Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 87: Lyre: Embraced (?)

LYRE

There’s a special joy that comes from watching someone who once stood tall crumble into terrified submission. Owen—all six-foot-something of Order-aligned angelic muscle—keeps flinching whenever I so much as breathe in his direction. It’s adorable, really.

He’s young. Strangely young. Maybe mid-twenties at best. Seems odd, considering his bloodline, but I’m not about to ask. Knowing means involving, and involving means work.

No, thank you.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I fish it out while maintaining eye contact with Owen, just to watch him swallow nervously. Poor thing. I’d only turned him into a toad for a few seconds. Just enough to make sure he didn’t run away.

Didn’t think it would bother him this much, but it is a delightful bonus.

The text on my screen makes me roll my eyes.

[CAINE: Why aren’t you answering your phone? This is just an empty building. Where are you??]

The digital equivalent of a wolf’s howl.

Sighing, I turn to Owen. "Do they need a key?"

He nods stiffly. "Yes."

"Better go let them in before His Royal Broodiness tears this place apart with his bare hands."

"This isn’t—" He stops himself and blows out a heavy breath. "Okay."

Jack-Eye straightens. "I’ll go with you."

Of course he will. Any excuse to get away from the big bad witch who turned his new friend into an amphibian. Wolves are so predictable. So boring. Take away their agency once and they lose their ability to function.

Owen hesitates, looking from me to Grace and back again.

"Don’t worry," I tell him with my sweetest smile. "We’re best friends. Right, Grace?"

The angel-descendant looks at Grace, his silver eyes troubled. "Will you be—"

Grace interrupts, her cheeks flushing pink as she looks at

to my chest, mock-offended. "Just a friend? After everything we’ve been

eyes widening as she reaches toward me. "Oh no, I didn’t mean—I just—best friends! We’re best

with you." I wave my hand dismissively. "You’re wound too tight.

"That wasn’t funny," she mumbles, but there’s no heat behind her words.

in a world determined to grow her into a fate

the threads of her fate, and they’re

by so

Divinity call it balance, but I’ve

can’t help but twirl my finger in the beta’s

out. At least he has some spice to his fear. Doesn’t like being poked at, does he? Maybe he’ll be more

Grace collapses onto one of the cushions scattered across the floor, her eyes wide.

?"

I tell her with an easy smile. "I wanted to talk to him, and

is afraid

shrug. "Jack-Eye just has good instincts. Unlike your mate, who bulldozes through life with all the subtlety of a freight

that endearing pink thing again. "He’s not

I interrupt, sitting beside her, "we’re well past

hands fidgeting in her lap. Her nervous energy fills the space between us—anticipation and anxiety in equal

Caine really upset?" she asks

tearing the city apart looking for you." I pat her knee. "In his own charming,

the corners of her mouth, and I marvel at how someone so genuinely good could

add, "he might be a bit... intense

falters.

smother you with my overprotective wolf-king energy until you can’t breathe’ kind of intense. After what happened last time—" I pause, watching

"Oh."

physical contact until we’re sure you’ve recovered. I’d hate to have to explain to the hospital staff

is going to

can respond, a commotion echoes from the hallway—heavy footsteps

Caine.

her hair. It’s so painfully obvious how she feels, and I can’t help but sigh. All that

still don’t understand the mating bond’s peculiar sense of matchmaking. Though, Grace has her own ability to emulate an emotional

louder, and then he’s there—the Lycan King himself, filling the doorway with his massive frame, eyes locked on Grace like