Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 18: Grace: Pillow

The next morning dawns with somber silence and a pile of bodies in front of the main lodge.

Alpha’s is on top for everyone to see, but it’s the sheer number that makes me want to vomit every time I look out the window. I was right when I thought the Lycan King was a serial killer. He instigated a riot and caused the death of... how many? Twenty? Thirty?

He’s a madman.

And I still don’t understand why he did it.

Alpha’s dead. So is Beta. I don’t know where Rafe is, but I did see Andrew this morning, limping as he helped gather the bodies.

The door creaks. I whirl around, heart in my throat, expecting the mass murderer in question to be standing there.

A red-haired Lycan stands in the doorway, the same one who smirked at my predicament last night. His posture is formal, almost stiff. "Caine thought these might fit you." He extends a stack of fabric.

I don’t move to take it, watching him with suspicion. Caine must be the Lycan King’s name, but that’s just an assumption. It could be any of them.

After standing there for a solid ten seconds, he sighs and walks inside, not bothering to ask for permission as he brushes by me. He places them on the bed before backing away with measured steps. "There’s a bathroom through that door if you’d like to freshen up."

I already know that. It isn’t my first time in the main lodge’s guest quarters, though I’ve never stayed in them overnight. It’s interesting, though, that he’s so concerned about me. Bringing me clothes, urging me to shower?

He—and his kin—massacred my adoptive pack. The Lycan King himself bound me with rope before dragging me to this place.

It’s strange. So strange.

The door clicks shut behind the red-haired Lycan and I sigh, heading to the bed to inspect what he brought.

Shirts, blouses, jeans, and slacks. I guess so I can pick whatever I’m most comfortable with? There’s a pair of sneakers underneath them all, black with rose gold accents, and they look brand new. No socks, though. Or underwear. And yet there’s a bra, though a quick glance at the tag says it’s a little too big, both in bust and cup.

A soft thump outside the door reminds me I’m trapped in here, with a guard stationed in the hall.

This is insane. People don’t just get kidnapped by wolf shifters anymore. They don’t witness massacres, have their entire city get taken over, or get claimed by the king. This isn’t a movie, or a book. It’s my life.

my future. As a human in a wolf

grab the plain black t-shirt and a pair of dark jeans from the pile. Simple, comfortable, and not tainted by the events of last night. Perfect for whatever nightmare awaits

whatever guards lurk outside, but

see the ghost of who I used to be—Alpha’s daughter,

me doesn’t seem high on anyone’s

my skin, but I keep it quick. No time to contemplate my situation under the spray. My muscles ache from

by hand in the sink. Soap suds swirl down the drain as I scrub them clean, along with my bra. Both items end up hanging over the shower

forever to dry—but at least it won’t soak my shirt. The only towel in the bathroom was a hand

hard can do, though it feels like everyone’s deaths will forever stain my skin—I open

Lycan King lounges on his side, on my bed, like he owns

to his face and sniffing

are you—why are

?!"

in this absurd moment, as I clutch the doorknob

mine as he takes

the instinct to stay perfectly still and keep from antagonizing a killer. And worse than either is the part of me wanting to get closer and sniff him back, bury myself in that

front of me, even as it catalogues every part of his face to memory, while lamenting the fact he’s clothed.

brain can be

silence stretches thin between us. Each inhale of his makes my skin

psychotic person, that’s

up, gray eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that pins me in place.

My mouth opens, but no sound

ones." His nose wrinkles

the...? Why would I care about

throat closes up. Because this isn’t just

plans to make me his slave? That makes sense, I guess. Doesn’t explain why he’s smelling my pillow, but

here, dripping water onto the carpet, staring at him like he’s speaking another

leg over the other, his arm draped across his thigh with casual elegance that doesn’t match the predatory

as he doesn’t move

it feels like a physical thing between us, heavy and thick. I wonder if I’m going to