Page 38 of Jace's Mate

Asharpknockshatteredthetension between them.

Jace exhaled and straightened, the moment lost.Reluctantly, he stepped back—but not far.He kept Anikka close.Not because he didn’t trust her.

Because hehadto.Because the need to be near her burned under his skin like wildfire.

Anikka was beautiful, no doubt.But it was her defiance—her fire—that turned him inside out.She met his power with challenge.And he craved it.Cravedher.Her obedience.Her rebellion.Her everything.

Damn,he thought, gritting his teeth.He was rock hard, and completely screwed.His mate was right here, within reach… but she didn’t know.Not really.She didn’t understand what she was—much less what she wasto him.

He forced himself to breathe.Slow.Deep.Controlled.

He couldn’t take her like this.Not when she was still unraveling.

But gods, he wanted to rip that ridiculous, prim little dress off her body and find out exactly what she was hiding under those ugly shoes and wary eyes.

The knock came again, more insistent.

“What?!”he bellowed, stepping between her and the door.Instinct.Protection.She probably didn’t even realize what he was doing.

The door creaked open and Ragnor stepped inside, eyes apologetic.“There’s trouble at the docks, Alpha.”

“Another break-in?”Jace’s voice was tight.He wasmore than readyto teach someone a lesson.

“No,” Ragnor said quickly.“We’ve gotten more intel on the ships that were attacked.Everyone’s safe, but there’s something else at the docks now.”

“What kind of something?”

“Teenagers causing problems.Could just be noise.I can handle it,” Ragnor added with a deferential nod.“No need for you to get involved.I just thought you should know.”

Jace hesitated.

“Shifters?Or humans?”

“Shifters,” Ragnor confirmed.

That decided it.

“I’ll handle it.”

He turned to Anikka, his features softening as he looked at her.“Want to meet a few more members of your new pack?”

Her eyes lit up, and he couldn’t stop the grin that pulled at his mouth.She stepped toward him—closer—without thinking.

Another instinctive move.One she didn’t even notice.

“More?” she echoed, her voice tinged with curiosity.“How many are there?”

“About three hundred here in the city,” he replied, taking her hand like it belonged in his.“But I’m Alpha for the entire East Coast pack.That’s thousands of wolves.Most keep to their territories, but sometimes rogues drift in looking for trouble.”

He guided her gently toward the door.

“But come on,” he added.“Let me show you around.”

Chapter 11

Theydroveinsilence,the engine’s low rumble the only sound between them.Anikka sat rigid, her thoughts a chaotic mess.Nothing made sense—except the strange, magnetic pull toward the man beside her.

The moment they pulled up to the docks, her senses were assaulted.