Page 41 of Jace's Mate

His head turned, eyes locking with hers—and sheknew.He’d heard that entire mental assessment.She pressed her lips together to hold in a laugh.

Fine.Message received.

But she wasn’t going to hide behind him like she had with her uncle.She wasn’t that woman anymore.

She stepped out of the shadow of his body and moved to stand beside him.Tall.Proud.Even if she was still in those stupid shoes and the itchy dress that made her want to scream.

Jace didn’t stop her.Didn’t say a word.

But his posture shifted.He stood just a little taller.

And beside him, Anikka watched the boys.Teenagers, yeah, but there was something… other.Something she could almostsmell.Like they were half-wild.Raw instinct and adrenaline and fear rolled into twitchy limbs and hollow stomachs.

Was that whatshewas?

“I’m a good cook,” she blurted out.

Jace stiffened at her side.

“I make the best blueberry cobbler you’ve ever tasted.”

The boys’ eyes snapped to her.One took a step forward, just slightly.

Jace sighed, long and slow.

“You’ll get cobbler,” he told them, his voice rough.“When I’m satisfied none of you are a threat to my pack.”

The boys hesitated, their eyes darting between each other.

Then, as if silently agreeing, they bowed their heads in unison.

Anikka sucked in a breath.

She’d seen that gesture before—dozens of times.Her uncle’s guards bowed exactly like that.But those men had carried arrogance in their bones.These boys...they bowed with submission, not showmanship.

“We won’t harm your pack, Alpha,” the middle one said, voice low but steady.“We played a stupid prank and...our Alpha kicked us out because of it.”

All three trembled slightly, as if afraid even speaking would get them punished again.

“Which pack?”Jace’s voice dropped an octave.

The boy on the left scuffed his worn sneaker against the cracked asphalt.“Gufta pack, Alpha.”

Jace’s expression didn’t shift.Not a blink.“What was the prank?”

The boys hunched, shrinking inward.Shame rolled off them in thick waves.It wasn’t guilt over hurting someone—it was embarrassment.

Anikka could feel that difference.No blood had been spilled.No bones broken.But someone’s pride?Definitely bruised.

“We were sick of being bullied,” the boy on the right blurted.His voice cracked.Neither of the other boys contradicted him.

“It was the Alpha’s son, sir.He...wouldn’t leave us alone.”

Jace’s gaze sharpened, flicking between their faces.“What did you do?”Each word hit like a hammer.

The middle boy swallowed hard.“We… hid alarm clocks all over his bedroom.They went off every five minutes all night long.He couldn’t find them.”

Anikka bit the inside of her cheek.Don’t laugh.Do not laugh.