Page 20 of Jace’s Mate (East Coast Territory #1)

“W hat’s going on?” Anikka asked, 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.”

Jace inclined his head, a quiet promise in the gesture. “Good.” He clapped Boyd lightly on the shoulder again, then turned and walked back toward Anikka.

She was still standing at the edge of the clearing, the soft light of the rising moon brushing against her cheek. Her smile was hesitant but real. And when she looked at him, he saw it—the gleam of pride, of approval.

It hit him hard.

He hadn’t expected her opinion to matter so damn much. But it did.

And it felt damn good.

Remembering that they weren’t alone—and that he was still committed to his three-month plan to help Anikka grow comfortable in her new life as a shifter—Jace reined in his instinct to stare at her smile a moment longer.

Instead, he turned his attention outward, surveying the crowd gathered beneath the darkening sky.

Dozens of his pack members stood in loose clusters, several of them having heard his conversation with the new teens.

He didn’t need to say a word; his pack understood.

Every wolf there had registered the unspoken order— watch over them .

The boys weren’t just guests anymore. They were under Jace’s protection, which meant they were under everyone’s protection.

But the crowd was beginning to fidget, moving foot to foot, some already rolling their shoulders as if prepping for the shift. The electric anticipation built in the air like a storm brewing—sharp, wild, necessary. They needed this run. He felt it in his bones. They all did.

Jace tilted his head slightly, eyes flicking back to the trio of teens.

Something was off with them. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it—not fear, not aggression.

Just… unsettled. There were shadows in their eyes and a kind of coiled energy beneath their skin.

He didn’t know what haunted them yet, but he’d find out.

Until then, they needed two things: hard running and harder work. A full-body burn would drain the tension, and the satisfaction of earning their place come morning would give them pride and confidence. The docks would see to that. But tonight, the forest would do the rest.

He glanced toward Ragnor, standing a few paces away. His beta stood tall and still, eyes sharp and alert. When their gazes met, Ragnor gave a single, small nod—everything was in place.

Jace nodded back, the motion slight but sure. Good. It was time.

Still, he took one last precaution. He turned his back on the vans and cars and walked a few paces into the tree line, inhaling slowly.

The forest welcomed him with the scent of damp earth, pine needles crushed beneath heavy paws from their last run, the cool tang of water carried on a breeze from the distant river.

He listened. Crickets chirped in the brush.

An owl hooted deep in the trees. No unnatural movements.

No unfamiliar scents. No traces of silver or gunpowder or fear.

They hadn’t been followed. No hunters. No spies. Not tonight.

Running twice in such a short period of time was dangerous. But as he breathed in, Jace still didn’t scent any danger. Their prior run hadn’t alerted any hunters to a pack of wolves in the area.

Good. They were safe.

Turning back to his pack members, he nodded.