Page 11 of Captivated By Alphas 1, Fated (The Blood Moon Chronicle #4)

His panther preened beneath his skin, displaying for their mate with shameless pride.

In the wild, the strongest, most virile male won the right to mate—and Jace’s beast was determined to prove its superiority in every possible way.

The water accentuated his golden skin, highlighting the power coiled in every muscle, making it impossible to look away.

“Looking for me?” he asked, voice pitched low and intimate, as though they were sharing a secret.

His eyes, which had briefly flashed gold before he controlled them, tracked every minute reaction in Eli’s body—the sudden dilation of those extraordinary pupils, the parting of lips to draw in more oxygen, the subtle shift in stance as his body unconsciously responded to the display before him.

The wave of arousal that emanated from Eli was so potent that Jace nearly groaned aloud, his nostrils flaring as he drank in the intoxicating scent.

Sweet and sharp beneath the winter purity, it called to something primal in him, confirming what his panther already knew—his mate wanted him, desired him, was physically responding to him despite his obvious confusion and embarrassment.

He wants us, his panther crowed triumphantly. His body knows what his mind doesn’t yet understand. OURS.

Jace allowed his gaze to linger on Eli’s face, noting with satisfaction the way his pulse visibly fluttered at the base of his throat, the way his chest rose and fell with quickened breaths, the way his fingers tightened on the doorframe as though needing physical support.

His mate was affected, beautifully so, and Jace’s panther rumbled with pleasure at the knowledge.

“I, uh—” Eli’s voice faltered, his eyes betraying him with a quick downward glance that sent heat coursing through Jace’s veins. The brief but unmistakable appreciation in that glance was more gratifying than any Hollywood accolade. “The cleaning supplies?”

“I moved them,” Jace said, making absolutely no move to close the shower door or cover himself.

Water continued to stream down his body, highlighting every muscle, every line, every inch of what his panther was offering.

He shifted slightly, causing water to cascade over his chest in a way that drew attention to the defined ridges of his abdomen, a deliberate tactic that had Eli’s scent spiking again. “Didn’t want them getting wet. Again.”

He paused, enjoying the way Eli struggled to maintain eye contact, the charming flush that crept up his neck to stain his cheeks.

In Hollywood, Jace was accustomed to being desired—it was currency in his world—but this was different.

This was pure, unfiltered attraction, not to his fame or fortune but to him as a man, as a mate. His panther reveled in it.

“They’re under the sink,” he added, voice dropping another octave.

“But I have to say, I’m rather enjoying this interruption.

” He ran a hand through his wet hair, the movement deliberately slow and sensual, knowing exactly how it would showcase the flex of his bicep, the stretch of his torso. “Your timing is impeccable.”

“Right. Smart. Good thinking.” Eli was babbling again, his eyes desperately trying to find somewhere safe to land and failing spectacularly.

The way they kept returning to Jace’s body despite his obvious effort to look elsewhere was endearing and arousing in equal measure. “I’ll just… get them and go.”

“Or,” Jace suggested, letting the word hang between them like a dangerous promise, “you could join me instead. The water pressure is excellent.” He gestured to the spacious shower behind him, large enough for two—or more—with multiple showerheads and built-in benches.

“Your cleaning job was very thorough, but perhaps you’d like to inspect your work more… intimately?”

Yes, his panther urged. Bring him to us. Get him wet. Get our scent all over him.

The look on Eli’s face was everything Jace’s panther could have hoped for—shock warring with temptation, mortification battling with desire.

His scent was a complex symphony of contradictions—winter purity laced with the heat of unmistakable arousal, embarrassment tangled with curiosity.

His mate wanted him, even if he wasn’t ready to admit it.

“Join—? I— What—?” The stammered response sent a surge of satisfaction through Jace. This wasn’t the practiced flirtation of Hollywood socialites or the calculated seduction of co-stars seeking publicity. This was raw, genuine attraction—all the more powerful for its authenticity.

Jace laughed, the sound bouncing off the marble walls. His panther was thoroughly enjoying this dance of seduction, this game of pursuit that had only just begun. “Your face right now is priceless,” he said, softening the moment with humor while still maintaining the electric tension between them.

“I’m just— I wanted to finish… the shower,” Eli stammered, then realized how that sounded. “Cleaning! Finish cleaning the shower!”

“It’s perfectly clean,” Jace assured him, running a hand through his wet hair again in a deliberately sensual gesture that his panther knew would draw Eli’s eyes to the flex of muscle, the water running down his chest. “But if you’re concerned about your professional reputation, feel free to inspect it. From inside, perhaps?”

He watched as Eli processed this invitation, drinking in the visual cues his enhanced senses detected—the slight dilation of those extraordinary eyes, the quickened breaths, the subtle shift in stance.

His mate’s scent was intoxicating—arousal and confusion and disbelief all mingling together.

Clearly, Eli couldn’t comprehend why someone like Jace would be interested in him.

That misconception would need to be corrected, thoroughly and repeatedly.

“I think I’ll pass,” Eli managed finally, though his scent betrayed his interest. “But thanks for the offer. Very… hospitable of you.”

“Hospitality is a Carmichael family value,” Jace replied, his eyes gleaming with predatory intent that he barely disguised as mischief.

He shifted again, water sluicing down the defined planes of his abdomen, drawing Eli’s gaze downward despite his obvious effort to maintain eye contact.

“The offer stands. For the shower or…” His gaze flickered deliberately to Eli’s lips, lingering just long enough to make his intention clear.

“…anything else you might need. Anytime.”

His panther practically roared with triumph at the bold invitation, at the clear signal that had been sent. This wasn’t just flirtation—this was a declaration of intent, a promise of pleasures to come if Eli chose to accept them.

Eli backed toward the door, his face flushed, his heartbeat racing loud enough for Jace to track without effort. “I’ll just… get those supplies later. Enjoy your shower. Not that you need my permission. It’s your shower. I’ll stop talking now.”

Jace’s laugh followed Eli out the door again—a sound of genuine amusement tinged with the satisfaction of a predator who knows the chase had only just begun.

He waited until he heard the rapid footsteps retreat down the hall before stepping back under the spray, a smile playing on his lips that would have terrified any Hollywood director who saw it.

It was too raw, too real, too revealing of the predator beneath the polish.

He turned the water temperature down, needing the cold to temper the fire in his blood.

His body still thrummed with need, with the primal urge to pursue his mate down the hallway and finish what they’d started.

But patience would yield sweeter rewards.

The hunt had begun, and Jace was a predator who knew how to stalk his prey.

Soon, he promised his panther. We’ll make him ours soon.

His panther had found their mate. And what a delightful, beautiful, adorably flustered mate he was. After five years away, Jace had finally returned home—and found something far more valuable than he’d expected.

The summer at the Carmichael estate had just become infinitely more interesting. And his panther would not be denied for long.