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

feel the bones grinding together

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

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 wrists probably don’t even register

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

should have known better than to hope

asks Ellie bluntly, and her grip

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

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

the reality that Rafe survived while Alpha died. That in the aftermath of

The Lycan Beta’s voice carries

release my wrists; she sounds cautious now, no longer deranged with her hatred of me. "Yes, Lycan Beta.

against my chest, angry red marks blooming where her grip crushed blood vessels. The Beta’s gaze drops

Pack make a habit of touching

his words. The way

"I 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

as she continues,

her situation. After all, we want

Something in his stance shifts, a predatory

clear she’s caused