Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 108: Caine: Get Them Out (END BOOK TWO)

CAINE

Owen’s cave is, strangely enough, located in a run-down neighborhood. Half the lawns are overgrown, and most families use their yards as storage instead of a decorative display.

The building housing Owen’s strange cave system looks the same as the rest. Several sun-bleached gnomes decorative what used to be some sort of garden, and more windows are boarded than not. Before Owen had given us access, the house was as empty inside as it looked from the outside.

Dirty, dusty, and bare of any life or even basic furniture.

I haven’t asked what strange magic connects the cave to this place. Lyre and those connected to her seem to live by strange rules. While magic isn’t necessarily unfamiliar, the strength and breadth of their powers are leagues beyond what any normal wizard could ever dream of accomplishing.

I circle the perimeter a third time, scanning for anything out of place, but nothing pings my radar.

The silence is absolute. Too absolute.

Animals go quiet when predators approach. Right now, not even the birds call.

"Something’s coming," Grace had said with absolute certainty. Not a question, not a fear—a fact.

She senses things she shouldn’t be able to sense.

Fenris’s voice is sluggish in my mind, weakened from our battle at Fiddleback. He’s quiet most of the time now, conserving strength, but Grace’s warning roused him.

His power is great, but the price of its consumption is equal in measure.

I grunt. He sounds a little too thoughtful, but I have no interest in questioning things further. There are more important things to deal with. I don’t question it.

It’s more than a feeling. The wolf’s curiosity ripples through our shared consciousness. A human shouldn’t detect danger before a wolf. She’s showing traits she shouldn’t possess. Don’t you wonder what that means about who she really is?

My jaw clenches. Don’t care. She’s Grace.

That’s not an answer. She could be—

I cut him off with a flash of irritation. My mate. That’s all that matters right now. If

with Grace is no less than mine, but it feels as if our roles have reversed since he first met her during the Blue Mountain

the tension. Jack-Eye’s name flashes on

I snap, waiting beside the front door. I’ll go in soon, but I don’t want the children to hear any bad

think," Jack-Eye replies, his voice tinny through

on my pack territory, anything outside a fifteen-mile radius is too far outside of

you coming here, or looking for something

There’s a hesitation. "She hasn’t exactly shared our exact destination yet. Driving blind. Well, you know Lyre. She’s an open book.

trait is her refusal to

evacuating the cave. Grace

be casual. I hear the murmur of voices in

her truck and camper. There’s a remote boondocking site—whatever the

eyes narrow at the

dry note in Jack-Eye’s voice.

goodbye, ending the call

but I’ll figure it out. The

heading inside. Overhead, the clouds gather, thick and gray. Rain will hide our scent if something is tracking us.

Even Bun, currently sporting only

to my mate, his face pinched with worry. Sara’s eyes dart nervously toward the entrance as I enter, her hand clenched around something. Ron stands tall, his teenage frame already carrying hints of the man he’ll become,

top—diapers, wipes, formula, a small stuffed rabbit. Baby supplies for Bun. His attention

day, these kids will make formidable

has already claimed them as pack. Regardless of their bloodline, they’ll be considered Lycan if they choose

ask, meeting

her blonde hair pulled back tightly. I miss the brown, but I’ll take her in any

We’ll need it with the kids. I only have a few snacks

bag from a hook on the wall and head to the small kitchen area. I don’t bother

me, reaching

contact sends a jolt through my system. The bond between us doesn’t care about timing or circumstance—it happily urges me to throw her down on the nearest flat surface and tear

but a wolf’s mating bond has never been