Page 39 of Jace’s Mate (East Coast Territory #1)

“G ustov!” Jace called out, his voice sharp and cutting through the quiet hum of the barn.

The man in question was literally lying on a hay bale, reading a worn paperback.

At the sound of his name, Gustov startled, dropping the book to the dusty floor.

He sat up quickly, squinting toward the source of the voice.

His confusion turned to irritation when he saw Jace standing naked in the entryway of his barn, muscles taut and expression thunderous.

“What the hell do you want?” Gustov barked, rising to his feet. Though still broad-shouldered, the years had softened him—Alpha more in name than power.

Jace strode forward with steady, deliberate steps, unconcerned by his nudity. “I’m here to give you a warning.”

Gustov rolled his shoulders and rose to his full height, trying to match Jace’s imposing presence. “Yeah?” he said with a sardonic chuckle. “What’s the warning?”

“Keep your pack under control,” Jace growled, each word laced with venom.

Gustov blinked, genuine confusion darkening his eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”

Before Jace could answer, the barn doors creaked open behind them. A woman stepped inside, her heels clicking arrogantly on the wooden floor.

“He thinks you don’t have control over me,” Janice announced with a smug smile. She sauntered forward, hips swaying and red leather gloves tucked into the belt of her jacket. Her heavily mascaraed eyes roamed over Jace with undisguised appreciation before she let out a wistful sigh.

“I really wish I’d gotten to you before you found your mate,” she purred, eyes dropping deliberately to his groin. “Such a pity you’re useless to me now.”

“Is that why you paid Wilton to keep her from me?” Jace asked, voice low and deadly.

Janice let out a sharp laugh and leaned against one of the wooden paddock gates, crossing her arms. “Because I wanted some playtime with you?” She rolled her eyes. “That would’ve been a nice side benefit, sure—but no. I had bigger plans.”

“What the hell have you done, Janice?” Gustov demanded, stepping forward. He tried to sound authoritative, but there was no weight behind the words. Years of complacency had dulled the sharpness he once had. His beta didn’t even flinch.

Janice’s smile vanished. Her features twisted into something cold and cruel. “I’m sick of this pathetic excuse for leadership, Gustov! You sit on your ass and call it governance. Your pack is stagnant. Dying. I was doing what you never would.”

“The pack is fine!” Gustov barked, though it sounded more like a defense than a declaration.

“No,” Jace said, stepping closer, his body coiled with restrained power. “Your pack is not fine. You’re a lazy leader who has no idea what your own betas are doing.” He turned his gaze on Janice, who paled slightly under her layers of rouge.

“She’s interfered with my territory,” he continued, voice razor-sharp. “She orchestrated attacks on my shipping lanes to distract us. She sent children to spy on me. And worst of all…” he paused, fury simmering just beneath the surface, “…she tried to keep my mate from me.”

“The hell you say!” Gustov growled, whirling to face Janice. This time, he looked at her as if seeing her for the first time—and he didn’t like what he saw.

To her credit, Janice didn’t run. But her spine straightened, and she took a wary step backward. “I can explain,” she said quickly, her voice brittle. The rouge on her cheeks now looked garish against her blood-drained skin.

“You’d better start talking, Beta,” Gustov said, his voice trembling—not with fear, but with fury.

“I was looking out for your interests,” she claimed, her chin tilting defiantly. But the tremor in her hands betrayed her lie.

At that moment, Jace felt a ripple of familiar energy behind him—a comforting yet fierce presence.

Anikka.

She loped into view, pausing just outside the barn doors. She didn’t cross the threshold, not yet, but she was ready. Her wolf form radiated tension and anticipation, her golden eyes locked on the betas inside. Waiting.

Jace exhaled slowly and forced himself to remain focused. The sight of her there, powerful and loyal, only reinforced his fury toward the woman who had tried to sever their bond.

“You’re a pathetic excuse for an Alpha!” Janice suddenly shrieked, spinning to face Gustov again. “Jace’s pack has businesses! Infrastructure! Real wealth! Every member has a home with actual windows and a yard! They’re rich, Gustov! Rich! ”

“Money isn’t everything!” Gustov bellowed. “We have what we need!”

Janice laughed bitterly. “Do we?” she sneered. “Because I want more!”

Her bravado cracked as Gustov advanced on her, eyes glowing with rage. She flinched, backing away.

“You don’t lie and cheat to get it,” he snapped. “And you damn well don’t interfere with another Alpha’s mate!”

Janice’s expression flickered between fear and frustration. “But they’re stronger,” she hissed. “You know Jace’s powers have increased since he found her. You feel it. I was trying to give us that same edge. But you’re too blind to see the future.”

