Page 16 of Jace’s Mate (East Coast Territory #1)

J ace knew the exact moment Anikka slipped into a deep, restful sleep.

Over the past hour, her answers had slowed, her words drifting into a soft murmur as she carefully, reluctantly, snuggled deeper against his chest. She’d stopped second-guessing her instincts somewhere between the second glass of wine and her third story about her strange, lonely childhood.

When she’d finally relaxed enough to accept him as a pillow, her voice had lost its careful edge. It was vulnerable. Unfiltered. Real.

Carefully, Jace removed the nearly empty wineglass from her fingers and placed it on the coffee table without a sound.

Then, with the ease of a man used to maneuvering people twice her size in battle, he shifted her slightly so her body fit more comfortably against his.

One of her curls tickled his chin. He didn’t brush it away.

He stayed awake for a while, reviewing what she’d told him.

Anikka had revealed small, interesting facts, nothing extraordinary—but when he put them all together, they formed a picture.

She didn’t think she was strong, but she was.

She didn’t realize how much she paid attention to people, or how quickly she could read others’ emotions.

That was a gift. She didn’t trust easily, but tonight, she’d trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms.

Jace didn’t take that gift lightly.

He also thought through what the teens had said.

All three of them had been kicked out of the Gufta Pack—for a silly prank against a bully.

That just didn’t make any sense. No Alpha worth his title exiled teenage boys for hiding alarm clocks.

Especially not when it was the Alpha’s own son doing the bullying.

That wasn’t discipline. That was cowardice pretending to be order.

And Jace didn’t tolerate cowards in power.

Or maybe it was something more. Something deeper and more corrosive?

His mind was already moving. If Gustov was kicking out pups for minor infractions, what else was he doing?

Who else was he abusing his authority over?

Jace made a mental note to send scouts out to gather more information.

Quiet ones. He’d dig until he uncovered what was really going on in that territory.

At some point, exhaustion must have overtaken him—because the next thing he registered was the soft chime of the elevator.

He came awake in an instant.

Every muscle in his body tensed as his eyes snapped open. The lights were still dim, and Anikka’s breath was warm against his chest. But something had changed. Something moved. He heard it—bare pads tapping on the tile. Not shoes. Not boots.

Claws.

Wolves.

Multiple.

He didn’t move yet. Not until he knew if they were enemies. His arms tightened fractionally around Anikka, ready to push her behind him if necessary, his body already shifting toward a defensive crouch.

But then the scent hit him.

He breathed in, steady and silent. Relief loosened the knot in his chest. It was them. The teenagers from earlier. Young and impressionable, still carrying the scent of street and fear—but something else had been added. Soap. Clean clothes. A full meal.

They were a part of his pack now.

He could hear the faint shuffle of their paws as they moved deeper into his loft. They were quiet—trying to be invisible. But they hadn’t scented him yet. That would have to be addressed. These three boys needed to learn a few more stealthy moves if they were going to survive in a fight.

An enemy would’ve already had all three of them bleeding on the floor.

Still, they padded toward his bed, expecting him there. But when they didn’t find him, he heard the moment one of them caught his scent and redirected.

Three furry heads turned toward the couch.

Jace didn’t move. He let them come.

When they reached the edge of the room, they hesitated for a heartbeat—then bowed, low and humble. One by one, they circled him and Anikka, taking up positions with slow, deliberate steps. Not challenging. Not threatening.

Guarding.

They’d come to protect their new Alpha. And his mate.

That gesture, silent and instinctive, hit Jace harder than anything else that day. They’d lost their Alpha, lost their place in the world—but they hadn’t lost their loyalty. Or their need to serve something greater than themselves.

Beside him, Anikka stirred. A sleepy hand patted his chest. The tips of her fingers brushed his skin through the fabric of his shirt, then curled back against him.

She’d heard them too.

She didn’t panic.

She didn’t question.

She simply drifted off again, trusting him, trusting them , and somewhere in that quiet moment, Jace let himself relax.

His wolves had come home. And so, it seemed…had his mate.