Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 62: Grace: Transference (II)

"Oh—he didn’t... I’m not..." My hand jumps to the side of my neck awkwardly. "We aren’t mated or anything."

She rubs her forehead. "That’s not what I was asking. Do you know what happens to two shifters when they complete a mating bond? The marking scars are just the physical expression. The real bonding happens on an energetic level. When a shifter claims their mate, there’s an exchange of energy. Usually, it’s balanced. A give and take."

A cold feeling settles in my stomach. "Okay..."

"It isn’t much, and there are levels of sensitivity to a bond. Some pairs can feel each others’ emotions, for example. There’s almost always a mental link between pairs. And they can share in each others’ pain and healing to a small extent."

I nod.

"And then there’s you."

Now she’s just getting ominous. "I’m listening."

Lyre’s expression softens with something that might be pity. "Caine... took. A lot. Though I don’t think he meant to. To be fair, you’re a bit of a special case, yourself."

I squint at her. "Um. Lyre? Not to sound repetitive, but Caine wasn’t trying to mark me."

She runs her hands through her hair with a groan. "Grace, you need to work on your relationship aversion. I know he wasn’t trying to mark you, but are you really trying to say you still haven’t figured out you two are fated mates?"

Time stops. My mouth hangs open. The twinkling lights grow dim in my vision as I process her words.

Lyre arches one eyebrow, waiting for my response. The silence between us stretches uncomfortably long.

My heart jumps at the thought, but then I crush the hope ruthlessly in a mental fist. No. Stop daydreaming.

"That’s..." My voice comes out flat, emotionless. "That’s impossible. Humans can’t be fated mates with shifters."

Lyre snorts. "Says who?"

"Says... everyone. It’s common knowledge. Fated mates are a shifter thing. It’s about compatibility between wolves. Humans don’t have that... that biological imperative."

"You sure about that?"

Lyre doesn’t

her arms. "And yet here we are, with you nearly dead

my

she’s saying is true... if Caine and I are actually fated

my skin prickled with awareness whenever he entered a room. The inexplicable pull I felt toward him from the

recognize his before my

and my breath caught in my throat. The heat pooling low in my belly whenever he looked at me with those storm-cloud

fear, to adrenaline,

was more?

then there was Caine himself. The brutal, dangerous Lycan King who tracked me down without

in. Dropped my guard. Let him

self-preservation instinct, I’d been

lips as realization crashes over me. "Oh. It makes so much sense

lets out a soft snort. "Figured it

against my forehead, feeling light-headed. "But

corrects me with a flick

over this distinction. Not impossible means... possible. My entire

can be fated mates. Even when the

being only through wolf souls is also

fact, I’m pretty sure

for her to continue, but she simply studies me with those unsettling cat-slit

"What?" I finally ask.

sighs. "I told you

recall something along those lines. I’d been a bit distracted and hadn’t focused on

to the window as she doesn’t

do you mean, I’m

in a rhythmless pattern. "You know, it’s funny. Humans are so

hell. She’s the