Page 52 of Jace's Mate
That damn humming.She always hummed when she cooked—something soft and annoying, like a song only she could hear.The silence now felt wrong.Too deep.Too still.
Even the usual murmurs from his betas were absent.
His chest tightened.
He rushed down the creaky basement stairs, his boots echoing off the concrete.Relief hit him in a wave when he saw three of his men sprawled across cots, snoring.He remembered now—he’d sent them out last night, digging for more information on the East Coast Alpha, hoping to uncover weaknesses, something to exploit.
They were still filthy, still armed, and completely passed out.
Wilton crept closer, about to kick the nearest cot.Then he stopped.
No.Let them sleep.
Did he really want them to know he’d lost their source of income and the only person who knew how to cook?
Anikka was the glue keeping his operation together.Her cooking kept the men loyal.Her presence made the house tolerable.If they knew she’d run, they might take their loyalty—and her scent—straight to the East Coast Alpha.
No.This was his problem to fix.
Wilton clenched his fists, trembling with rage.And fear.
He’d shift.He’d hunt her down himself.He’d drag her back—by her hair if he had to.And once she was home, he’d make damn sure she never defied him again.
He would beat the defiance right out of her.
Chapter 16
“What’sgoingon?”Anikkaasked, her eyes scanning the quiet, shadowed forest.The sun had dipped below the horizon moments ago, leaving behind streaks of rose and deep indigo painted across the sky.She’d ridden in a town car with Jace, and now they stood at the edge of a clearing behind a long line of sleek, black vans.Dozens of people spilled out, their laughter and murmurs blending into the whisper of wind through tall pines and the faint rustle of animals bedding down for the night.
She crossed her arms, eyebrows raised as she took in the loose semi-circle the group was forming.“Why are they all just standing there?”
Jace stood beside her, hands relaxed at his sides, the picture of calm authority.“They’re waiting for me to give the signal,” he said, his voice low but steady.There was pride in his tone as he scanned the gathered shifters—men and women of every age and background, unified by instinct and loyalty.The faint golden scent of pine mingled with the rich earthy smell of moss and the remnants of rain.Beneath it all, he could already detect the shift in pack energy—anticipation, joy, and something more electric.
The moment they’d scented Anikka, the mood had changed.Curious murmurs had rippled through the crowd, heads turning her way with widened eyes and reverent surprise.The whispers turned to smiles.Then a few soft howls, subtle at first, began echoing back and forth in welcome.
They knew.
The bond between him and Anikka was no longer a secret.The pack had scented his mate, and their acceptance was instant, instinctual, and complete.
Off to the side, three younger wolves lingered—Boyd, Stephan, and Jimmy.The teens had arrived earlier, staying close to each other as if forming their own pack of three, unsure of their place in the larger group.Their jeans were new but already dusty.Their hands stayed buried in their pockets.They scuffed the dirt with the toes of their sneakers, watching the others but not quite engaging.
Jace moved toward them, the ground soft beneath his boots.As he approached, the forest seemed to hush.A night bird cried overhead.The faint, metallic scent of river water drifted in from the east.And behind it all, the charged weight of moonlight began to settle in, heralding the coming run.
The boys tensed as he neared, but didn’t back away.
“Do any of you have a job yet?”he asked, his tone calm but firm.
They blinked at him.Boyd’s mouth opened, but it was Stephan who squared his shoulders and answered, “No, Alpha.We… uh… don’t really know where we’re supposed to go.”
Jace nodded once.“After tonight’s run, you’ll eat dinner, then sleep.Tomorrow morning, report to the docks.I’ve arranged for one of my foremen to train you on how to load and unload cargo.If you don’t like it, you don’t have to stay.But it’ll give you a place to start.”
The boys looked at one another, their surprise unspoken but plain.Stephan’s jaw twitched like he didn’t trust the offer.Jimmy’s brow furrowed.Boyd looked ready to cry but was trying to act tough.
Jace stepped closer, resting a solid hand on Boyd’s shoulder.“No one will abuse you here.Not on my territory.My pack protects our own.”
He looked at each of them in turn, voice steady.“If you ever feel unsafe, you come to me.No questions asked.Understand?”
Boyd gave a jerky nod, still staring at the ground.Jimmy swallowed hard and nodded too.Stephan hesitated, eyes darting between his friends and Jace.But eventually, he gave a single, solemn nod.“Thank you, Alpha,” he said, the words quiet but strong.“We’ll take the jobs.”
