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.

between us, assessing, measuring. Like he’s watching a mildly interesting

throb, and I can feel the

of my fear, my pain. These wolves, they can smell everything—tears, blood,

a slaughterhouse last night. The same ones who piled bodies outside the building like a haphazard Lego pile. One girl’s

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

than to hope for

Lycan asks Ellie bluntly,

Thornton, mate to Raphael Wilder,

knees almost buckle, but I lock them before I fall. Rafe is

it. My mind stutters over the reality that Rafe survived while Alpha died. That in the aftermath of carnage, he claimed leadership. That somehow, in

Alpha?" The Lycan Beta’s voice carries a

she sounds cautious now, no longer deranged with her hatred of me. "Yes, Lycan Beta. Raphael is

angry red marks blooming where

habit of touching what doesn’t belong

at his words. The way he says it—like I’m

apologize, Lycan Beta. I acted rashly." Her voice drips with rehearsed contrition. "You see, this human has been the source of much discord between our pack and yours. I only

she continues, each

personally investigate her situation. After all, we want nothing but

hasn’t left my wrists. Something in his stance shifts, a predatory stillness that makes my

clear she’s caused enough