The Fury Pack Alpha's Secret Mate

Chapter Eight-I begin to see the truth

The temperature in the room drops twenty degrees the second Jace walks in.

Adam’s body stiffens beside me, and for once, I don’t disagree with something he’s feeling. Jace has that effect on people with the smooth, casual air of danger he wears with a smile that translates more like a weapon.

“Hope I’m not interrupting,” Jace says, his gaze locked on Adam with just enough challenge to make my stomach drop.

“You are,” Adam growls.

“Well, that’s never stopped me before,” Jace murmurs, winking at me with a grin that melts my heart before I groan internally in response.

Of all the days…

Jace’s eyes flick towards me, warm and full of that careful concern that’s always made me feel safe, and though I’m tense, something within me eases. This is Jace. My friend. The guy who’s been there for me when I needed him.

I know he wants more, he’s made that clear, but he’s also been patient and kind with me, and for that, I adore him. I’m nowhere near ready to admit that I’m starting to believe Adam and God knows I’m pretty sure I’m leaning towards just shutting it all out and pretending it doesn't exist, but something about Jace…niggles me and I start to think...

About how he always knows where I am, even though I haven’t told him. About how he’s always MIA during full moons. I mean…that can’t be true, and I don’t want to believe that stupid Hollywood werewolf s**t is real…

But if it is, does that mean…?

“I’m having a nightmare. That’s it. I’m having a nightmare, and I’m going to wake up at any moment, and it’ll be over. None of this is real. It’s just the ache. It’s back for the month, and as usual, it’s driving me nuts. I’m totally going to buy a vibrator to stop this. Go to the doctor and tell him my hormones are wonky. Start taking anti-psychotics because it's clear I've snapped.” I whisper, babbling a little.

Part of me snorts, that irritating, alien part of me I’ve spent five years pretending was me, instead of something separate. Something I’ve convinced myself is just stress.

Seriously? You’re really going to stand here and lie to yourself again when you know what the truth is? You’re not human, Rogue. These men aren’t human. They’re shifters. You’re a shifter. Your son is a shifter. It’s time to stop lying to yourself and accept it.

I whimper, my chest goes tight with emotions, and my blood sings, raging with turmoil while tears fill my eyes and the urge to grab my son and run almost overwhelms me. I need to go. Get out. Get away.

This can’t be true. It can’t be happening. Jace can’t be a…I can’t…

“Oh, God.” I choke, glancing at Jacky before I drag my eyes away and focus on the two men once more.

Two men who look ready to kill one another. Because of me.

“You okay, Rogue?” Jace asks, his eyes flashing in a way that makes me gasp and slap a hand to my mouth.

Jace…?

“She’s fine,” Adam answers for me, stepping in front like a wall of muscle and territorial testosterone.

“I wasn’t talking to you, Cujo.” He snaps, his choice of words making my eyes widen before I shake off my suspicions.

Right now, I have bigger fish to fry. Later, I’m totally gonna sit down and think about the fact that Jace seems to know what Adam…is.

Shit!

“Guys, please—” I croak, terrified that something bad is about to happen.

Adam’s canines flash. Canines! Oh, s**t. Oh, hell. Is Adam really telling the truth? My question is sort of answered when Jace doesn’t flinch, and I see his eyes flicker, the blue depths swirling with a golden glow that…

Human eyes don’t do that, Rogue! You know they don’t.

Oh, would you just shut up!

“Jace, I—I can’t do this right now,” I say, flustered, my mind splintering until his face softens.

“You told me if he ever came back, I’d have your back.” He says. “You promised me you’d let me help you.”

And there it is. The promise. The line Adam doesn’t like. A line that bugs me now, because back then, when I made the promise, it was to a friend. A human friend. Not a man who’s been keeping this kind of secret.

Do you really believe it now, Rogue?

I snort, unable to argue with what’s happening right in front of me, although I want to. God knows I want to.

“You knew?” Adam snarls before he turns to me, eyes glowing. “You told him about me?”

“I didn’t tell him anything,” I snap. “I just…he’s been here, okay? When you weren’t. Don’t act like you get to come back and be the hero.”

Adam looks ready to break furniture or jaws, and Jace holds his hands up.

“I don’t wanna fight. I just wanna talk to Rogue. Alone.” He says, tilting his head to gaze at me tenderly. “We should talk. About…everything.”

“Not happening,” Adam says, stepping forward. “She’s mine.”

“No. She’s not,” Jace says smoothly, his cocky grin flashing up so quickly I smile back because, that’s my friend. The cocky guy who’s stuck by me, no matter what he may be. “Not yet.”

Something in the air cracks, a pulse of energy, raw, ancient, and terrifying, and both men freeze while I gasp and swallow, so keyed up I feel like I’m going to come out of my skin.

Even Jackson looks up from his iPad like he felt it too.

“What the hell was that?” I whisper shakily.

Jace’s eyes stay locked on Adam.

“It means the bond isn’t sealed. Which means she has a choice.” Jace murmurs, smiling when Adam growls.

Low. Dangerous.

“Say that again.”

Jace smiles again, and I realize, too late, that this was never going to end quietly.

Because my friend is no man. He’s something else. And he’s here…

For me.