Page 62 of Jace's Mate

“Anikka,” Jace said, softer now, trying to smooth the edge of his voice.“Look at me.”

She didn’t turn.

She couldn’t.

Her entire body still throbbed with need, her nerves wound tight, but it was more than that.It wasn’t just lust.It was the sting.The gut-wrenchinghumiliationof being wanted one moment and discarded the next.She wasn’t used to this kind of emotional whiplash.

“I said look at me,” he repeated, more firmly this time.

And again, her wolf stirred at the command.But she gritted her teeth and forced it back.Not this time.

“You need to get back to work,” she said tightly, hugging her arms around herself.“And I’m sure my uncle is furious I didn’t come home again last night.”

Without waiting for a response, she started toward the sedan.Her bare feet sank into the dew-drenched grass, each step cold and grounding.She focused on the texture—the crunch of tiny twigs, the grit of dirt, the cool kiss of morning moisture.Anything buthim.

“Anikka!”he growled.Louder.Sharper.

She ignored him.

The shirt sleeves flopped over her hands.She shoved them up impatiently and reached for the car door.

Locked.

Of course it was locked.

Her eyes slid shut as she pressed her forehead to the cool metal, exhaling slowly.She wasn’t going to cry.Not over this.Not overhim.She just had to survive the next few minutes.

“Look at me, Anikka,” Jace said again, the quiet command in his voice causing her body to jerk in reaction and resistance.

“No,” she shot back, still facing the car.Her voice shook with fury and shame.“We’re done talking.”

“We’re not leaving until we talk,” he countered.“You know that.”

“What’s there to talk about?”she snapped, spinning on him with sudden heat.“What happened between us?”

He strode toward her, steady and calm.“Whatalmosthappened between us.”

“Nothing happened,” she said, voice sharp.

“Somethingalmost happened,” Jace said.“And we need to—”

Before he could finish, something in her snapped.The sound that tore from her throat was pure wolf—low, guttural,feral.

With a growl of fury, Anikka launched herself at him.

She didn’t think.Didn’t plan.She just moved—driven by rage and pain and that primal part of her that had finally tasted freedom and refused to be denied.

Jace barely had time to brace before she slammed into him.She clawed at his shoulders, fists flying, wanting tohurthim.Not enough to break him—just enough to make him feel it.Tofeel her.

To know that he couldn’t just reject her and walk away like she didn’t matter.

Chapter 20

Startled,JacecaughtAnikkaeasily, wrapping his arms around her as she launched herself at him.Her fists pummeled his chest, her breath hot with anger and pain.She was fierce and trembling and furious—and still, somehow, heartbreakingly soft in his arms.

Tears streaked her flushed cheeks, and every one of them carved through his gut like a blade.He didn’t flinch from her blows.He just held her, steady and unyielding, letting her burn through the storm.

He knew what this was.