Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 137: Caine: Fraying

CAINE

The storm’s wandered off, calming the air. But not me.

My skin doesn’t fit. My muscles twitch with excess energy. I pace the narrow confines of Lyre’s camper like something caged, each circuit bringing me closer to Grace, then forcing myself away.

Fenris is still outside. The blessing of the Lycan King—to have my wolf as a distinct entity. Right now, it feels like a curse. Double the chaos, double the pressure building with nowhere to go.

You need to settle, Fenris growls through our bond. The pups can sense your distress. You’re leaking it out.

I ignore him. Grace had pushed me away earlier, hands firm against my chest, eyes wild with panic. Smart girl. I understand why—the logical part of my brain even agrees with her caution—but the primal core of me seethes with rejection.

Her scent fills the confined space. Blueberry muffins, warm and sweet. It used to calm me. Now it agitates, hooks into something dark and hungry, demanding satisfaction.

"Are you sure you’re okay?" Grace asks from behind me, her voice soft.

I close my eyes. "Fine."

But I’m not. And she knows it.

Grace leans over the dinette table, gazing out the window where the children are playing under Fenris’s watchful eye. The now-bright skies highlight her face, the cascade of her artificially golden hair. She is soft, human, and thankfully oblivious to the war raging inside me.

Something’s wrong

, Fenris says, agitation rushing his words. I feel out of control.

Me, too. Keep the kids outside, I snap. If they come in here... I don’t want to scare them again.

He huffs. Then, Don’t touch her.

"I know," I hiss. The words are anathema on my tongue, against every desire crashing through my body.

can’t walk away. Can’t

Can’t stay.

to lose it too, Fenris warns.

her scent permeates everything, amplifying with each heartbeat. It fills my lungs, curls through

Need, not peace.

fingers into my palms, tensing my body against

to me, eyes bright

I snap.

her soft, perfect little body is finally

brutal. Hungry. A mistake. But the

Blessed stillness.

woman would bruise. But Grace just exhales

me back, just as desperate, just as fucking gone under this damn temptation of

into her mouth. I need her. Need all of her. To pin her, mark her, bury myself in her until the storm in me has

no longer as pliable and

my palms. She tries to speak, to pull away,

again, teeth grazing soft skin. My hands slip under her shirt, her bra, my fingers flicking over her

breaks the kiss, jerking back with a gasp. "Caine! What the hell is wrong

sharp with

around me. The pressure is gone, replaced

hands shaking. I’m an ass. I didn’t mean to,

little at my reaction. "I mean, you don’t have to act like I’m

did the same

The drive to claim her had been uncontrollable, unstoppable. I’ve only felt

moment, another face overlays Grace’s. Another beautiful blonde, with cold eyes

asks, her anger softening

my skull. I clutch my head, a growl

her, Fenris

the kids," I