Page 29 of Jace’s Mate (East Coast Territory #1)

He raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll just be outside. You two can mind-speak and glare all you want.”

He slipped out and shut the door behind him.

Jace stepped closer, not bothering to speak out loud. They don’t know how deep this bond runs between us.

Anikka didn’t move. What are you going to do?

Exactly what I said. But you don’t need the details yet. If you know too much too soon, it could put you in danger. Once you know our ways—and trust the others—I’ll tell you everything. But right now, my job is to protect you. You’re my mate, Anikka. I’d die to keep you safe.

She stared into his eyes, a strange flutter rising in her chest. It wasn’t love. Not yet. They hadn’t spent enough time together for that.

Had they?

It felt like she’d always known him. That same low-level heat began to simmer deep in her belly.

No! She straightened. She would not fall into that trap again. Not the need. Not the heat.

But the triumphant smirk on his face made her heart stutter.

Turning away, she fled back into the main room. Most of the pack had finished breakfast. The food was gone, the tables cleared, chairs tucked back in with pristine precision.

Anikka focused on the carpet instead—counting the fibers, grounding herself.

Behind her, a low chuckle rumbled.

She didn’t turn around. You won’t win, she told him silently.

He grinned at her over his shoulder. “You’re here, Anikka. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve already won.”

Then he was gone—striding out of the conference room like he hadn’t just lit a fire under her skin.

Anikka stared after him, unsure what to make of that smug, infuriating statement. What did he mean, “won”? She wasn’t some prize to be claimed.

Her gaze swept the room. The three men at the far end of the table weren’t speaking to her—weren’t even looking at her now—but they weren’t ignoring her either. She remembered what Jace had called them. Not deputies. Not guards. Betas.

She’d always thought of betas as second-best, weaker.

But nothing about these three seemed “less.” They leaned over the table, heads together, studying a large map spread across the surface.

Their postures were casual but alert, like predators in conference.

Yes, they were smaller than Jace—but only slightly.

And something about the way they moved… it pulsed with quiet authority.

“I think we should start here,” one of them said, tapping a spot on the map.

As if sensing her attention, all three lifted their heads and glanced her way.

Anikka straightened instinctively, heart ticking faster under their scrutiny. For most of her life, she’d been invisible. Her uncle and his ever-rotating crew had barely acknowledged her unless they needed something.

They started to turn back to the map, and a flutter of panic rose in her chest. No. She wouldn’t be overlooked again.

“I can help,” she said, stepping closer before she could second-guess the words.

The betas turned toward her. All three assessed her in silence, and suddenly she felt like she’d spoken out of turn. Like she’d broken some rule she didn’t understand.

“Thanks,” one said, polite but firm. “We’ll figure it out.”

Then they turned away, dismissing her with that same infuriating, inflexible confidence she was quickly learning to hate.

“Can’t trust her yet.”

“Too bad. She might know something.”

Anikka froze.

Their mouths hadn’t moved. The thoughts weren’t hers. And yet—there they were, echoing clearly in her mind.

Jace had said their connection was rare. That they were different. But these men were clearly communicating silently. And judging by the way they didn’t even glance at her, they had no idea she could hear them too.

Her lips parted. She stayed quiet.

Instead of reacting, she moved closer, pretending to be interested only in the map. She tilted her head, tuning out the background noise and focusing on what they were actually saying out loud.

“We picked up his scent here,” one said, pointing to a pin near a familiar street.

“Yeah, but this spot would give better cover. Easier to disappear if you had to bolt.”

Another pointed farther west. “But that doesn’t line up with what Viktor reported. Why are we getting activity here if the scent trail ends over there?”

Anikka studied the map with them now, heart speeding up.

She recognized several of the landmarks.

She’d passed them a few days ago. Actually…

no, she’d run past them. Full sprint. She hadn’t known it then, but it was the morning she’d started to change, to smell Jace and to realize something was different.

And now, they were focused on the wrong side of the city.

She hesitated for only a second before stepping forward again. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said, more confident now. “But are you looking for my uncle?”

“Yes,” came the immediate response.

“But… didn’t you already send someone to talk to him?”

The men exchanged glances, then the one she thought was named Ciaran nodded. “I was sent. I got close, but I lost your scent at this intersection,” he said, gesturing to a point about a mile from their current building. Then he looked at her directly. “Can you tell me where you were staying?”

