Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 21: Caine: You’re an Idiot

CAINE

Even without being manifested, I can feel my wolf staring holes into my head.

You’re an idiot, Fenris observes for the twentieth time today.

Ignoring him, I nudge a plate closer to the empty seat across from me. The table is covered in a feast; plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, biscuits, scones...

This pack runs well enough, and it’s objectively a loss to have murdered its Alpha last night. While Jack-Eye hasn’t spoken to me about my sudden decision, I know it’s going to be a headache when we get back to our territory. Once news reaches the other packs, protests will come to the throne. Other packs will even send envoys.

There’s no way to sugarcoat an act of war, even for the Lycan King. If I want to keep the peace I’ve forced onto our people, I can’t go around killing Alphas—but his treatment of her...

Was it much better than yours? Fenris asks, with a bit of a snarl in his mental voice. He’s still angry with me for acting as if I was going to choke the girl.

"I didn’t hurt her. She’s alive, isn’t she?"

He sighs. How was she supposed to know you wouldn’t hurt her?

Nagging isn’t a usual part of our relationship, and his insistence on taking care of this human is frustrating. I’d spent all morning cleaning up our mess, and even kept her golden-haired lover alive to take over as Alpha. She should appreciate my restraint, considering the mess I created over her.

You’re going to regret thinking like that.

Ignoring Fenris’ warning, I drop into the chair, drumming my fingers against the table. Where is Jack-Eye with the girl? The food is nearly cold, and the girl hasn’t eaten all day.

That’s your fault. You forgot about her.

Besides, I didn’t

an idiot, my wolf

because she needs to stay alive until we sort this mess out. She goes back to the

plan to investigate when you slaughtered everyone who might have

chest. "There are survivors." It isn’t like I massacred the entire pack. Just a chunk of it. Enough to make an example and

why didn’t you ask her some

obnoxious blueberry muffin scent. Because it was all I could do not to throw her onto it when she came out of the bathroom, wet and steamy—so I stole her pillow instead, taking it to

my head. I want nothing more to punch that son of a bitch wolf in his

at her scent before she

circles ring her grass-green eyes, her skin pale from lack of food. Not that I care. This is purely Fenris’s obsession making me notice

wonder what possessed me to think you were intelligent

throat working as she swallows. Her entire body is stiff, and she keeps cradling her hands against her chest. Does she really think

part of you has

the frail human, saturating this room in the scent of muffins. I might have tied and gagged her, but it isn’t like I hurt her. Scared her, maybe, but she should realize how much

convenient for you, she’s human. Not a shifter. Violence

Human news

Fenris sighs.

brushes her arm as he pulls out her chair.

sets my blood boiling. Even if it’s just Jack-Eye being courteous, the sight of his fingers grazing her skin

"Get out," I snarl.

Jack-Eye raises an eyebrow in my direction, but doesn’t argue. If anything,

me if

his retreating footsteps does nothing to calm the rage coursing