Page 19 of Jace's Mate

Old.Familiar.

It took a second to recognize the tune, but it was there.Playing quietly in the back of his mind like a radio he hadn’t turned on.

“It’s another tequila sunrise…”

What the hell?

Why wasthatplaying in his head?

“Jace?”a male voice interrupted, sharper this time.“What’s wrong?You said you needed recommendations for a repair.We’re here.Let’s figure this out.”

Only the three of them knew this magical room existed.

And it would stay that way.

Jace turned slowly, breathing in one last time, letting the scent burn its way into his memory.

Sweet.Spicy.Wild.

It had wrapped around him like a silk noose, invisible but undeniable.

He would find her.

Later.

Because now that he’d scented her—now that his wolf hadrecognizedher—he had no choice.

She was his mate.

And he was going to claim her.

Chapter 4

Jacemovedquicklythroughthe secret corridors of the abandoned buildings.A hundred years ago, these walls would’ve echoed with the clang of machinery, the chatter of factory workers, the rumble of trucks and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages.

Now, they were hollow shells of their former glory—exactly why he and his allies had chosen this part of Baltimore for their clandestine meetings.When a face-to-face was necessary, it had to be somewhere no one would look.

He flipped the lock on the final hidden door and stepped through, relieved to see Sorcia and Viktor already waiting.

Sorcia stood as he entered, her lithe frame encased in a tailored black suit and a shimmering white silk blouse—just enough cleavage to tempt, but never overt.Her black Louboutins flashed red beneath the hem of her trousers, the only hint of color besides her crimson lipstick.Even her hair was nearly black, twisted into a flawless updo at the back of her neck.

Jace’s eyes lingered.

He realized, abruptly, that he’d never seen her hair down.Sorcia was always polished, her appearance a calculated reflection of power: subtle earrings, delicate makeup, eyes like cold green fire.

Once, he’d wished Sorcia could have been his mate.

That would’ve made everything easier—especially in recent years, when his need to find his mate had grown into a gnawing, unrelenting distraction.

An Alphahadto find their mate.

No one could say exactly why.Maybe it was biology, nature’s way of ensuring strongest bloodlines.Maybe it was spiritual—some primal need to balance power with partnership.

But whatever the reason, an Alpha without a matelost control.

Other shifters could survive without finding their mate.Not Alphas.

Looking at Sorcia now, that old hope faded completely.