Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 159: Jack-Eye: Report

JACK-EYE

I step in front of Caine just as he’s about to barrel into the RV. Maybe not the smartest move, but there are things he needs to know before he goes storming in there like a goddamn tornado.

"Hold up." I plant my hand on his chest, feeling the vibration of his growl against my palm. "I need to report."

His flat stare comes with a brief flick of dominance in the air. It’s more of an instinctual push than anything he’s doing on purpose, but I’m used to these little flickers of his.

The muscle in his jaw twitches, and for a second, I think he might just snap my arm off. He seems pretty pissed about something.

Probably noticed me staring at Lyre’s ass.

Still, he takes a step back, breathing in deeply. "Make it quick, Jack-Eye."

I can’t help the smirk as it slides across my face. "You were pretty busy last night when I tried to check in. Now you’re in a hurry? What were you up to, hmm?"

It’s not hard to tell; I can smell Grace all over him. Not the kind of scent-sharing where you’re in a room together for hours, but marked and saturated. Good for her. I didn’t think a human would be capable of this level of scent-marking, but it’ll come in handy for a slip of a girl like her.

His eyes flash with a flicker of amber in the gray. Yeah, he’s pissed. "Get on with it, Jack."

My smirk disappears. Fine. Not the time to poke the bear—or wolf, in this case.

"We tracked our killer to a remote cabin." I keep my voice level, all business. "Unfortunately, they were already gone. All we found was a body—Marsh, the only other young one in the pack. His body was a mess. No sign of Halloway or anyone else."

Caine’s eyes narrow. "And?"

"And the cabin had been scrubbed clean. Not just physically, but my nose couldn’t pick up anything. Lyre managed to catch some trace with her witchery, and she’s been using Thom to help track whatever it is. She’s being cagey with the information, but at last report, they backtracked here."

"Their territory," he murmurs. "It’s not surprising, especially if it’s Halloway. He’s not going to give up his territory so easily."

"Right."

"What else?"

I watch the war play out on his face. He wants blood. Caine’s never been the kind of alpha to stand back and let his subordinates take care of trouble, especially in recent years.

glancing back at the RV,

His priorities have changed.

signs of being calmer. Maybe not by much, but it seems like Grace is a good

I say, making the decision for him. "Me and Lyre. You can stay here with Grace and

burly, but it doesn’t mean he’s

powerhouse in her own right, and you don’t even get along with her. Both of you in the same car will derail the mission before

He scowls.

fuck off, but

unable to resist

Majesty to put him in a bad

unexpected. Something more reminiscent

smacks at my shoulder.

face looks like he

usually amped for days afterward.

You almost ripped my head off a minute ago, and now you’re thanking me? Don’t say you weren’t.

he isn’t sure whether to be exasperated or to hit me in the jaw. "Don’t push it,

seems to be taking this personally. She seems on edge. I know it isn’t like we know her well, but it’s

nods. "It’s

Yeah.

fucked up situation, no matter how you

But—

Alpha. Is that empathy

"Fuck off, Jack-Eye."

There’s the king we

at the RV for a long moment before turning back to me, his expression suddenly serious. "What’s your take on Lyre? And answer

but it dies quickly when I see he’s dead serious. "Maybe you could be more specific? My take

ally. As someone in Grace’s orbit. As

considering my words carefully. This isn’t a question to half-ass an answer to. "If you’re asking

"I am."

as hell and could probably kill us all in

stance says not me, she can’t.