10. Jace

The other alphas texted me to let me know they'd be back the next day to discuss how to take Eren on. A simple challenge would likely not be enough. In fact, I had a sneaking suspicion Eren would end up forgoing the challenge altogether. If he was crazy enough to torture children, he'd have no problem flipping off the other alphas if they tried to get him to step down as the alpha of the Scottsdale Pack.

We'd scheduled the meeting at the town hall, which had been fully repaired after Eren's smoke bombs. A good airing out and a fresh coat of paint, and it was as good as new. Two couches and some office furniture had to be discarded because of smoke damage, but overall, the destruction had been minimal.

When Waylan and I arrived, the other alphas were already there, speaking with Langston and Abigail. Reese stood with a few of the members of their entourage. They'd all brought their own council members. Things were getting serious. My nerves were ragged. War was truly on the horizon.

"Morning," I said, walking toward the small conference table at the center of the room.

We never had large meetings like this, so the room wasn't quite equipped for this number of people. Most of the council members had to sit or stand along the wall.

"Has anyone come up with any ideas?" I asked. "I'm fully open to whatever thoughts or plans anyone may have."

A bigger shifter with broad shoulders and a thick black beard raised his hand.

"I'm Peter," he said, and nodded toward Ivy. "Pack enforcer for Goldstone. Ivy's my alpha."

"Go ahead, Peter," I said.

He looked at Ivy, who nodded subtly. He cleared his throat. "Eren has lost his mind. Who knows what else he has planned. My thought is we hit him fast and hard before he has time to think. A full-frontal assault. Storm his territory and take him down."

"Whoa, hang on," Langston said. "That might not be best. An ambush like that might work, but the people in his town won't know what's going on. Too many could get hurt in that scenario."

Peter sighed. "If they wanted Eren taken down, then they should have risen up and brought him down. I mean, he killed their pack enforcer. And they still did nothing? Just cowered in fear? To me, that just says they're complicit."

"Wait a minute," Noah said. "I don't know if that's entirely accurate. They're terrified of the guy. The fact that he killed the enforcer would make it even less likely that they'd revolt." He looked at me. "We heard what that kid said. He's torturing people—children—to turn them into ferals. Plus, he's got his loyal betas. There's that big slab of beef Poli and all the pricks who run around him. For all we know, he has informants within the community. No one would know who to trust."

Ivy placed her hand on the table, palm down. "Yes, but at this point, he needs to be taken down, no matter what." She heaved out a sigh and tapped one finger on the table. "I don't like it any better than you do, but a few harmed innocents might be better than the next scenario: an all-out war against him and whatever ferals he has. Not all our packs are as big as his or Jace's. I only have fifty members. Noah, you've got, what, thirty?"

"Forty," he grumbled.

She nodded and pointed toward Hollis. "How about you?"

Hollis sucked on his teeth for a second before responding. "Had a baby born last night, actually. That brings us up to sixty-eight."

"That's what I'm talking about," Ivy said, turning to look at Dustin. "Your pack is the next biggest. Do you even have over a hundred members?"

"We do," Dustin said. "Hundred and nineteen."

"We don't have the numbers you do, Jace," Ivy continued. "Out of our members, maybe half that number can fight. The rest are children or the elderly. Crestwood is the biggest pack in the state. Eren is a close second. For us to have a chance, we need to use our numbers as best we can. Peter and I believe that the best way is through a sneak attack with all our fighters."

Waylan spoke up. "What if we tried to do things a bit more covertly?"

Ivy eyed him. "Go on. I'm listening."

He looked at me, and I nodded. I wanted to know where he was going with this.

"I was thinking, if this is war, why not treat it like a real war? We send in a spy."

A contemplative silence settled over the room. After a while, Langston said, "You mean have someone infiltrate Scottsdale? Try and feed us info and help take him down from inside?" He sounded incredulous at the prospect.

"Exactly," Waylan said, snapping his fingers. "Just like that."

"Two problems," Langston said. "One, Eren knows most of our members. He's been at every mating party the last four decades. He'd know anyone we sent and would immediately assume they were a spy. Second, even if we did have someone who could sneak in, I can't think of a single person crazy enough to go through with that plan. It would be a fucking suicide mission."

"You just need the right person."

The voice came from behind us, at the open door to the conference room. I, and all the others, turned to see the new arrival. My jaw clenched when I saw Stephanie. Her cheeks were red from embarrassment.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Abigail spat. She'd taken Stephanie's betrayal nearly as hard as I had.

The mood of the room had gone cold. The other alphas knew that one of my pack—someone on the council, no less—had betrayed me. It had spread like wildfire to the other packs.

