Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 161: Grace: Lyre’s Lies

Caine’s presence in this camper is unmistakable, almost like he’s sucking all the air out of it. Is there such a thing as an air vampire? Because it’s kind of what he’s doing as he stands there, squared off against Lyre—again.

They haven’t even said a word yet and already clashing.

"Kids, go outside with Jack-Eye and the others," I murmur, ushering them off the couches. If these two start arguing, I don’t want the kids to hear it. It’s why I brought them in earlier, when Lyre and Caine started going at it outside.

Ron pulls Bun from Owen without another word, but Sara and Jer look upset as they stomp outside. They want some time with their father figure, and my heart hurts a little to see their grumpy body language.

"Owen, maybe you should—"

"Look, let’s not pretend to be friends here, okay?" Lyre says, breaking the stand-off. "You don’t like me. I don’t particularly like you or your kind. But we can both work together for Grace, right?"

I blink.

"Right," Caine agrees curtly.

It sounds like they’re agreeing to some sort of ceasefire, if you listen to their words. But by their voices, it sounds like they’re still ready to stab each other.

Part of me wants to step between them, but another part—the smarter part—knows that’s like stepping between two sharks. No, thank you.

"Listen, we need to talk about the kids," Owen says, breaking the stalemate. His calm, measured I’m-gonna-kill-you-sounding voice cuts through their tension, and I notice how he positions himself slightly closer to Lyre.

A united front.

"Actually, we need to talk about all of you," Lyre clarifies, her eyes narrowing. "It’s dangerous to stay here. People are hunting Grace and the children down."

"Who?" Caine demands. "Halloway?"

Owen shakes his head. "It’s more than just Halloway. These kids have been hunted since the moment their existence became known. With the Fiddleback pack decimated, others will come to claim this territory as their own. It’ll be a bloodbath before long. We need to get the kids out." He jerks his head toward me. "Grace, too."

Lyre elbows Owen aside. "Look, I think the best solution is for Grace to return to Blue Mountain—"

"No," Caine snaps.

"—because she might gain better control over her powers there."

face darkens. "You expect me to take her back there?

here to bring me back in the first place? It sounds silly to argue against it

"I agree with—"

snaps again, not

Lyre says with a huff. "There’s a good chance going will help this situation between you two. Just

He grunts.

Owen adds smoothly, like they rehearsed this, "the energy feedback between you two might not

shoot up. They’re working this pitch together like a well-oiled machine. I’m not sure if

Caine can’t know about the App,

to mine, suspicion written all over his

Lycan King. My heart accelerates, and I

"I think they’re right."

The lie come

had this... feeling. Like I need to go back. There’s something there for me, Caine. I can feel it." Mainly

eyes rove over

that place," he says quietly. "You refused to come back

the people," I correct him, glancing at

territory itself might hold keys to

It’s all a bunch of bullshit, but

works, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. He doesn’t trust Lyre, that much is obvious.

all for

if it doesn’t feel great to lie to him. What kind of relationship is

instinct is to pray for forgiveness, but after all the divine bombs Lyre threw at me, I’m not really

do want to be able to touch Caine without fainting, so I

can come back and teach

the kids?" he

safer with you and

exhales slowly. "Fine." The word sounds like

return to Blue

My stomach twists.

choosing Ellie. Even since the massacre, and Caine claiming me as his in front of the pack. The two of them seem oblivious to the king’s opinion of me—then

I wanted to avoid them. But now there’s