Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 73: Caine: Banquet (III)

CAINE

Elizabeth and Marsh stand out starkly among the crowd of Fiddleback wolves. Both appear to be in their mid-twenties at most, though I would bet every last penny of my pack’s treasury Marsh is no older than twenty. The rest of the pack members present are significantly older, most well into middle age or beyond.

No young adults. No adolescents. And, I recall, no hint of children in the territory.

Even the most formal events typically include a range of ages—the entire pack hierarchy represented from pups to elders. Yet here, there’s a clear generational gap.

"Your pack seems... mature," I comment, interrupting whatever Halloway was saying about their investment portfolio.

He pauses, the champagne halfway to his lips. "I beg your pardon?"

I gesture subtly toward the gathering. "No pups. Few young adults."

Something flickers across his face as he grows tense. "Ah." He sets down his glass with careful precision. "We’re selective about our growth. Quality over quantity, as they say."

"An unusual approach for wolves. Especially for a pack so intent on survival, as you say."

"Times change, High Alpha. We’ve found that careful expansion allows us better integration with the human world." His smile returns to his face, but it’s hollow. "Our younger members are quite valuable. Elizabeth and Marsh represent the future direction of our pack."

"Just them?"

"There are others, of course." His tone remains light, but his scent sharpens with something acidic. "Many are traveling or occupied with responsibilities elsewhere. We don’t keep our members caged, after all."

Jack-Eye shifts beside me, his attention fixed on Halloway with calculated intensity.

"And your mating ceremonies?" I press. "Elizabeth mentioned hosting them here, but there seems to be a lack of candidates."

the gardens. "Yes, well, not

your last

"As I’ve explained, we focus on compatibility

heels clicking as she whispers something in Halloway’s ear. Even with my

ears flick.

darkens before smoothing into neutrality once again. "If you’ll excuse me, High Alpha. A small administrative matter requires my attention. Please, enjoy the banquet. I believe it’s about time to

glance at the image sent. Yet another angle of a sleeping

peers over my shoulder,

they

grasp before I can react. The

a chance to zoom into

the photos with narrowed

blink, momentarily derailed from my anger. "Say something

me, finger tapping at the background. "The light is all wrong. This was taken earlier today—see how the sunlight

of light through the hospital window casts long shadows across Grace’s sleeping form—shadows which can’t exist after

aren’t explained by overhead

back, examining each photo sent

Same position, same light, same

I murmur, barely

not even be the same photo." Jack-Eye bends over my phone again, blocking my view. "See

Fenris growls. Grace.

be surprised

"Jack-Eye."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

selecting Lyre’s number. It goes straight