Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 37: Caine: You Touched Her

CAINE

Far in the distance, the horizon glows a dull orange, courtesy of the giant pyre burning the Blue Mountain Pack’s dead.

Everything’s going too smoothly this evening. Not a single issue has come to my attention. No one’s acting out. Trouble is nonexistent. It’s unrealistically peaceful.

The succession ceremony was flawless, but there’s a vague itch in the back of my head. Something is brewing in this pack, but I’ve yet to find even a hint of what it may be.

"You look like you’re about to start another rampage," Jack-Eye observes. He’s been in good spirits since my subordinates’ little intervention; funny, because my mood has only soured.

I glower at my beta, my jaw tight. My gaze shifts past him as the new Luna struts toward us with a self-important smile plastered on her face. Great. Dealing with her will only make my irritation worse.

"Handle her," I mutter to Jack-Eye, turning away before she reaches us. "I’m not in the mood."

Jack-Eye’s chuckle follows me as I cut through the crowd, wolves parting before me like shadows fleeing fire. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before I collide with the only person worse than this pack’s new Luna.

Raphael Wilder. Rafe. The brand-new Alpha of the Blue Mountain Pack, and the girl’s ex-lover.

"High Alpha." He extends his hand, a warm smile on his face, as if he hadn’t once prostrated himself at my feet. Now he seems to believe he’s close to my equal, living a fever-dream as the new Alpha. "I wanted to personally thank you for attending today."

I stare at his outstretched hand. My fingers twitch with the urge to grab his throat instead. To crush his windpipe. To feel bone and cartilage give way beneath my grip.

Instead, I loose a deep breath. Fenris gave me one last command before falling into his deep resting state: Don’t kill anyone. Normally, I would ignore such a nonsensical order, but I remember how much fear spiked the girl’s scent when the bloodshed began.

but I don’t

drops awkwardly to his side. "Thank you for ensuring a... peaceful transfer of

the wrong way. It could be a side effect of wanting to

not,

to stand

wouldn’t expect you to," I

yet my contempt has nothing to do with his capabilities and everything to do

jaw as I wonder how many sides of the girl he’s

Rafe’s tone is carefully measured as his gaze meets mine. He’s no longer shifting

"Oh? Are you playing host

to the side. What little confidence he’d gathered is gone with a mere sentence, leaving me

"Are there complaints?"

lie reeks more than the alcohol being passed around; his pack is desperate to drown their sorrows, if only

even if he isn’t strong enough to shoulder the will. Perhaps I should have cut the

is real, but I remind myself of Jack-Eye’s nagging and Fenris’s order. My rule will not be marred

to tear this pup’s throat out for daring to have once coveted my human, I am

me. Distinctly

Blueberries. Sweet, faint. Unmistakable.

My vision hazes.

Her scent. On him.