Stephanie held her hands out in a pleading gesture. "I'm here to help." Her voice nearly cracked. "That's all I want."

"Where have you been?" I asked, my voice even and emotionless, pinning her to the spot with my glare. "You vanished after the meeting."

"Jace, I—"

"It is a simple question, Stephanie," I growled. "Answer it, or get the fuck out."

Her lower lip trembled, but I had no sympathy for her. She'd shown her true colors. It didn't matter that she'd had a thing for me. Her infatuation didn't give her the right to go behind her alpha's back and help the enemy. It was all I could do not to drag her ass out of the building.

She swallowed visibly. "I've been staying in Scottsdale."

"Fucking knew it," Abigail hissed, pounding a fist on the table. "What have you been doing? Sucking Eren's cock?"

"Jesus," Noah said. "Aggressive."

Stephanie ignored Abigail's outburst, but I saw the hurt in her eyes. "I went to live there because it was the only place that would take me in."

"You could have stayed here," Waylan said. "Your house has been sitting empty. It's not like you didn't have a place to stay."

Stephanie sighed. "And live under house arrest? Or worse, have to walk the streets and have everyone curse and spit at me?" She cast her eyes toward Abi. "Have my old friends talk to me like I'm a piece of shit?"

"If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck." Abigail sneered.

"Jace?" Langston said.

"Yeah?"

He glanced at Stephanie, then back to me. "Maybe we can get some intel?"

It made sense. If she had been in Scottsdale all this time, then she might have heard some things. I chewed at the inside of my cheek, then made the decision.

"What have you heard?"

Her limp, dull blond hair swayed lightly as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. For the first time since she'd stepped into the room, I realized how exhausted she looked.

"Rumors, mostly. A boy went missing. Eren told everyone that he'd taken him and his brother in as, like, stepsons or something. The new rumor is that the Crestwood Pack kidnapped him."

"Oh, for the love of God," Ivy said, a mirthless laugh escaping her lips. "Really? That's what he's saying?"

Stephanie shrugged helplessly. "It's what he and his men are saying, but most of the people in town don't believe it. Especially me."

"What does that mean, exactly? Especially you?" I asked. "What exactly were you doing in Scottsdale? Just hunkering down in a vacant house or something?"

She lifted her eyes to look at me. The haunted expression on her face did little to elicit my sympathy, but I could see she was truly upset and not putting on an act.

"Eren, much to my displeasure, propositioned me to become the lady of the pack. Not a mate, exactly, but more like the alpha's consort. I would help him run the pack. I…" She hesitated. "I guess I'd be lying if I say the idea didn't seem attractive at first. Not because I liked Eren. He's a disgusting person, but I didn't want to be an outcast. But then, he showed me what he was working on."

A murmur ran through the room.

"What did he show you?" I probed.

She folded her hands together, and tears pooled in her eyes. "The children. I'd heard a rumor, but everyone was too frightened to tell me anything. Then this morning, he showed me what he was doing." She started to sob. "He thought I would be impressed. He thought I would be excited that he'd discovered a new weapon to use against you, Jace. It's disgusting. I knew then that I'd made a mistake. One that was even worse than the mistakes I'd already made. I couldn't sit by and watch him do that to those kids. So I came to find you. As soon as no one was watching, I came."

She put a hand to her forehead, barely able to keep herself under control. "It's so bad, Jace. The town is terrified of Eren. Everyone is living in fear, but they're all too afraid to run or fight back." She held her hands out to me in a plea. "I know this isn't my pack anymore, but you have to help me. Help the people of Scottsdale. Please?"

Her sobs grew more ragged, and she sank to her knees.

"We can't trust her," Abigail hissed in my ear.

Langston, however, was more reasonable. "I don't think she's this good of an actress, Abi," he said, gesturing to Stephanie as her tears dripped onto the floor.

I stared down at her, drumming my fingers on the table.

"Here's the deal," I said, and everyone, even Stephanie, quieted. "We can't trust you completely, Steph. Not after what you did."

She was already shaking her head. "Jace, please believe me, I didn't know Eren would kidnap Kirsten. I didn't. I only found out after the fact. He bragged about it after he brought her in. I tried to find out where he was keeping her so I could—"

"Please be quiet," I said, though not unkindly. "As I was saying, we can't let you in on all our plans, but there may be a way for you to help us. To prove that you've changed."

A glimmer of hope entered her eyes. "Anything."

"Waylan will be your point of contact. You will go back to Scottsdale and act as though you never spoke to us. You will be our mole and pass along anything you learn about Eren's plans. That will give us information on how to move forward. No one here"—I turned and scanned the room, making eye contact with everyone—"will tell anyone what was discussed today. As far as Eren knows, you're still a good little soldier. Understood?"

