Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 28: Caine: Intervention

CAINE

The sweet scent of blueberry muffins has faded, replaced by a more generic odor—body sweat and wolf musk, courtesy of all my subordinates crowding my suite.

It shouldn’t infuriate me as much as it does, but I want to smash their heads together for it.

I rub at my temple, the dull throb behind my eyes a stark reminder of my lack of sleep. "Stop standing there in silence."

They all look at Jack-Eye; he’s clearly been chosen as their spokesperson. The beta clears his throat, stepping forward. "It’s about last night, Alpha."

I expected as much. "What about it?"

"The death of an Alpha, even one as problematic as Brax, requires proper protocol. The packs will question—"

"Let them question."

"With respect," Reggie advances to stand beside Jack-Eye, his scarred face twisted in concern, "we’re not questioning your authority. But slaughtering an alpha and half his pack over a mere human—"

My fist slams against the table with a sharp crack. "Mere? Are our laws just decoration?"

Jack-Eye elbows Reggie in his side, not bothering with discretion. "But there are procedures for this. The other packs will see this as an act of—"

"Tyranny. It isn’t like it’s a new opinion." I’ve done worse in the past, when uniting all packs under my rule. Of course, it was a different time then.

"High Alpha." Reggie glances at the others and squares his shoulders, facing me once more. "We stand with you. Always. But the whispers have already returned. Not just ’The Mad King’, but now they’re calling you ’The Butcher of Blue Mountain’."

Fenris stirs within me, pleased with the titles. He’s been silent since the girl left, resting to recover his strength. A King’s strength is fearsome.

Fighting a sigh, I wave my free hand in the air. "When the delegates arrive, we’ll deal with them."

They all share glances, and Jack-Eye groans when their gazes land on him. Shoving his hand through his hair, he snaps, "Caine, this is a problem. Brax had his hand in a lot of fucking cookie jars. There are plenty who might be happy he’s gone, but Blue Mountain isn’t just some backwater pack. They have solid allies within the region. Cowing them alone is easy, but if they decide to gather and rebel against us—"

muscles in my jaw tighten.

is at before we move forward." Jack-Eye’s gaze holds mine, unflinching. "You’ve never shied away from violence—none of us have—but this is out of character, even for you. Do you really

my arms, I lean back in the wooden chair, studying their faces. Their concern radiates off them in waves, stinking up the room. It’s

he showed insolence. An alpha who can’t control his temper has

his lips together. I’m sure he has some smartass

building as his hands clench at his sides. "We all know this isn’t about his leadership. It’s about that human

Fenris demands, outrage pouring into our bond.

Fenris is too sensitive over the girl, and his emotions have clouded my

emotions? They’re yours, too. The longer it takes for you to accept it, the harder it will be for both of

strong pack," Reggie continues, his upper lip curling in a snarl. "They’re weak and

voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "why are

with gray hair and a penchant for smoothing things over, steps forward. Even his face is twisted in

tattoos across my chest burn with a dull ache. Fenris snaps at the air inside me. I’m going for his

people in return for their loyalty, but Fenris is another matter—he would have them on the ground and bleeding in a heartbeat to maintain his

the past week, he’d probably manifest on the spot to prove he means what he says. Instead, I’m able to subdue him through force of will, clamping down on our bond until he has no

beta domination is a soft whisper in the air, almost a tickle against my skin, but Reggie and Dylan take a step back in

tight and grim, but

Harper," Jack-Eye says, and my eye twitches to hear her name coming out of his

don’t use her

Harper," he continues, frowning at each Lycan in turn.

to keep her name out of their filthy mouths, and I wonder if Fenris is

No, it’s just you.

with a frown. "You’re holding her captive when she’s clearly Brax’s victim. Why are we still holding her here? We should be escorting

ice with his words. My fingers tighten against each armrest, wood splintering beneath the force of my grip. "I am still investigating. There

I know it. They do, too, judging by

Just admit it.

her, but it doesn’t seem so one-sided to

clear none of them know what Jack-Eye’s

never been one to respect boundaries. He’s more of a bulldozer than a wolf. "Alpha, is there