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?"

creeps in. Lyre doesn’t

here we are, with you nearly dead from

head slowly, my thoughts spinning

is true... if Caine and I

entered a room.

recognize his before my mind

my reactions to his touch, his scent, his voice. The way my heart raced and my stomach fluttered and my breath caught in my throat. The heat pooling low in my belly whenever he looked

to fear,

it was more? What if

was Caine himself. The brutal, dangerous Lycan

my guard.

and reason, despite all self-preservation instinct, I’d been drawn to him

as realization crashes over me. "Oh. It makes so

lets out a soft snort.

my palm against my forehead, feeling light-headed. "But it’s not possible. I’m

corrects me with a flick of her slender wrist. "There’s a

mind stumbles over this distinction. Not impossible means... possible. My

fated mates. Even when

Lyre grabs a strand of her hair, twisting it in one hand as she squints at the ceiling. "The idea of mate bonds being only through wolf souls is also incorrect. Their soul

things we’ve never been taught in school. In fact, I’m pretty sure the stuff coming out of Lyre would

me with

"What?" I finally ask.

told you before—you’re

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

drifts to the window as she doesn’t

Lyre. What do

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

She’s the one