Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 26: Grace: A Suspicious Hand

A series of knocks jerks me out of a dream involving a lot of naked skin, among other details I have no business recalling. I wipe a trail of drool from my cheek. "Gross."

Another knock.

"Come in." My voice comes out scratchy. Clearing my throat, I sit up on my bed, wondering who it is.

My entire body stiffens as Andrew steps through the doorway. His limp brown hair falls into his eyes and something about his expression is strange, but what catches my attention is the pillow in his hands.

"What are you doing here?" Despite him obviously being here to deliver what I need, the words come out defensive. I was glad to see he was alive earlier, but it doesn’t mean I wanted to see him in person. I just didn’t want to recognize another body on the pile.

"Delivering this." He holds up the pillow like a peace offering, but his eyes are intense as they look me over. "Lycan King’s orders."

My fingers twitch with the urge to snatch it from him.

"Just toss it over here," I say, waving airily at the other side of my bed, aiming for nonchalance despite how desperately I want it. My neck hurts from the impromptu nap I took without one.

Andrew hesitates, his eyes darting around the room. "You... Are you okay?"

My eyes narrow at Andrew’s question. Something’s off about his visit—the Lycan King wouldn’t send him of all people to deliver a pillow, would he? Fenris should recognize him from their encounter during the Mate Hunt.

Then again, I’m acting like the Lycan King cares about me. He probably hasn’t thought twice about a wolf as insignificant as Andrew. Even if Rafe came in here, I’m sure he wouldn’t bat an eye...

I remember yesterday. Okay, maybe not Rafe. The Lycan King doesn’t seem to

Despite trying to sound neutral, my words come out clipped. My tongue presses against my teeth, stopping the automatic ’how are you?’ from escaping. Old habits die hard, but I’m not

alive. Great. I don’t need

as he takes a step forward. Then another. His arms wrap tighter around my pillow, pressing it against his chest like a shield. The sight of it makes my fingers curl into my palms. That’s my pillow, and now it’s going

aren’t something that usually bother me, and I’ve always found shifters to be a little odd with how finicky they can be about them. But now I get it. I don’t want to smell

pillow, but no, it didn’t

worried about you, you

before I can stop it. Of course

curving down at the corners. "He’s been busy,

focus on running his pack and getting

now, without

crack in my voice, without the slightest tremor. Look at me, already over Rafe. Maybe trauma is good for something

holding my precious pillow hostage. "The pack’s a mess right now, but we still want to take care of

declaration hits like a slap. My mouth falls open as I stare at him, wondering if I heard right. "Take care of

"Yes, we—"

Beta she would personally destroy me on the Lycan King’s command. She said harboring humans in the pack is illegal. Now you’re trying to tell me you all want to take care of

face pales. "Rafe would

"Uh-huh."

finally tossing the pillow at me. It lands on the floor, just inches from

help me?" I shake my head, unable to help the hysterical giggles from bubbling up. How absurd. "You’ll have to do better