Page 67 of Jace's Mate
“I don’t know.”She stared down at the table, frowning in thought.
Mary leaned forward.“If he was able to command you like that, then he’s probably an Alpha.”
Anikka pictured Jace.Then Uncle Wilton.The two men couldn’t have been more different.“No,” she said with a quick shake of her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips.“Uncle Wilton and Jace are complete opposites.”
Averil smiled.“There’s a tone that Alphas use.When they speak with it, pack members can’t help but obey.It’s… biological.Alphas are powerful leaders.”
Anikka stiffened, her expression tightening.She thought of all the times her uncle had given her cold, sharp directives she’d felt powerless to resist.“I don’twantto be with a powerful man.After what I went through with my uncle, I’d rather be with someone more…” She trailed off, the right word just out of reach.
The other women chuckled gently, each one shaking her head.
“What?”Anikka asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Nature has different plans for you,” Mary said with a kind, sympathetic smile.
The others nodded, but Anikka only grew more frustrated.Beneath the table, her hands curled into fists.“I’m sick of being told what to do.I wantchoices.”
“The choice is made,” Averil said softly, but firmly.
Anikka turned her glare on the beautiful woman with the soft blue eyes and long dark hair.“Why can’t I choose?”
“Youhavechosen,” Averil replied, her voice calm.
Sarah jumped in with a smile.“You know how clouds fill with water, and then the rain just… falls?”
Mary leaned forward.“Or how a fox instinctively knows how to find a rabbit warren?”
“Yes,” Anikka said slowly, frowning.“What does that have to do with Jace and me?”
“Our point is,” Sarah explained, “Nature has a way of aligning things perfectly.She pairs two people together because she knows what bond will work best.”
Sarah giggled.“And in your case, Mother Nature’s decided that you’re a strong, powerful she-wolf.Theonlyman who can handle that is Jace.”
That particular compliment mollified Anikka a little.But not entirely.After a lifetime of being ordered around by a domineering uncle, she still wanted freedom more than anything.
“What if I wanted to choose one of those other men?I barely know them, but they seem to be—”
“No!”The other three women spoke at once, voices sharp and united.
Anikka recoiled slightly, startled by their intensity.“Why not?”
Averil’s brows drew together, her expression suddenly serious.“Because…” She seemed to search for the right words.“It just won’t work.Their scents would repel you if you tried.”
Anikka paused, studying their faces—and sensed it.Jealousy.A flicker of possessiveness in their eyes that hadn’t been there a moment ago.The same women who had just been warm and welcoming now looked suddenly tense.
Instinct—or maybe intuition—told her she’d just stepped on a deeply territorial nerve.
She offered a small, knowing smile.“I understand.”And she did.At least aboutthem.Each one of these women clearly wanted one of those three betas.The same betas who’d offered to help her earlier.
“So you’ll give Jace a chance?”Mary asked, looking hopeful.
Anikka shrugged.“How about I promise to stay away from the betas?”She poked at a pile of fresh berries.“You’re right.They don’t smellnearlyas good as Jace.But that doesn’t mean someone else won’t come along who smells even better.”
“That won’t happen,” Sarah assured her.“Jace is your mate.Nature decided that long before you met him.It was obvious the moment we saw you—and you knew it the moment you caught his scent.There’s something in the pheromones that links the two of you.”
Mary grinned.“You can try to fight it.”
Averil leaned back and smirked.“And we’ll enjoy the show.”