She nodded so vigorously that I thought her head might pop off. "I do. I understand. Whatever you need, Jace."

I waved at the door. "Good, then it's best you get out of here before anyone else sees you. Waylan will be in touch."

She got clumsily to her feet and headed for the door.

"Hang on," Waylan said as he jumped to his feet, pulling his phone out. "Did they take your cell? Do you have a way of communicating with us?"

"No," Stephanie said. "They took everything I had."

"Take this," he said, slapping the phone into her hand. "I'll get another for myself. Hide it. It's the only way I can contact you."

Stephanie tucked the phone into her pocket. "Thanks," she said.

She stopped at the threshold and turned back to look at me, opening her mouth as if to say something, but then she thought better of it and stepped outside.

"I say we table this until Stephanie can pass us more intel," I said.

"So, we just wait for Eren to do more fucked-up shit?" Ivy asked.

"We don't wait too long. Things are moving fast for us, which means they're moving fast for Eren. She should have something for us in the next day or two. If not?" I shrugged. "We'll have to assume this was all an act, or she's been discovered as a spy and Eren disposed of her. If that happens, then we can discuss a full-frontal assault again."

Ivy studied me, then tilted her head in acceptance. "That works."

The meeting dispersed, and everyone headed back to their packs and homes. Waylan and I got into his truck, and he drove me home as I stared out the window, contemplating everything that had gone down.

As we pulled up to my house, the front door opened. Harley stepped out into the sunlight. Waylan sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of her and accidentally slammed on the brake. I jerked forward against my seatbelt and slapped the dashboard. "Whoa."

He stared at her with eyes so wide, he almost looked dead. Thankfully, the glare on the windshield didn't allow Harley to see his face. Otherwise, she might have called the cops or an ambulance, depending on how she interpreted his expression.

"Bro, you've got to tell her," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.

"I know." He whined the last word like a heartbroken wolf.

We got out of the truck and walked toward Harley. She leaned against the railing and gave us a blinding smile, prompting Waylan to let out a lovesick sigh.

I nudged him with my elbow.

"I know, I know," he muttered.

"Where's Kirsten?" I asked.

Harley hooked a thumb toward the backyard. "Behind the house, practicing her magic on Tank."

Waylan and I shared a look, then rushed around the side of the house to see the damage. As we circled the building, the spectacle made both of us skid to a stop.

Kirsten was jumping around, pumping her fist in the air. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Ten feet from her, Tank lay on his back, blinking at the sky overhead. The front of his shirt was singed and smoking.

Her excitement sent her magic rolling off her in waves, and the intoxicating sensation it ignited in me nearly knocked me off my feet.

Waylan slapped my shoulder. "You better get used to that, buddy."

"What is going on here?" I asked.

Kirsten spun around, beaming at us. "I just kicked Tank's ass is what's going on here."

"She ain't lying, boss," Tank moaned, rolling over onto his stomach and struggling to heave himself to his feet. He cast an embarrassed glance toward Kirsten. "I may have gone easy on her. You know, to be nice."

Kirsten rolled her eyes. "That's bullshit, and you know it."

Tank's face went red, but he didn't say anything else. I gripped his arm and tugged him to his feet.

"Are you gonna tell me exactly what you did to him?" I asked Kirsten.

The wicked little smile she shot me was a little disconcerting. "I'd rather show you."

"Don't worry," Tank grumbled. "It only hurts really bad for a second, then the agony sets in." He patted my shoulder. "You'll do fine."

Swallowing hard, I faced Kirsten. "I'm guessing you've learned something new?"

"Not so much new, but a different way of going about things," Tinsley spoke up.

I was so focused on Kirsten and Tank, I hadn't noticed her sitting on the porch, sipping on a glass of lemonade.

"Really?" I looked from Tinsley to Kirsten and back again. "And what is that?"

"Before, we were only doing long-range spells. Firing away at you while you charged me," Kirsten said. "Tinsley helped me focus my magic to my palms and fingertips, shooting spells at you like bullets from a gun. Today, we tried close combat. Like, hand-to-hand stuff. It works best with the lightning spell I've figured out. Come on," she added brightly, waving me toward her. "Try to take me down."

I breathed in deeply and looked to Waylan, who now stood with Tank and Harley, all three of them watching with interest. Couldn't back out now. I'd look like a coward.

"Okay, fine," I said, walking toward her. "Tell me if I get too rough. I don't want to hurt you."

Kirsten only raised her eyebrow as though I'd just said an unfunny joke.

