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.

assessing, measuring. Like he’s watching

the bones grinding together under Ellie’s supernatural

flare, probably catching the scent of my fear, my pain. These wolves, they can smell everything—tears, blood, terror. And yet he stands there,

are the same Lycans who turned the 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

tighten further, and a small whimper escapes me before I can stop it. The Beta’s continued silence is all

better than to hope

Lycan asks Ellie

my name is Ellie Thornton, mate to Raphael Wilder, the new Alpha of the Blue Mountain

but I lock them before I fall. Rafe is alive. Not just alive—he’s

over the reality that Rafe survived while Alpha died. That in the aftermath of carnage, he claimed leadership. That somehow, in the space of hours, everything has

The Lycan Beta’s voice carries a

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

my chest, angry red marks blooming where her grip crushed

the Blue Mountain Pack make a habit of touching what doesn’t

chill runs through me at his words. The way he

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

tightens as she continues, each

will personally investigate her situation. After all, we want nothing but peace between our

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

course. It’s clear she’s