Page 26 of Jace’s Mate (East Coast Territory #1)

A s they stepped into the elevator, Anikka leaned against the wall, glaring at Jace and trying to ignore the throbbing ache that still pulsed through her body. For him? For a repeat of what they’d nearly done out in the field?

Yes!

The voice inside her head answered without hesitation, affirming that she wanted him—and only him—to do those wild, consuming things with her.

But decades of being taught to resist her body’s urges helped her step back from Jace’s warmth. Her uncle had drilled that lesson into her.

As soon as the thought popped into her mind, that voice snapped back, “Too well!”

It was hard to believe last night had even happened. The glorious sensation of running through the woods, the wind threading through her fur— fur! She’d literally transformed into a wolf!

How was that even possible?

To make matters more confusing, everyone else in that field had done the same.

Every single person who’d driven out to that clearing had stripped naked and transformed into…

wolves. Large and small, brown and black and gray—each one unique.

And they’d all run through the woods together, howling and sniffing the air for the most amazing scents.

And none of those scents had been as deliriously intoxicating as the wolf who had run beside her.

He’d nipped at her when she slowed, nudging her to keep going.

He’d helped her, encouraged her, guided her through the forest with a tenderness that didn’t match the commanding, gruff man standing next to her now.

“There’s food in the next room,” he said as they exited the elevator.

Anikka blinked, startled from her thoughts. A second later, she realized she wasn’t just hungry—she was starving.

Turning toward the door, she could already smell the ingredients. Not just the food, but the details of it—too much pepper in one dish, too much salt in another. Her senses had changed.

The others who had run with them last night were already there, their large plates piled high with food. The buffet table groaned under the weight of the spread—it was shocking the wood hadn’t snapped.

“Help yourself,” Jace said, handing her a plate that was larger than standard. She stared, dumbfounded—at the food, then the others—only to realize they were all staring back at her.

“Yes,” Jace called out, catching on. “She’s mine. My mate.”

The joy on everyone’s faces at his announcement was…unexpected. Why would they celebrate such a sexist claim?

“I am not!” she snapped. “I’m no one’s property!”

The room fell still.

“She doesn’t understand,” Jace said calmly. “But she will. Very soon.”

His guards— no, betas, she reminded herself—stepped forward. The tallest one, Ragnor, smiled kindly at her.

“He’s teasing you, Anikka,” Ragnor said. “It’s the way of a pack.” He looked to the two others flanking him, then back to her. “Sniff either of us.”

The suggestion horrified her. She actually took a step back. But before she could help it, their scents drifted toward her. And the smell was… wrong.

“Exactly,” the man on the right said, chuckling. “From this moment on, the only man who’ll tempt you is Jace. He’s our Alpha. And your Alpha.”

The beta to his right added, “We’re his seconds. If there’s ever anything you need, and you can’t find Jace, come to us. We’ll solve it.”

“I don’t…” she blinked, her plate still empty as she pressed it to her chest.

One of the women stepped forward. She looked to Jace, silently asking for permission. He’d been busy piling food onto his own plate, but he must have sensed the question because he glanced up at her, gave a single nod, then returned to selecting food.

“Why don’t you come with me?” the woman offered gently. “I can answer some of your questions.” Her voice was warm and reassuring. “I also have some clothes that might fit.” She smiled kindly. “I’m sure our Alpha’s shirt smells great, but maybe jeans would be more comfortable?”

Jace returned to Anikka’s side and plucked the empty plate from her hands, replacing it with one piled high with food—easily four times what she usually ate. “Go change and eat,” he ordered, chuckling when her eyes narrowed in irritation.

“This way,” the woman said, motioning toward a closed door.

Several other women stood and silently followed. The whole thing gave Anikka a mild “cult” vibe, and she didn’t like it. Not one little bit.

Still, she entered the room.

“Will these work?” someone asked.

Anikka looked up—and nearly swooned at the sight of the butter-soft jeans being held out to her.

“I’ve never worn jeans,” she whispered. The full plate was taken from her hands as she accepted the jeans, then hesitated. “Are there…?”

Another woman stepped forward, holding a bag filled with packaged panties. “These are from one of the big-box stores. I’m sure our Alpha will take you shopping for something pretty later, but pick any of these for now.”

Anikka sighed with unexpected relief as she selected a package of white cotton panties.

Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how exposed she’d felt.

Quickly, she slipped on the panties and jeans.

Someone brought out socks and sneakers, and she smiled gratefully at the teenage girl who handed them over with a shy grin.

Properly dressed now—with Jace’s oversized dress shirt tied neatly at her waist—she felt slightly better. More in control, at least.

Someone handed her a fork and a linen napkin. She accepted both with gratitude, even though she had no idea how she was going to eat all the food on that plate. Still, she didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Taking a seat at a smaller conference table, she started eating.

She tried to be delicate, aware she didn’t know these women and unsure of the social etiquette. But she was simply too hungry. The pain in her stomach gnawed at her.

“Go ahead,” one of the women said, smiling. “We understand. The hunger after a night run is brutal.” They all sat down with her. “We’ll tell you a few important things about pack life while you eat.”

“Why does everyone keep talking about packs?” Anikka asked, stabbing a meatball drenched in rich tomato sauce. It tasted even better than it smelled, and she closed her eyes, savoring the flavors.

“That’s our word for community,” one woman explained. “I’m Sarah. And this is Mary, and Averil. We’re members of your pack.”

Anikka looked around, then speared another meatball. “Why a pack ?”

“Because you—and all of us—are shifters,” Mary said, gesturing around the table. “We’re all wolf shifters. There are different kinds of shifters around the world, but our pack is exclusively wolves.”

Sarah leaned in, her voice lower. “We’ve never met a shifter who didn’t know she was a wolf before.”

Averil nodded and walked over to a side table, pouring water into a pretty glass before bringing it back to Anikka. “Even shifters who aren’t part of a pack know what they are long before adulthood. The fact that you’ve never shifted before is…”

“Unheard of,” Sarah finished. “How did you not know?”

Anikka considered that question, her thoughts drifting to her uncle.

“The man I called uncle protected me.” She set her fork down, her appetite fading as anger began to rise.

“And yet, he must have known what I was—what I am .” She wiped her mouth carefully with the napkin, her mind churning.

“I had these… strange urges… for a long time.” She looked around the table, meeting each woman’s gaze.

They understood. She could feel it. “He used to order me— command me—to suppress those urges. When I was younger, it was so hard. I felt strange things building inside me, and he always seemed to know.”

“Is he a shifter too?”

“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’t want to 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 want choices .”

“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?”

“You have chosen,” 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. The only man 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—”