Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 16: Grace: What’s His

Mine.

The world buzzes in my ears, and time seems to slow.

Alpha’s standing now, veins protruding from his neck as he shouts at the Lycan King. Ellie’s yanking on Rafe’s arm, but he isn’t looking at her. He’s looking at me, his blue eyes dark and angry, as if I’ve somehow done something wrong.

My wrists and legs hurt where the rope still bites into my skin; there’s no doubt I’m the king’s captive, not anything he considers precious. And yet there’s my brain, lost and stuttering over his words.

Let me see who dares touch what’s mine.

Me? His?

My eyes return to the Lycan King, the source of this mess. His back is to me as he confronts my pack.

Muscles ripple beneath his shirt, each movement deliberate and controlled. The black ink of his tattoos shifts across his skin; at first, I thought of them as serpentine and slithery, but right now I can see they’re more like soft ropes of shadow caressing his skin. The patterns almost dance, mesmerizing in their fluid grace.

A bead of sweat rolls down Alpha’s temple as sound slowly comes back into focus, no longer buzzing in my ears. "High Alpha! What claim could you possibly have on this human?"

head tilting ever so slightly. "You dare demand explanations from me? Tell me, Brax, what

do not mean to demand anything—I only ask for clarification." His

turned the thermostat up to

strides forward, chin lifted high, every bit the entitled future alpha he was raised to be—but he looks like a child playing hero to my eyes, incomparable to the Lycan King standing

hiss carries even over the murmuring crowd. Perfectly manicured nails dig into his forearm. "You’re making a scene. Think about what

her off, never once glancing back—his eyes are still

carries the edge of a growl. "Not in

fingers flex at his sides, and I can’t tear my eyes from the way the shadows seem to follow his movements, as if

asks,

me to focus on the alpha of alphas

our pack, High Alpha. Unmated and unclaimed. If any claim was made, it would have

beneath his usual authority. "Your words suggest you’ve laid claim without cause. As

burns where the Lycan King’s fingers pressed moments ago, and I wish these damn ropes were no longer holding me here. If I

the king

I understand this: There’s no way I’m going to be unscathed in the crossfire of

this..." The Lycan King’s lip curls as he regards Rafe. "This pup.

High Alpha. Ended when he found his true mate." He gestures to Ellie, who smiles tightly, her fingers still digging into Rafe’s arm, like