Jace stepped up beside her, silent and close, but not touching. His nearness made her pulse skip, but she didn’t dare look at him. Across the table, the three betas had gone still. Their attention had shifted completely—to her. Waiting.

Anikka tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned over the map.

“I’m not exactly sure,” she admitted, voice soft but steady.

“My uncle didn’t share much with me about anything, let alone where we were living.

” She bit her lip, trailing her finger across the map’s glass surface.

“But the day I ran… I think I started here.” She pointed to a block of rundown housing near the edge of the map.

“We were staying in a rented townhouse—seven of us. I think it was around this area.” She circled a zone with her fingertip, ignoring the chipped nail.

She glanced up at Jace. “My uncle wasn’t the ambitious type. If he was planning mischief—or plotting to challenge your authority—he wouldn’t have gone far. He’s too lazy to play the long game.”

“You don’t remember the exact address?” Ragnor asked, not unkindly.

She shook her head. “Street names never really registered in my mind. But I remember a grocery store nearby.” She named it, scanning the map.

“And… I first scented Jace near that store. I was walking home.” She turned to Jace, eyes searching.

“Is there anything else? A landmark? Maybe we can triangulate his location.”

He leaned over the map, his arm brushing hers briefly. “There’s a grocery here,” he said, tapping an intersection on the map. “And we own all the warehouses down this street.”

Her gaze followed his finger. “What’s this neighborhood called?”

“Henson Park,” Ciaran supplied. “There’s an elementary school here, and the high school is…” He twisted to orient himself. “Here. Do you remember a lot of teenagers? Or smaller kids?”

Anikka’s eyes lit with recognition. “Yes! Both. And—” Her finger slid across the map. “I think over here is where I overheard something… my uncle—” She stopped, faltering. Her gaze flicked to Jace, then to the others. “Am I… betraying him by telling you this?”

“You’re part of our pack now,” Ragnor said firmly. “Your loyalty belongs to Jace. To us.”

She hesitated, lips pressing together. Then slowly, she nodded. “He’s not actually my uncle. And he wasn’t… good. The men he kept around him were worse. None of them stayed long—most left after a few weeks. Four months was the record.” Her voice dropped. “But I stayed.”

Jace’s hand landed lightly on her back, warm and grounding. “Why?”

She straightened, shoulders tight. “Because I didn’t know I had options.” Her eyes met his. “He kept me in the dark—about everything. I didn’t even know what I was until last night.”

“You’re angry,” Megin said, more observation than question.

“I am,” she admitted. “But I’m also confused.” She shuffled a step closer to Jace, unconsciously brushing his leg. “Why hide it from me? What would he gain?”

Megin crossed his arms and tilted his head. “Sometimes…” He paused, searching the room. “Mates are fated. What if someone knew that? Knew you were destined to bond with Jace?”

Silence fell like a stone in the room.

“There are some in our kind,” Megin went on slowly, “who can see the future. A glimpse here, a thread there. What if your uncle found out?” He looked directly at Jace. “You’ve always heard the pack’s voices clearer than the rest of us. You’re faster, stronger. More dominant.”

Ragnor’s brow furrowed. “What are you getting at?”

Megin’s eyes narrowed slightly, their green depths glittering with thought. “He’s already one of the strongest Alphas on the continent. If someone knew his mate was out there… they might try to keep you apart.”

Jace didn’t respond, but his body had gone still. And Anikka… couldn’t quite catch her breath.

Ragnor picked up where Megin had left off. “When an Alpha finds his mate, his powers intensify,” he said, then glanced at Anikka. “And so do hers.” His eyes narrowed slightly at Jace. “Alpha… what if someone knew Anikka would amplify your strength—and tried to keep her away to prevent that?”

Ciaran let out a grunt. “Anikka, you mentioned your uncle always had money, but didn’t work.”

She opened her mouth to reply, but Ciaran continued, eyes sharp now. “What if someone was paying him to keep you away from Jace?”

Ragnor’s jaw tensed. “Or worse—what if he was holding you back to destabilize Jace? To unbalance him?”

“Or to bring her here just to taunt him,” Ciaran offered. He looked at Jace. “You were immediately distracted as soon as you scented her that first time.”

Silence dropped over the room, heavy and charged.