Page 87 of Jace's Mate

Idiot!

Jace twisted aside, throwing the older Alpha off with practiced ease.He didn’t have time to waste on a wounded fool.Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Janice preparing to lunge.

She was smart.Distract with Gustov.Strike from the side.Jace had fought this play before.

But this time… he wasn’t alone.

Behind you!Anikka’s voice pierced his mind, urgent and clear.

She burst through the barn door in wolf form, a blur of golden-cream fur.Without hesitation, she launched herself at Janice, intercepting the beta mid-leap.

By the time Jace threw Gustov to the side a second time, unconscious this time, he turned to find a sight that nearly brought him to his knees.

Anikka had Janice pinned.

His mate—small, undertrained, untried in battle—had taken down one of the most dangerous betas on the East Coast.Janice squirmed under her, but Anikka had her teeth locked into the woman’s scruff, her hind legs braced, her stance holding.

She was trembling.She was barely holding on.

But shewas holding on.

Jace’s pride surged like a wave.But the moment of awe didn’t last.

Dozens of wolves—no, more—were closing in, creeping into the barn like a storm surge.Their hackles were raised, eyes glowing.Their Alpha had fallen.Their beta had been humiliated.

Now they wanted blood.

Jace backed toward the far wall, instincts sharp.There were too many.He could take out ten.Maybe twelve.But not a hundred.And Anikka couldn’t release Janice—if she did, the beta would strike again.That left Jace alone to face the horde.

Until—

Three young wolves darted in front of him, snarling in defense.

Jace’s heart leapt.Boyd.Stephan.James.

The boys were panting, nervous, but ready to die for him.

Damn it,Jace thought.They should be sleeping in the barracks, not standing between me and a war.

Then—two more blurs of motion.

Ciaran and Ragnor slammed into position at his side, their massive wolf forms gleaming under the barn’s harsh lights.

Jace almost laughed.The relief was so sharp it cut him.

Now it was six against a hundred.

And he liked those odds.

He bared his teeth and stepped forward.

His growl conveyed his meaning: “Anyone else want to challengethispack?”

Before anyone could move, a new presence entered the standoff.

A sleek blond wolf padded into the barn, her pale coat almost glowing under the moonlight.Her lips curled back, revealing gleaming white teeth—and she was clearly pissed.

Jace scented her immediately.She wasn’t one of his.Not part ofhispack.Yet there she was, standing in front of him, his betas, and his teenage recruits like she owned the place.