Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 27: Grace: An Absurd Plan

"—the car would leave tonight, before midnight. Just a few miles east of the river crossing. Forest Springs is Ellie’s father’s territory, so you’d be safe there until—"

My fingers curl into the soft fabric of my recovered pillow, digging in until my knuckles turn white. Forest Springs Pack. The neighboring territory ruled by Ellie’s father.

I keep my face blank while Andrew continues explaining their supposed escape plan, but inside, my stomach twists into knots dense enough to sink through the floor. In the end, Ellie and Rafe want me to go to her father’s pack.

Silly me, to ever think Ellie and I could be on the same page for even a moment.

"Alpha Thornton will personally guarantee your protection," Andrew says, leaning forward with an earnestness that might be convincing if I didn’t know better. "It’s the perfect solution."

The room suddenly feels smaller, the walls closing in as Andrew’s voice drones on about routes and timing and security measures. Each word lands like another shovelful of dirt on my grave.

"—Rafe wanted to come himself, but he’s tied up with the transition meetings. The Lycans are demanding a lot from him as the new Alpha."

Of course they are. Convenient excuse.

I trace a loose thread on my bedsheet, keeping my gaze down so Andrew won’t see what’s in my eyes. This plan isn’t about keeping me safe. It’s about getting rid of me permanently. Ellie’s intent is to make sure I’m forever miserable.

If it was about my safety, they’d send me to Sterling City.

"—and once the Lycans leave, probably in a few weeks, Rafe will send for you and—"

A bitter laugh threatens to burst from my throat, but I swallow it down. The fantasy that Rafe would "send for me" after the Lycans leave might be the most ridiculous part of this whole charade. Ellie would sooner tear out her own heart than allow me back into Rafe’s orbit, even at the edges.

"Grace?" Andrew pauses, finally noticing my silence. "Are you listening?"

"It’s a lot to take in," Andrew says, mistaking my silence for consideration. "But we don’t have much time."

"Ellie’s put together a bag for you—clothes, some toiletries. Basic stuff to get you through the first few days until you’re settled."

Clothes picked by Ellie. I imagine scratchy fabrics, wrong sizes, colors meant to wash me out and make me look sickly. Little cruelties hidden in gestures of false kindness.

I stare at Andrew, something inside me finally snapping. The pretense of polite consideration evaporates, like water beneath the noon sun. "Do you actually believe any of this bullshit you’re spewing?"

My words are a brutal knife slicing through his plans. Andrew blinks, taken aback by my sudden shift from passive listener to open skeptic.

"What? Grace, this isn’t—"

what? A convenient way to get rid of me? To hand me over to people

hardens. "Look, I wouldn’t be part of this if I thought

"Excuse me?"

treated well." He leans forward, earnestness radiating from him. "Rafe wants me to make sure you’re okay. He specifically asked me to accompany you. If she

humorless laugh. I lift

you know? Ellie’s the one who

I can see his expression out

grabbed me in the hall and wouldn’t let go. Squeezed until I thought the bones would snap." My voice drops to an icy whisper as I finally meet his gaze. "She did

tell me again why someone like Ellie—someone who was willing to physically harm me in front of witnesses—would suddenly be so concerned with helping me?

air between us. Andrew shifts uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to my bandaged

he swallows. "It’s still better than being prisoner to the Lycan King, isn’t it? You’ve seen it. He’s crazed for violence. He’ll

twists. Yes, I know. It isn’t like I trust him, either. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to jump into a

attitude sends a shiver through my body. "It can’t be... Do you actually believe what he said? About you

furious declaration in front of the

"No. Of course not."

strange meal with him and how he bandaged my wrist so tenderly. Heat creeps up my

slightly. "If there’s something between you and the Lycan King that you’re not

snap. I don’t need more rumors. Everyone’s confused enough as it

there’s nothing, why not

really think he’s helping me? And why

question," I say quietly. "Why would Ellie want

sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Rafe is concerned about you. He feels guilty. Ellie knows that, and she

I

complication," he corrects. "And with the Lycans

if I refuse to go?" I ask, though I already know the

you from whatever happens next. The Lycan King has claimed

supposed

His touch had been surprisingly gentle for someone so

I’m not going to

to Forest Springs. You need to take me to