Page 23 of Jace's Mate

With a quick clap of her hands, the chairs vanished, and the space brightened under the flick of overhead lights.No trace of the hidden meeting remained.

“We reconvene once we have more information,” she ordered, her voice sharp and sure.

No more words were needed.

Each of them turned, vanishing into separate tunnels carved beneath the city—silent pathways that would return them to the surface unseen.

Because no one could know that a witch, a vampire, and a wolf-shifter had joined forces.

Not yet.

Chapter 5

“Shewentoutside?”Wiltonroared, his face turning crimson as rage exploded through him.

He fixed a burning glare on Eldin—but caught himself.

The girl might still be listening.

Lowering his voice, Wilton hissed, “Itoldyou to keep her inside, you fool.”

Eldin stepped back instinctively, bracing for a blow as Wilton’s hands rose.But the older man didn’t strike—he clutched his own head instead, fingers yanking at his thinning hair.

He started pacing, boots scuffing the worn floorboards.He had to fix this.Had tocontainit.Maybe she hadn’t noticed anything.Maybe the plan was still intact.

He spun on Eldin.“Did she see anyone?”

“No, sir—Alpha,” Eldin caught himself, bowing his head.“I’m sorry.I didn’t know—”

“Damn it,don’tcall me Alpha!”Wilton snapped, eyes darting to the shadows.“Call me anything else.Anything.”

Eldin blinked, confusion twisting in his gut.“Yes… sir.”The word felt wrong.Disrespectful.

But so much about this pack felt off.

An Alpha wasn’t supposed to beafraid.

An Alpha was supposed to lead, to see every threat before it struck.Anticipate.Protect.Win.

And yet Wilton looked rattled.Panicked.

Eldin’s own fear stirred, cold and hollow in his chest.He’d joined this pack a few months ago, desperate for belonging after being cast out of another pack and left to wander.Being alone had nearly broken him.This place—ragged as it was—had been salvation.

Until now.

Until he realized the man he’d trusted might not have a plan.

“What should I do, sir?”he asked, dread pooling in his stomach.

Wilton’s gaze snapped to him.“You said she didn’t run into anyone?”

Eldin hesitated.He remembered how Anikka had stopped in the street, lifted her face to the air, eyes gone wide.

How her body had shivered, her nipples pressing against the thin cotton of her dress.

He clenched his jaw, keeping that to himself.

“She was alone.Just me and the cashier inside the store.Hardly any customers.”He paused.“There was a kid in produce, but he was human.Staring at her like he’d seen an angel.”