Page 193 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

A rumble of agreement rippled through the crowd, but Jace was just getting started.

“For too long, we sat back, knowing what kind of person Eren was. We all knew, every alpha and every beta. We didn’t want to rock the boat. No one wanted a shifter war. No one wanted to be the one to light that fuse. I am ashamed of myself,” Jace said, jamming a thumb into his chest. “So I know many of you are ashamed of yourselves, too. Here, on this ground, I tell all of you to throw aside that shame. Remember who you are. Remember that we have honor and we understand right from wrong. Victory is the only option, and together, we will take Eren down. Every person here, from this day forward, can consider themselves a brother and sister of the Crestwood Pack.

“I will stand beside you if and when Eren decides to attack one of us. If he attacks one of us, then he attacks all of us. After what I’ve seen this week? His men will rue the fucking day their alpha decided to screw with us.”

The crowd erupted in applause and hoots of excitement. The sound did something to Jace’s confidence and pride, pushing his alpha aura out in a majestic way. It cascaded over me, mingling with my inner magic, making it sing like a gong in my chest and head. It made me dizzy and excited, and my skin flushed. A giddy feeling fluttered through me, almost like I was tipsy.

Once the crowd had settled down, Jace climbed off the truck, shaking hands left and right as everyone tried to have a word with him—thanking him, complimenting him, and letting him know how glad they were to be included in the alliance. I stood off to the side, watching Jace bask in the glow of the others’ adoration.

Eventually, Flynn pulled him aside for a quiet word. “Jace, thank you for everything,” he said.

“No thanks needed,” Jace replied. “This is about all of us, and it’s about stopping an evil son of a bitch.”

“Right, yeah.” Flynn glanced toward me. I could see he was uncomfortable, but he turned back to Jace. “I just wanted to tell you that if things work out the way we hope… well, uh… I want to be an alpha like you. I’ve never seen someone handle so much while staying true to himself and his people. I wanted you to know that.”

Jace looked at the bigger, more powerful man with a mixture of surprise and pride. He gripped Flynn’s shoulder. “It is going to work out. You can bet your ass on that. When it does, all you have to do is ask, and I’ll help you and your pack in any way I can.”

Flynn grinned. “Be careful. You might have me calling you at all hours for advice.”

“I’ll answer the phone no matter the time.”

When everyone had finally dispersed, Jace took my hand and led me back to the house. We didn’t speak, but energy crackled between us. We stole glances at one another and giggled like little kids. Something strange was happening. I could still sense his aura and my magic mingling. A heady dreaminess had settled over both of us.

Inside, Jace closed the door, then yanked me close, his lips crashing onto mine. I sighed into his mouth, feeling my magic yawn to life like a blossoming flower exposing itself to the heat of the sun. Something was different.

“I need you,” Jace murmured against my lips.

My voice caught in my throat, and all I could do was nod, an emphatic jerk of the head that told him what my mouth couldn’t. Take me. I want you. I need you, too.

Jace picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he took the stairs two at a time. He set me down inside his bedroom, then closed and locked the door. By the time he turned back around, I’d stripped down to my underwear. He stood, eyes locked on me as I undid my bra and slid my panties down. The look he gave me sent a shiver of lust through me. A steady, pleasurable ache radiated between my legs as I imagined what he’d do to me.

Keeping eye contact, he undressed, slowly sliding his shirt up over his head. Every item of clothing tossed aside was like a faint breath blowing on the fiery embers within my chest, feeding it to a roaring flame. My magic shimmered in my mind, sending me into a frenzy of desire. My fingers trembled, and I had to clasp them together to stop it.

At last, he stood before me naked, his body still holding a sheen of sweat from training. I had to remind myself to breathe as he stepped toward me. When his hand touched my hip, I gasped, and as it slid across my skin to cup my breast, a smile touched my lips. When he flicked his thumb across my nipple, I groaned. The energy between us crackled like static electricity.

“Kirsten,” Jace said as his fingers grazed my breasts, “I don’t think I can be gentle. I’m not sure I can hold back anymore.”

“What does that mean?” I whispered as I ran the tips of my fingers over his cock.

He closed his eyes and grinned. “That feels so good.” After a few moments, he opened them again and looked into my eyes, a piercing gaze that threatened to burrow all the way to my soul.

“What I mean is that I want to claim you. Make you mine.”

The words had a remarkable effect on my body. I was already wet, but now I was dripping, heat radiating out from between my legs across my entire body. My heart hammered in my chest. Being told someone wanted you forever was something everyone dreamed about. Hearing it from the mouth of the man I loved was even more intense than I’d thought it would be.

Jace pressed his forehead to mine. “Can I claim you?”

Stroking him, I gave an almost imperceptible nod. “Yes. I want to be your mate. Forever.”

A look of profound happiness washed across Jace’s face. That only lasted for an instant before the devouring hunger returned. His low growl vibrated through his body into mine.

He pushed me back onto the bed and climbed atop me. I did my best to keep from hyperventilating as my magic threatened to overwhelm me. Jace moved his mouth down the length of my throat to my collarbones, then let his lips graze my breasts before gliding his tongue across my nipples. I arched my back, aching to be filled, to have him thrust into me. The head of his cock grazed my clit, and I damn near came from just that alone.

“Look at me,” Jace whispered. “Look into my eyes. I want to see your face when I slide inside you.”

I gazed into his eyes as the tip of him pressed inside me.

He stopped. “When I start, I won’t be able to stop. I know I won’t.” The words came out in a tremble. “Are you okay?”

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