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

my wolf opines again, sounding

out of my head." My knuckles whiten around the edge of the table. "I’m only feeding her because she needs to stay alive until we sort this mess

And how do you plan to investigate when you slaughtered everyone who might have

like I massacred the entire pack. Just a chunk of it. Enough to make an example and take the edge off the anger burning in my chest.

ask her some

soon as I walked in, I was drawn to the bed, where everything was drenched in her 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

but his smug presence is overbearing in my head. I want nothing more to punch that son of a bitch wolf in his muzzle

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

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

wonder what possessed me to think you were intelligent

me and the spread of food, her throat working as she swallows. Her entire body is

wouldn’t she? What part of you has shown you

of muffins. I might have tied and gagged her, but it isn’t like I hurt her. Scared her, maybe,

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

Human news

Fenris sighs.

beta’s hand brushes her arm as he pulls out her

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

"Get out," I snarl.

an eyebrow in

me if you need

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