Page 32 of Jace's Mate

Countless times, she’d stared out at the forests flying past, aching to leap from the car, to tear into the woods and let go.To run until her lungs burned and she couldn’t feel anything but the wind against her skin.

“That doesn’t mean—!”

“Anikka,” he interrupted, his voice different now—deeper.Commanding.

Something inside hergrowled.A low, unfamiliar vibration rolled through her chest, through her bones.She flinched.

“Stop it,” she whispered, folding in on herself, arms wrapping tight around her ribs.“Stop whatever you’re doing.”

He stepped closer.

And she felt it again.Thatpull.As if something invisible had wrapped itself around her spine and was tugging her forward.

“What’s happening to me?”Her voice cracked, the question ragged with fear.

“It’s your inner wolf,” he said softly, his tone still heavy with authority.“You’ve been suppressing it so long, you don’t even know it’s there.But it’s part of you.You can’t run from it forever.”

He turned, gesturing toward the tall steel-and-glass building beside them.“Come inside,” he said.“We need to talk.In private.”

She didn’t move.

Her heart pounded in her throat.Her body wanted to obey.Her mind screamed to resist.

She clenched her jaw and looked past him—to the three men standing in the distance.

Betas, her mind supplied, though she had no idea how she knew that.

They weren’t moving, but they were watching.Listening.And now, somehow,shewas listening too.

What the hell is going on?one of them asked.

The man hadn’t moved his lips.

Is she sane?one of them asked.

Again—no sound.No mouth movement.Just the words, somehow in her head.

She pressed her palms to her ears.“I don’t think so,” she muttered.

Jace’s eyes snapped to hers.

Had he heard that?Had she said it aloud?

Or had shethoughtit?

She didn’t know anymore.

Anikka looked up at him—at the stranger with the steady voice and impossible scent—and something inside her finally cracked.“Help me,” she whispered.This time, she was sure the words had passed her lips.“I don’t… I don’t understand.”

Jace held her gaze.“Come with me.”

Then he turned and walked into the building.

And despite everything in her screaming not to, her feet followed.

As soon as she realized what she was doing, Anikka froze, staring at Jace’s back.She wanted to throw something at him for usingthatvoice.That calm, commanding tone.And yet...it also comforted her.Centered her.

Which was insane.Instinctively, Anikka wanted to go to him, to please him.To see that approval in his eyes.