Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 20: Grace: Intelligence is Lacking

"Let me go!" Tugging my wrist back just causes more pain; I’ll never get away by relying on strength. I wouldn’t win against even the weakest wolf, and Ellie is not weak. But I can’t just sit there and do nothing, so I keep trying.

"This is all because of you," she snaps, her fingers tightening to the point it feels my bones are being crushed. "Coming in here and causing a misunderstanding between our pack and the Lycans."

Our pack, she says, as if she’s already Luna or something.

Not that I’m competing, or even want to, but don’t I have a little more claim to this pack than she does? Even if I’ve become an abandoned human, I at least lived among these people for six years.

There’s no point in arguing semantics, though. I don’t want this pack anymore; I want to leave.

"Let me go," I say again, trying to pry her fingers off with my other hand. They don’t budge, and she snatches my other wrist as if I’m a child, with the same bone-crushing grasp.

The pain’s enough to send me to my knees, but I don’t want to go down in a pathetic heap in front of her, of all people.

"Is there a problem here?" The Lycan’s finally noticed I’m no longer behind him, striding toward Ellie from across the room.

Relief floods through me as he approaches, but it evaporates just as quickly. His expression remains neutral as he watches Ellie crush my wrists, not a flicker of concern crossing his features.

"Lycan Beta." Ellie’s voice drips honey, her grip never loosening. "I was just having some words with the disgrace."

My stomach churns at her use of that word. Not that it’s the first time I’ve heard it, but somehow it cuts deeper coming from her perfect lips, especially in front of someone who could actually help. If he wanted to.

gaze slides between us, assessing, measuring. Like he’s watching a

feel the bones grinding together under Ellie’s

probably catching the scent of my fear, my pain. These

event hall into a slaughterhouse last night. The same ones who piled bodies outside the building like a haphazard Lego pile. One girl’s crushed wrists probably don’t

before I can stop it. The Beta’s continued silence is all the

than to hope

you?" the Lycan asks Ellie bluntly, and her grip

Raphael

almost buckle, but I lock them before I fall. Rafe is alive. Not just

died. That in the aftermath of carnage,

Alpha?" The Lycan Beta’s voice carries a

she sounds cautious now, no longer deranged with her hatred

my arm against my chest, angry red marks blooming where

Blue Mountain Pack make a habit of

at his words. The way

rehearsed contrition. "You see, this human has been the source of much discord between our pack and yours. I only wish to

tightens as she continues, each word

personally investigate her situation. After all, we want nothing

stance shifts, a predatory stillness that makes

clear she’s