s
Jace Hale ripped off his helmet, tousled hair wild and untamed like a wolf shaking off the wind. He shot Carmen a cocky nce, eyes gleaming with fierce pride.
“Carmen, how’s that? Feel the thrill? Think I’m worthy enough to be your mate?”
Carmen’s face was a still, coldke-calm and unreadable.
Slow and deliberate, she drew out herm talisman, flicked it open, and brought up her payment seal.
“Pay up.”
The confident smile on Jace’s lips snapped shut like a trap.
“Carmen, you’re brutal! I was just showing off, and you can’t spare me even a shred of praise? You wound me deep.”
Her hawk-like eyes pierced him, sharp and unyielding.
Jace’s heart mmed hard against his ribs, his face flushing beneath her stare.
He quickly lowered his head, pretending to fiddle with his own talisman-but inside, his pulse raced wild and untamed.
Damn her cold gaze-it’s like being stared down by a hunting alpha. I’m hooked. I want more of that icy fire. If only she’d focus that look on me alone.
Flustered, he sent the wolf-coin purse to Carmen-enough to cover a month’s worth of status as her mate.
“Wolf-coin transferplete: Three hundred thousand silver.”
The crisp chime echoed. Carmen blinked, slightly caught off guard.
“What’s this?”
Jace chuckled sheepishly, scratching his neck.
“Heh, didn’t you say ten thousand silver a day for being my mate? Here’s 300 thousand-make it thirty days. How’s that sound?”
A faint, almost hidden curve tugged at Carmen’s lips-a rare flicker of amusement.
For a heartbeat, she found his awkward sincerity almost… endearing.
She stepped closer, grasping his cor, forcing his head down so their eyes met.
Jace’s heart tripped, heat flooding his cheeks, ears burning crimson.
“C-Carmen, what are you?” He stammered, thoughts racing with reckless images. Was she about to seal this with a kiss? I’m not ready!
8:16 pm 30
But if Carmen was taking the lead, he surrendered.
Eyes closing, he puckered his lips nervously, eager and trembling for her touch.
Carmen held back a smile at his goofy eagerness and said with icy coolness,
s
“Thirty days pass, and if you still want a mate-and the coin’s good-I’m yours whenever you call.”
She released him with a shove that shattered his fantasy.
Jace stared after her, deted and wounded.
He’d just gifted 300 thousand silver to her-and not even a kiss to show for it.
One by one, others arrived at the finish line.
Jace spotted his rival approaching, a mocking curl at the edge of his lips.
“You lost.”
Mortimer snorted, shoving Selene toward Jace.
“Here-take her.”
Selene stumbled into Jace’s arms, but he recoiled like she was coated in poison, pushing her away with
contempt.
“What am I supposed to do with her? I never imed her.”
Mortimer’s eyes narrowed, voice dripping with venom.
“We agreed-if I lose, Selene’s yours. If you lose, your mate’s mine.”
His gaze then locked onto Carmen-open, predatory-he whistled low and crude.
“Hey, beauty-what’s your name?”
Carmen didn’t flinch, didn’t spare him even a nce.
Mortimer’s face darkened, frustration bubbling over.
“Answer me, deaf or just dumb?”
Since learning Riley couldn’t hear, Carmen had grown fiercely protective of that word.
She spun around, eyes like twin des of ice shing at him.
“My name? What right do you have to know?”
Mortimer froze, then smirked with dark amusement.
8:16 pm DD
s
“Jace, this one’s got spirit. How ’bout you hand her over? You want Selene, right? Let’s trade.”
“Who the hell wants Selene? You think I’m some scavenger, collecting scraps?” Jace’s rage red, face burning like wildfire.
He yanked Carmen behind him, shielding her like a wolf guarding his mate.
Then he shoved Selene back toward the man, voice low and fierce.
“Your woman’s your problem. I want no part of her. My mate? She’s worth ten thousand times more than that.”
Selene’s eyes welled with tears, vulnerability flickering behind her defiant mask.
“Jace… how can you say that?”
Jace rolled his eyes, voice sharp as fangs.
“Did you think I raced for you? Don’t tter yourself.”
1:16 pm DD