Waiting until I was four feet away, I leapt forward, using my enhanced speed to close the gap, and grasped her wrists. I began to smile and prepare my sarcastic remark when I yelped in pain. Pain jolted through my hands and fingers as if I'd shoved my entire hand into a giant light socket.

I jumped back, shaking my hands, fingers numb and tingling. Before I could do anything more, Kirsten stepped forward and slapped her palm on my chest. The world slowed down as though I'd been plunged into a video played at quarter speed. Pain erupted in my chest, then there was the weird sensation of the ground vanishing beneath me. Wind rushed around my ears and face, my hair billowing.

For an instant, I saw the others gaping at me. I had a few milliseconds to wonder what they were so concerned about before time resumed its normal speed. The sky and earth moved in a weird strobe effect as I tumbled ass over teakettle twenty yards to the back of my yard, landing face-down with an inarticulate groan.

I lay there, motionless and groaning into the grass. It was like a truck had run over me.

"Shit!" Waylan shouted. "Jace, are you okay?"

Rough hands slid under my armpits, dragging me up. "Camp feel my megs," I slurred.

"Give it a second," Tank called.

A few seconds later, my toes began to bristle with a pins-and-needles sensation. I stumbled upright, nearly tripping, then blinked hard and shook my head. My white T-shirt had an imprint of a hand burnt into it, small wisps of smoke trailing up into the air.

"Holy fucking shit," I said, staring across the yard at Kirsten, who looked even more pleased with herself.

"I know, right?" she shouted. "I'm like a human taser."

Despite the pain in every inch of my body, I grinned at her. I loved seeing her so happy and excited.

"I like that trick," I said, walking toward her. "What I don't like is the idea of anyone getting close enough to you that you have to use it, but I'm glad it's there." Once I was within arm's reach, I pulled her close and kissed her lightly. "I'm really proud of you, you know that?"

She leaned into me, then nearly collapsed, my arms the only thing keeping her on her feet. My happiness was replaced by worry in an instant.

"Hey, are you okay?"

She nodded against my chest. "Tired."

Her voice was groggy, almost like she was already drifting off to sleep on her feet. Scooping her up, I carried her into the house.

Tinsley shook her head. "I told her she needed to take it easy. She was pushing herself too hard, too fast. She's crashing. Summoning that much magical energy is exhausting unless you've had loads of practice."

Kirsten's head slumped onto my shoulder, faint snores coming out of her mouth.

"Is she gonna be okay?" My worry was building by the second.

"She will be," Tinsley said with a nod. "Magic is a lot like exercise. You have to build your muscles before you can lift a really heavy weight. Using this much magic before the body is accustomed to it is like running a marathon after being a couch potato for years. She needs rest and food to replenish her reserves. After that, she'll be right as rain."

That made me feel a little better.

I headed upstairs, but instead of taking her to her own room, I took her to mine. Laying her down on the bed, I pulled her shoes off, then tucked her under the blanket. I crawled in beside her. She hadn't stirred at all, and as I wrapped an arm around her, I watched her sleep. After a few minutes of listening to her heartbeat and rhythmic breathing, I dozed off.

Sometime later, I didn't know how long, I awoke to the crackle of static electricity in the air. Keeping my eyes closed, I said, "You're supposed to be resting."

A finger trailed up my bicep, leaving tingles in its wake. This shock wasn't painful, more like a tickle.

"I'm plenty energized now." Kirsten sent another painless pulse of magic into my shoulder.

I opened my eyes and watched her run her fingers across my skin. She trailed her hand over my chest, and even through the shirt, I could feel the sizzle of magic on my skin. Catching her eye, I grinned at her.

"Do you like that?" she whispered.

"Maybe."

She sent another pleasurable wave across my stomach, and my cock stirred, pressing up against my pants. Kirsten must have seen because her grin widened. "Maybe? It looks like more than maybe."

With a growl, I was on her, kissing her deeply. In moments, we were both consumed by the madness of desire. Before I could stop myself, I reached forward, grabbed her shirt by the collar, and yanked. It tore down the middle, revealing those gorgeous breasts of hers.

Kirsten gasped against my mouth and looked down. "That was fucking hot."

I lowered my head to her breast and sucked her nipple into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue. Kirsten moaned, and my cock went rock-hard.

As I feasted on her breasts, she leaned to the side, fumbling with my belt and zipper. I raised my hips to help her, and in seconds, she had my jeans down to my knees and my dick in her hand. Cool fingers slipped around my shaft, stroking me slowly. I groaned in pleasure at the way she glided her hand up and down.

