

thought that’s my boy, get your stubbornness from me. Nathan got up off his backside and hunkered

before Nate, extended his hand “you have looked after your sisters very well.”

“Someone had to.” the boy shot at him and turned and walked away to stand next to his mother. His

tiny hand reached up into hers and his grip was very tight.

Nathan dropped his hand, sighed softly and stood up.

There wasn’t much he was going to be able to do about it.

Nate would come around only when he was ready.

Nathan’s eyes moved to her, “you said Stephen made you?”

“She was headed for the laundry to find winter clothes in the lost and found for the children,” he

shrugged.

“Oh! Well, that I can fix that,” he nodded to Stephen.

“Jay-la, if you and the children come this way, I have made sure already, they will want for nothing.”

She wanted to yell at him about what right he had to do that, but Kora was warning her not to in her

mind, he was trying to show her that he had already accepted them.

Both girls ran up to him, taking a hand each and smiled brightly up at him, willing to go wherever he

wanted to take them. Already accepted him just like that, Alpha bl00d’s she shook her head.

Found he was watching her with a raised eyebrow, she didn’t say anything, better to keep her mouth

shut lest she piss off Kora, heck she would wind up marked by Havoc if Kora got really mad at her. So

she just motioned for him to lead the way.

She followed him with Nate holding onto her hand tightly. The boy didn’t know what to make of the

situation.

She hesitated at the doors to the Alpha Suite, did she even want to be in there, he would have been in

here with Sophia and she didn’t want to think about that woman. He noted her hesitation and said “you

can leave the room anytime you like Jay-la.”

He was standing just inside the doors. He had pushed them both open. She noted it was very neat, all

black and white, white walls and white rugs on dark hardwood flooring, with black furniture, even the

lamps were black and white, there was a large mirror over a fireplace and several doors off the room.

She had a vague memory of the Alpha Suite but it didn’t look like this in her mind. She had no idea

where all those doors went.

“It was mum and dad’s suite until about a year ago, they moved out and into a smaller suit, seeing as

it’s just them and Halley, now. And I renovated to make more room. So it doesn’t look like you would

recall from your childhood.”

“Whose Halley?” she asked, not knowing the name.

He laughed softly, and a shiver ran down her spine. It was deep, gravelly and filled with amusement

‘My little sister, actually, she’s 5, same age as our babies.”

‘Our babies’ Kora was suddenly purring at him. So loud he could hear it, they all could.

Jay-la frowned and rubbed her ch3st. But Kora wouldn’t stop, just eased off to a mere hum.

Nathan chuckled again “I think Kora likes it when I say that,” his tone was light and a little playful to her

ears.

“You said you could fix the clothing issue,” Jay-la changed the subject, trying to ignore how his laugh

was starting to affect her. The longer she was in his presence the harder it was going to be for her to

resist him to get her answers.

“Yes I did!” he walked past her off to her left, and pushed through a door. There were several other

doors down the long corridor. She counted 6.

“Bedrooms, three of which I have set up for our children, of course, if they don’t like it they may make

changes at will.”

He stepped through the door and pointed to the second and third doors. ” Girls go check out your

rooms. they ran off screaming with excitement. His eyes moved to Nate. “This one is yours, son.” he

indicated to the first door.

Jay-la noted that each door actually had their names on them, she watched him let go of her hand and

walk over to it and push the door open. Jay-la followed him into the room.

The twins, it appeared from all the yelling and squealing she was hearing, were completely happy

about their rooms.

Nate’s room had a large bed against the back wall, with light blue bedding and there was a desk off the

left of the bed, over by the window, along with a school bag and uniform draped over the back of a

chair.

He had his own bathroom and large walk-in closet which stood open, she could see it was filled with

clothing, to the right side of the bed was a sitting area with bean bags, a TV up on the wall, a couple of

gaming consoles were set up and there was a remote on the small table which told him he had access

to pay TV, and there in the corner was a small fridge and a shelf full of snacks.

He was walking around touching things. He had never had a room like this before, “If you want to

change anything.

“Son, you can.”

Jay-la froze. She hadn’t realised just how close Nathan was to her, she had been looking around and

watching Nate’s reaction to realise that Nathan was standing almost directly behind her. It was only

when he spoke did she realise it.

She glanced at him, her eyes met his. He was no more than a foot away, and his deep dark blue eyes

were on her, and he was looking at her almost as he used to, with desire burning in them. She

swallowed hard and took a hasty step away, further into the room before she was sucked into them and

unable to move away.

He smiled right at her, ‘do you want to see our room?’ he asked softly, through the mind-link, his voice

had deepened quite a lot and his undertone was all sedu*ction.

Her eyes widened in shock at his suddenly sed*uctive tone, which only made his smile deepen, ‘no’

she shook her head a little bit terrified and little bit excited at the same time. She turned and walked

clear across the room to get away from him, the damned Mate Bond that was becoming harder by the

minute to resist.

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