James knew bad news was coming.
Don't ask him how, he just knew. Sometimes, it happened, he'll just know that something not to his favor was about to occur. Maybe it's years of honed instincts, an hunch, a feel in the air that set his wolf on edge. Since he was a small boy he has always almost knew where a certain missing object might be, like his toys or pen. But there were also times when the 'hunch' was heavy in the air, where his instincts would shout a warning deep in his bone.
Maybe it's a gift, or all alpha has it but the point is that he knew terrible news was coming and it was getting difficult not to let the mix emotions of dread, anticipation and anxiety to spill over to the pack link.