“We don’t interfere in other packs’ business!” Gustov snarled, eyes narrowing on Janice.

Janice’s chest rose and fell as she fought to stay calm. “I want more , Gustov,” she said, her voice cracking under the weight of desperation. “I want power. And I can give you more power—if you’d just let me help you!”

She took a tentative step forward, hands outstretched in a placating gesture. “Our pack could grow. We could be stronger. I have a plan—it’s a good one.”

Only moments earlier, her arrogance had radiated off her like perfume. Now, she was shrinking in the face of Gustov’s growing fury, her confidence dissolving into defensiveness.

Jace watched the exchange closely, his muscles tense. This argument was about to cross a line. A dangerous one.

Janice was a beta—second only to Gustov in raw power within the pack. And while she might be playing submissive now, it wouldn’t take much for that facade to crack. If she lashed out, things would escalate fast. And violently.

More scents began to filter into Jace’s nose—dozens of them. Wolves. He didn’t turn, didn’t twitch. But he knew what he was sensing: pack members. Gustov’s wolves were gathering. And they weren’t happy.

He couldn’t tell whose side they were on. That alone made it worse.

“Enough!” Jace’s roar echoed through the barn like a gunshot.

The shouting stopped. Even the wind outside seemed to still. The energy in the space shifted as more wolves slunk closer, their growls low and uncertain. Their presence now undeniable.

Neither Gustov nor Janice noticed them. And that was a very bad sign.

“Don’t you dare interfere with my pack business,” Gustov hissed over his shoulder, spinning away from Janice.

Bad idea, Jace thought grimly.

The moment Gustov turned his back, Janice struck.

In a blur of movement, she shifted, fur exploding from her skin as her body twisted into wolf form.

With a snarl, she launched herself at her Alpha, claws sinking into his back.

He didn’t even have time to shift. Her jaws clamped down on the back of his neck, drawing blood as she drove him to the barn floor.

The attack was vicious. Efficient. Calculated.

Gustov collapsed with a howl of pain.

Janice stepped back, panting and wild-eyed. Then her gaze locked onto Jace—and without hesitation, she turned to face him. A new challenge in her eyes.

Jace shifted instantly, massive muscles contorting as fur replaced skin. His paws hit the floor with a thud, his growl like rolling thunder. She was fast. She was strong. But he was bigger. More dominant. And more enraged.

Janice crouched low, preparing to spring—

But she never got the chance.

Out of nowhere, Gustov surged to his feet again, bleeding and dazed, but not out. Confused by the pain and betrayal, he lunged—not at Janice, his attacker—but at Jace.

Idiot!

Jace twisted aside, throwing the older Alpha off with practiced ease. He didn’t have time to waste on a wounded fool. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Janice preparing to lunge.

She was smart. Distract with Gustov. Strike from the side. Jace had fought this play before.

But this time… he wasn’t alone.

Behind you! Anikka’s voice pierced his mind, urgent and clear.

She burst through the barn door in wolf form, a blur of golden-cream fur. Without hesitation, she launched herself at Janice, intercepting the beta mid-leap.

By the time Jace threw Gustov to the side a second time, unconscious this time, he turned to find a sight that nearly brought him to his knees.

Anikka had Janice pinned.

His mate—small, undertrained, untried in battle—had taken down one of the most dangerous betas on the East Coast. Janice squirmed under her, but Anikka had her teeth locked into the woman’s scruff, her hind legs braced, her stance holding.

She was trembling. She was barely holding on.

But she was holding on.

Jace’s pride surged like a wave. But the moment of awe didn’t last.

Dozens of wolves—no, more—were closing in, creeping into the barn like a storm surge. Their hackles were raised, eyes glowing. Their Alpha had fallen. Their beta had been humiliated.

Now they wanted blood.

Jace backed toward the far wall, instincts sharp. There were too many. He could take out ten. Maybe twelve. But not a hundred. And Anikka couldn’t release Janice—if she did, the beta would strike again. That left Jace alone to face the horde.

Until—

Three young wolves darted in front of him, snarling in defense.

Jace’s heart leapt. Boyd. Stephan. James.

The boys were panting, nervous, but ready to die for him.

Damn it, Jace thought. They should be sleeping in the barracks, not standing between me and a war.

Then—two more blurs of motion.

Ciaran and Ragnor slammed into position at his side, their massive wolf forms gleaming under the barn’s harsh lights.

Jace almost laughed. The relief was so sharp it cut him.

Now it was six against a hundred.

And he liked those odds.

He bared his teeth and stepped forward.