Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 45: Grace: Knock, Knock

The question catches me off guard, a sharp left turn from my panic about being hunted.

"Fate?" I hesitate, my fingers digging into the soft pillow. "What do you mean by fate?"

"Fate." She rolls the word around like she’s tasting it. "When you’re destined for something. No matter what you do, you can’t escape it. Your path is already written."

My throat tightens. Once, I thought Rafe was my soul mate. I thought our lives would intertwine forever, that nothing could separate us. Then fate arrived wearing Ellie’s face, and everything changed. The memory of his cold eyes as he chose her still burns in my chest.

"Fate took Rafe from me," I whisper, more to myself than to Lyre. "His fated mate appeared, and suddenly nothing else mattered. Not our years together, not our plans. All my happiness was taken away, and all I was left with was pain." The bitterness in my voice surprises even me.

My newly blonde hair falls over the pillow like a golden waterfall, and I grab a few strands between my fingers. "Fate makes me sound helpless. Like I’m just going wherever I’m pushed." My jaw sets with determination. "I’d rather fight to be happy than sit around accepting whatever I’ve been given. That’s why I’m here."

Lyre’s lips curl into a knowing smile. The expression transforms her face, softening her sharp features. "Fate would never destine you for unhappiness, Grace."

A bitter laugh escapes me, surprising in its harshness. Orphaned, abandoned, rejected... It doesn’t seem like fate has anything good in store for me. "I’m not so sure about that."

"I know," Lyre says simply, before settling back on the couch and closing her eyes again. "Don’t worry, Grace. What will be, will be. And what you don’t want will never be."

I study Lyre, resting so calmly despite the bombs she’s thrown into a simple conversation. Even the moment I met her, I thought she was strange; but this goes beyond what I ever imagined.

I want to ask what she is, and what powers she holds. She’s clearly not human, and knows more than she lets on. But remembering how happy she was when I said it didn’t matter makes it really hard to ask again.

my chest. The burning on my back has subsided completely now, replaced by an odd coolness,

me around? Is she willing to just throw me

have told her; maybe appealing to her, showing her how awful my life was there, would have been a better

for me. Maybe she’s

into the couch, stretching her legs out in a languid movement. "It’s pointless

we in danger?" This is

"No. You’re

says I’m not,

looking for

turns her head again, opening her eyes to stare at me. She doesn’t answer, saying instead, "We can run if you want. Pack up right now.

on the TV, but neither of

"It might take longer, but they will. And you’ll be tired, hungry, and scared when they

solution? Just

is to be comfortable. There’s no danger, so why run? Better

well, now I know they’re coming, and I’m scared. So why won’t you just tell me who’s coming?" I lean forward, trying not to let my voice rise too much. She’s my benefactor,

But I’m pushing anyway.

ceiling. "I know what

patience wearing thin. "Can you just give