Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 29

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—"

jaw tighten.

never shied away from violence—none of us have—but this is out of character, even for you. Do you really want to destroy the peace we’ve finally attained? We’ve spent years

chair, studying their faces. Their

his fate the moment he showed insolence. An alpha who can’t control his temper has no business leading

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

his sides.

demands, outrage pouring into our bond. His disrespect

too sensitive over the girl, and his

it takes for you to accept it, the harder it will be for both of

curling in a snarl.

following the law," I cut in, my voice dropping to a dangerous

things over, steps forward. Even his face is twisted in a

a dull ache. Fenris snaps at the air inside me. I’m going for

loyalty, but Fenris is another matter—he would have

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 choice

and the resulting grunt helps ease the tightness in my chest. Jack-Eye’s beta domination is a soft whisper in the

faces are tight and grim,

my eye twitches to hear her

don’t use her

he continues, frowning at each

in my body wants to snap at them to keep her name out of their filthy mouths, and I wonder if Fenris is manipulating

No, it’s just you.

veins, turns back to me with a frown. "You’re holding her captive when

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

I know it. They do, too, judging

Just admit it.

seem so one-sided to

other Lycans stir; it’s clear none of them know what Jack-Eye’s implying, and I

respect boundaries. He’s more of a bulldozer than a

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