Jackson, The Alpha

He sat next to me on my swing allowing me as much space as possible. I turned slightly to look at him. "So... mates. What is that?" I asked.

He smiled a little and my heart flipped over. Why am I reacting like this? "That is part of the mate bond." He said softly, obviously hearing what I was wondering. I flushed. "I need to explain how I found you."

My eyes widened. What did he mean 'found her'? Before coming here, I very rarely left her small apartment in a small town in the next state. I worked from home for an insurance company and tried to stay to herself. My life had been chaotic and full of abuse in so many forms before I finally decided to take control and leave my oppressive life, family, and ex-fiance where they belonged. Squarely in the past. So, how had this man known where I was at that time? I had barely been living my knew life for a year and only bought this property and home a few months ago when someone bought a couple of my paintings for nearly five hundred thousand dollars. It was enough for me to start anew and I took advantage immediately.

Jackson let me ponder, quietly listening to my thoughts. He was being patient with me so I could sort through my emotions. When I had a flash of my ex choking me during an argument, He tensed beside me and growled, "Who is this man that hurt you? I will end him!"

My eyes snapped to his. "I thought you could only read the emotions unless I talk directly to you?"

He shook his head, "When you are feeling afraid, even in a memory, I will feel it." He explains. "I saw the memory because of the strong fear you had in that moment. You create very vivid mental pictures when you are feeling emotion deeply."

I looked away before he could see the tears spring to my eyes. He could see my fear, but my parents, siblings, and friends never could. Even after seeing the marks he would leave on me.

Jackson's growl became menacing and I flushed even more. I couldn't stop the images in my head, but I also couldn't stop the sadness and grief I felt over the reactions of other people who were supposed to protect and love me. Suddenly he is crushing me to him in a fierce embrace. I'm not alarmed by it, in fact, it's the most comforted I have ever felt. But I didn't want him to think that I was a weak woman who would stay with someone who abused her.

"I'm sorry you saw that." I whispered as I leaned into his chest. It just felt right, somehow. "I try not to think about it if at all possible."

He started stroking my hair and my whole body seemed to relax at his touch. "You never have to worry about them again." He told me softly. "If any of them approach you, they will not live to see another moment of life, only me and the pain I will bring them for daring to have hurt you."

I didn't say anything. I had left that world behind and I was sure none of them knew where I was. I had made sure of that. I had left at night when I knew John, my ex, was out with his friends and I packed everything into my tiny carolla and left. I had never returned. 

I didn't even call my family or 'friends' (which were really John's friends, since I wasn't allowed to have any) to let them know I was leaving because I already knew how they would react and I had had enough of their abuse too. I had finally gotten a life that was my own.

Jackson listened to all of this silently, then said. "As soon as I smelled your scent on those paintings, I knew you were my mate." He said quietly. "Your scent was all over them." He smelled my hair deeply. "Your scent is... It's everything. That's how we know who our mates are. As soon as we smell their scent, we are bound to you."