Page 27 of Jace’s Mate (East Coast Territory #1)

“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 about them . 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 smell nearly as 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.”

Anikka wanted to be angry with them—but they were just too nice.

Too kind, too warm, and something about them called to her.

Not in a romantic way. Not the way Jace pulled at her.

But she liked them. And since she’d been alone for so long, without a single female friend, she didn’t want to mess this up.

“So why didn’t I know I was a shifter?”

“That’s the million-dollar question,” Sarah said. “The other big question is—why are there other unknown wolves in our territory?”

Anikka paused, a bite of bread halfway to her mouth. “Territory?”

“Yes. The entire East Coast is ours. We’ve scented it. Claimed it.”

“Jace is a powerful Alpha,” Averil added. “One of the most powerful in North America. Most of the other Alphas fear him. They know he’ll defend this pack— all of us—against any threat.”

“How does he fight them? Does he have an army or something?”

“Yes,” Mary said simply. She gestured to the table. “Us.”

Anikka blinked. “We’d fight if someone tried to enter the territory?”

“Absolutely,” Mary said with a nod. “How would you feel if someone made a move on Jace?”

Instantly, a surge of heat and warning prickled down Anikka’s spine. She didn’t even realize she’d growled until the others grinned knowingly.

“We’re fiercely protective of our mates and our territory,” Sarah said.

Anikka didn’t understand why, but she felt it—that growing connection to these women. Sitting with them, she felt a strange comfort. A sense of belonging she’d never had. Something she’d wanted from her uncle but never received.

“With my uncle, I always felt like I was one wrong move away from punishment. He barely let me leave the house. Grocery store trips were rare and always supervised.” She clasped her hands under the table to hide their trembling.

“And now?” Averil asked gently. “Do you feel safe here—with us?”

Anikka didn’t want to admit it. But the truth was already rising in her chest, impossible to suppress. She couldn’t lie to these women, even to protect herself.

“What’s happening to me?” she whispered, panic skimming the edges of her voice.

“You’re a wolf, Anikka,” Mary said kindly. “We’re pack animals. Our instincts are wired for connection—for protection. We need one another. That’s how we survive and thrive.”

“Did you feel that way in your uncle’s house?”

She snorted. “My uncle didn’t have a pack.”

“Maybe it was small,” Averil said, “but I bet the idea of leaving him, of being totally on your own, terrified you. Am I wrong?”

Anikka hesitated, then nodded her head slowly. “You’re right.”

“And this morning,” Sarah said softly, “after your run with Jace—how did you feel?”

There was a pause. Anikka looked down at her plate, then up at them. “Exhilarated,” she admitted quietly.

A low, rumbling growl sounded behind her, and she whirled around.

Jace stood in the doorway, radiating power. He looked every bit as terrifying as before—but something inside her knew he’d never hurt her. The nips from the night before and earlier this morning hadn’t been threats. They’d been encouragement. Urging her to keep going.

“Out,” Jace growled, his voice low and commanding.

Without a word, the three women rose and filed out, leaving Anikka alone with him.

His scent hit her instantly—earth and pine, spice and warmth—and the throbbing need ignited again, roaring through her like fire.

“We can’t do this,” she whispered, stepping back. She didn’t want to be owned, didn’t want her freedom stripped away.

“Tell me to stop,” he growled, stalking closer.

She opened her mouth. She meant to say the words.

Instead, a soft moan escaped.

His scent. That heat. It overwhelmed her.

Before she even realized what she was doing, Anikka rushed forward—leaping into his arms.