Mine

The wolf inside growled... Mine.

If Jace was being honest, he hated being back home. It had been years since his father had died now. A man that he barely knew. Now, a new battle was brewing and he was glad that he was home for it. It didn’t matter what he wanted anymore. He had to protect the pact. This was his pack and his home. He had come back home and settled into his role as the Alpha. He didn’t get it right away but he was doing his utmost best.

What he wanted to do now was marry this little princess and become the leader that he knee himself to be. It would be a sacrifice on his part but it would ensure his survival. All of their survival.

When you were caught between death and hell, you had no choice but to seek rescue from the big, bad wolf. With a quiet click, the door to the small cupboard closed.

“Hailey Rambeaux,” she introduced herself and she tried hard not to tense her shoulders. 

Alone. I'm with him. The footsteps of the werewolf echoed throughout the room. She kept her chin up, knowing he could smell her anxiety. She despised being terrified. Hailey had no qualms about mating with this male and staying with him for the rest of her long life, but every vamp in lower echeleon knew it was prudent to tread carefully around Jace McCain. He hadn't gained the label of alpha by being a good guy. No, he'd earned it by savagely slaughtering his opponents and left their slain bodies in his wake.

On some days, a bride is simply fortunate.

“I didn’t think the vamps were going to accept my deal.” 

His voice sounded more like that of a beast than that of a man. Deep. Rumbling. He leaned against the wall in front of her and folded his strong arms across his chest. His dark eyes, nearly black in appearance, skimmed over her once more. With a shake of his head, he mumbled, "A true fucking princess. I'm going to be damned."

Probably. They'd be all of them. That's why they were monsters in the first place. Though she hadn't had much of a choice because she was one of the rare vamps who had been born to the blood's call.

She swallowed her saliva and cleared her throat. "At first, the Council had no intention of accepting your...ah...offer." Jace's suggestion had not been well received by the Vampire Council, the area's most powerful vamps.

The game had changed, though, when their guards began to turn up dead, courtesy of the demon bastards who'd arrived in town.

Once upon a time, all supernaturals lurked in the shadows, content to exist only in people's nightmares. Why do you want to be the center of attention? Persecution and death would be the only outcomes. All of them had learned this from the witch trials.

Vampires have never, and still do not, want attention.

Yes, wolves could get a little wild, and there had been some legends about them, but they'd also remained very quiet throughout the decades.

But the demons—those jerks fleeing hell in ever-increasing numbers—weren't in the mood for peace. They'd gathered in Soux falls and were preparing for a bloodbath.

But first, they wanted to prove they were the biggest, toughest prey in the night. 

So they were eliminating their supernatural competition. 

A war was coming. No, it had already started. Vampires versus Werewolves. Witches versus wolves.

The enemy of my enemy is my husband. 

“The witches and demons want to wipe us out,” she said. “You want them stopped as much as we do.” He still hadn’t moved. Just stood there with his arms crossed. But at least there was no sign of his claws, not anymore. “You were right. The best way for us to end this battle is to team up.” 

He smiled, but it was only a half-smile, and it didn't brighten his face. It only added to his menacing appearance.

He emanated danger in a way she'd never seen before. A physique covered in dark tan, golden skin was firm and muscled. Jace towered over her, being at least six feet three or four feet tall. He wasn't attractive; his face was far too ferocious for that. His shoulders were brushed by his long, dark mane of hair. He had a harsh, strained appearance.

It's not attractive. But…sexy. Sexy in a way that would make any woman lose it.

Wolves have a certain animal allure. She wasn't expecting that appeal to work on her. She'd made a blunder.

"It appears that the wolves are holding their own..." He lowered his arms as he neared her.

"So far," she murmured. That would change in time. When the demons focused all of their forces on them.

"You know, we've got to identify and close the doorway that's letting these demons out of hell." They'll take over if we don't."

It would be a nightmare for them to come out to the humans. His gaze was drawn to hers. Morgan stood firm when he took another step toward her. She had a public persona to uphold. A vampire cannot quiver in the presence of a werewolf.

However, the wolf's nostrils flared slightly, indicating that he was taking in her scent and, no doubt, picking up on her fear. Great.

She tensed as his hand approached her.

"It's just a touch," he muttered, "easy, princess."

Right. And if they followed through on their agreement, he'd be doing a lot more touching.

What one life is worth compared to the fate of your people? The Council's main pitch to her had been that. Make a self-sacrifice. Everyone else must be rescued.

Go be food for the big, evil wolf...because he's the only one who can save our arses.

"My name is Hailey," she said huskier than she meant, but his hand was on her face, caressing the flesh, and she wanted to tremble.

 Don’t. She couldn’t show that weakness. His hands were hard, but his touch felt whisper-soft. “Hailey, Aria Rambeaux.” She said, reinforcing her tone.

There was pride in the words because she was named after the first pureblood vampire ever to be born, Aria La Fey. 

The first, but not the last.