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.

through clenched teeth. Besides, I didn’t forget about her. I just forgot

an idiot, my wolf

knuckles whiten around the edge of the table. "I’m only feeding her because she needs to stay alive until we sort this mess out. She goes back to the humans

to investigate when you slaughtered

bridge of my nose, a snarl building in my chest. "There are survivors." It isn’t like I massacred the entire pack. Just a chunk of it. Enough to make

you ask her some

was drenched in her obnoxious blueberry muffin scent. Because it was all I could do not to throw her onto it when

remains silent, but his smug presence is overbearing in my head. I want nothing more

My head snaps up, nostrils flaring at her scent before she even enters. Jack-Eye opens the

hair falling in waves around her shoulders. Dark circles ring her grass-green eyes, her skin pale from lack of food. Not that I care.

possessed me to think you were intelligent enough

beside her chair. Her eyes dart between me and the spread of food, her throat working as she swallows. Her entire body is stiff, and she keeps cradling her hands against her chest.

she? What part of you has shown

urge to scowl at 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

pointing out when it’s convenient for you, she’s human. Not a shifter. Violence

scoff. Human news glorifies

Fenris sighs.

her arm as he pulls out her chair. "Sit," he tells her, and she does, though

Jack-Eye being courteous, the sight of

"Get out," I snarl.

herself. Jack-Eye raises an eyebrow in my direction,

me if you

shut behind him, but the sound of his retreating footsteps does nothing to calm the