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—

all that matters right now. If there’s a threat incoming, we

it feels

of my phone cuts through the tension. Jack-Eye’s name

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

way, I think," Jack-Eye replies, his voice tinny through the speaker.

utilize the pack link. While I can access any wolf on my pack territory, anything outside a fifteen-mile radius

or looking

destination yet. Driving blind. Well, you know

unsurprised. That woman’s defining trait is

Grace

to be casual. I hear the

and camper. There’s a remote boondocking site—whatever the fuck that is—about forty miles northeast. Secluded enough to hold you

the quick

right?" There’s a dry note in Jack-Eye’s voice. "I’ll text the coordinates. We’ll

ending

no idea what boondocking is, but I’ll figure it out. The priority is moving now, not understanding

one last scan before heading inside. Overhead, the clouds gather, thick and gray. Rain will hide our scent

efficiency. Each one clutches a small backpack, expressions solemn. Even Bun, currently sporting only human features—a rarity—bounces slightly on her toes but remains silent, her round face

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, shouldering the

the contents visible from the open top—diapers, wipes, formula, a small stuffed rabbit. Baby supplies for Bun. His attention to

will make

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

ask, meeting

hair pulled back tightly. I miss the brown,

with the kids. I only have a few

Owen’s spare canvas bag from a hook on the wall and head to the small kitchen area. I don’t bother with selection—just grab anything that looks edible

behind me, reaching past to grab a purple sippy cup from the

my system. The bond between us doesn’t care about timing

the time, but a wolf’s mating bond