She knelt on the bed beside me, her hand never ceasing its stroking, and then her tongue was on me, swirling around the head of my cock. My head fell back against the pillow as she took me into her mouth, her lips wrapping around me. The slickness of her tongue sliding along my shaft sent ripples of lust through my entire body. I wanted this. Needed this. Ever since the moment I got her back, I'd wanted nothing but this. To be alone with her, holding her, and having her. The connection, the desire, and emotion. Her body on mine, the feel of me inside her? There was nothing better.

Kirsten grasped the base of my dick and slowly bobbed her head up and down on me, stroking with her hand as she did, eliciting more moans and gasps from me as she worked my cock. She sucked harder at the head, her hand pumping me faster. I nearly went cross-eyed at the sensation.

Wanting—needing—to touch her, feel her, I reached over and pulled her yoga pants down. To my delight, she wasn't wearing any panties. A moment later, I slipped a finger into her soaking wet pussy. God, she was so velvety smooth. She moaned around my cock, and the vibration nearly sent me over the edge. I rubbed my thumb over her clit, and she raised her head.

"Take your clothes off. Now."

"Yes, ma'am," I whispered.

A few seconds later, we were both fully naked and writhing against each other, her breasts sliding across my chest as we kissed yet again. She ground her hips against me, the slickness between her legs dragging across my cock. Reaching down between us, she curled her fingers around my shaft and stroked it a few times before angling the head toward her entrance.

I pulled away. "Not yet."

She pouted. "I want you inside me, Jace. Please."

"Soon," I hissed as I rolled her onto her back.

Kirsten giggled, but her laughter was quickly replaced by a sharp intake of breath as I buried my face between her legs, tongue sliding deep into her, my upper lip grinding on her clit as I fucked her with my tongue. Her fingers twisted in my hair as she pulled me even closer against her. It was hard to breathe, but I thought it would be a glorious way to die.

I thrust a finger into her as I sucked and licked her clit. Her back bowed off the bed, her moans turning into little gasping pants as I moved faster, stroking her G-spot.

"Jace, I'm gonna come," she said, her hips quivering beneath me.

Wanting her to do just that, I added a second finger, stretching her wider. Her fingers dug into my scalp, and then she whimpered as she came. Before her first orgasm had even finished, I rose, grabbed her hips, and flipped her over. Positioning the head of my cock at her entrance, I slid my full length into her. She was wet, warm, and amazing, and I plunged all the way to my balls.

Kirsten clutched at the bedsheets, grasping handfuls of the fabric as I thrust in and out of her. God, she felt so good.

"You're so fucking wet," I whispered, grabbing her ass and digging my fingers in, tugging her back toward me with each thrust.

She moaned into the bed. "I'm gonna come again, Jace."

"That's what I want," I murmured. "Be a good girl and come for me."

My words sent her over the edge. Kirsten pressed her face into the sheets and let out an inarticulate scream of delight. I didn't stop; if anything, I fucked her even harder. All I could think of was giving her wave after wave of ecstasy. I wanted her to be a quivering puddle, spent and loved.

I pulled free and turned her over, wanting to see her face. She looked up at me, face red and glistening, hair disheveled. No one had ever looked more beautiful. With a thrust of my hips, I entered her again, and her mouth dropped open. Again and again, I slammed into her. Her chest was flushed, and a vein throbbed in her neck as yet another orgasm shook her to her core.

Urged on by her pleasure, I moved even faster, my own climax building. Kirsten gripped my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin like claws. Despite the overwhelmed look on her face, she wanted more, lifting her hips with each thrust to meet mine.

"God, that feels so good," she hissed through clenched teeth. "I want to feel you come inside me."

That was all it took. With a grunt that almost turned into a scream, the explosion of ecstasy crashed into me like a wall of water, causing my hips to shudder. I emptied myself into her, letting the shiver of delight surge up my hips and back and across my chest until I had nothing more to give. Breathing heavily, I collapsed onto her.

Kirsten trailed the tips of her fingers across my back. "That was amazing," she whispered in my ear.

"That's putting it mildly."

After a few minutes, I rolled off her and went to retrieve a towel from the bathroom. Once we'd cleaned up, I cuddled up next to her.

I told her about the alpha meeting and Stephanie's surprise appearance.

"Are you serious?" she asked, giving me a look of pure incredulity.

"She offered to spy for us and pass along information. We'll see how that goes. Waylan will be her contact. Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll give us some intel that will make it easier to take Eren down."

Kirsten ran her hand over my chest and stomach. "Can you trust her? After what she did?"

I sighed, trailing my fingers through her hair. "I honestly don't know, but we're gonna find out pretty damn fast."