Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 67: Caine: Strange (II)

CAINE

The house Marsh leads me to is no different from the others.

Marsh pushes the door open without knocking. No courtesy, not even a perfunctory tap. Interesting.

Inside feels bare, even more than a model home. There are no photos. No art. Nothing personal. Even Halloway’s pretentious display of wealth had some semblance of life to it. This place resembles a vacant rental property.

There is furniture, though.

Jack-Eye emerges from what must be the kitchen with Elizabeth trailing behind. His shoulder brushes against hers, a short-lived point of contact, and it speaks volumes. The faint whiff of her scent clings to him.

He catches my eye and winks, that insufferable smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Where are the other two?" I ask Jack-Eye, scanning the barren living room.

"Upstairs." Jack-Eye jerks his thumb toward the ceiling. "The wizard doesn’t like being around shifters. Gets the shakes." He drops his voice to a mock whisper. "I think we scare him."

Elizabeth chuckles.

"And Andrew?"

"In another bedroom."

Confined. Good.

Marsh clears his throat. "If that’s all, High Alpha, I’ll return to Alpha Halloway. We still have the banquet to arrange—"

I wave him off with a dismissive hand. His eagerness to leave is palpable, but I don’t think it’s from my display of dominance earlier. He seems more comfortable now that we’re here.

Letting my gaze wander to Elizabeth, I ask, "Is this your home?"

High Alpha." There’s a tightness around her eyes, and the faint scent of deception. "I hope it meets your

another glance around the clinical space. "It seems rather

meet mine. "Guest lodging when needed. Work space when the den gets crowded." She gestures

multi-purpose space would show signs of

here in order to show their legitimacy

little too strange. Almost as if

little life in this place.

grunts. Your brain has become exceptional since

few pups running around by now," I tell Elizabeth, leaning into a side of me I rarely access. My lips curve into

I act, as he calls

glances away. "Not everyone follows the same path, High Alpha. I

but file away her reaction. Another piece in this

kind enough to offer her home instead of putting us

"Very."

slides an arm

prefer work to pups, her body language says otherwise. She seems a little

be staying?" she asks, with a shy glance toward Jack-Eye. "There are four bedrooms. One is for

as he says, "Don’t worry, boss. You won’t have

A soft giggle escapes her, at odds

nauseating, but I keep the fake smile on my face. The moment I show any discomfort, Jack-Eye

wasn’t

But he is.

Unfortunately.

such

I’ll explore the place

It’s a microsecond of reaction before she plasters a bright smile on her face. "Of course, High Alpha.

hours before this banquet,

"Yes, High Alpha."

with Marsh about the hospital contact I requested? I’d like regular updates about