Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 170: Grace: Let’s Keep it a Secret

Caine stares at me with clear suspicion scrawled all over his face. "What is it?"

I clear my throat. This is going to be a hard sell, and beating around the bush will only make it worse. "I don’t want anyone at Blue Mountain to know that I’m your mate. Not yet."

His entire body goes rigid, and his face gets all twitchy as his eyes narrow. Even his tattoos move around more than normal. Before he can unleash whatever storm is brewing inside, I rush to explain.

"It’s not like I’m denying our bond," I clarify, shaking my hands in the air for emphasis. "Not even close. It’s just—"

What is it about, exactly? My brain scrambles to piece together the half-baked logic behind my request. There was something Lyre mentioned about me and my purpose at Blue Mountain, but the specifics escape me now that Caine’s looking at me like I’ve just suggested something terrible.

"I think I might need to... do things there." Goddess, I sound like an idiot. At least throw me a freaking bone here, deities. Help a girl out. I’m doing your bidding, after all. "And if everyone knows I’m your mate, it might complicate... things."

Wow.

I’m so eloquent I could cry.

This is never going to work.

"Complicate it how?" His voice has dropped to a dangerous level of low, the kind where every word comes out as more of a rumble. Not the kind of voice you’d normally use on your girlfriend, but maybe someone you have tied in a torture chamber somewhere.

My palms sweat. The children are too far to serve as effective human shields. I take a breath and decide to just be honest.

"Look, information moves differently around pack royalty. I know it. You know it. If they know I’m your mate, they’ll treat me differently. They won’t talk freely. They won’t gossip. And gossip is information. Good information."

The muscle in his cheek jumps, but at least his eye has stopped twitching. He’s listening.

Progress.

I’m making progress. Even if I’m fumbling.

"I mean, think about it. If the pack members know I’m with you, they’ll either hate me more or they’ll fake being nice to get your favor. Neither of those options sit well with me."

Caine remains silent, his gaze intense enough to burn holes through me. Maybe there’s no progress after all. But at least his face is no longer twitching.

A sudden, brilliant thought comes to me. "It would be even better if you act like you hate me, too. Maybe say I’m trouble."

"No." The single syllable comes out with such force, I take a step back. While I wouldn’t quite categorize it as a shout, it’s definitely shout-adjacent.

"But—"

word is clipped and hard, coming through gritted teeth. "Hell

"You didn’t even

hate my mate. How the hell is that going to help you

was the lie Lyre

me feel like a kid trying to

tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. His warm, musky scent

But I don’t.

a responsible adult with a plan, and his stupid

when he leans don so our faces are only millimeters

to listen

is hard when you’re lying, but I manage it. Somehow. "I just need

your request," he says finally, still sounding like he’s going to tear my nails out. "But I will not act as if I hate

it tingles

is nice. Kissing can’t be

but then a shriek of laughter

Jesus.

the side of the freaking road, not a private bedroom. Get it together,

He doesn’t seem to have any qualms about the lack of space

again, and he steps forward. Retreat

he snaps. "That’s all you have to

"Er... thank you?"

long way to soothing a grumpy

so much,

You can’t

lip curls slightly

get upset with me for using that word?

him isn’t going

me, I need you to look the other way. At

tenses again, snarling, "Absolutely

be anything terrible. I’ll be fine. I’ve

"No."

"Caine—"

"No."

and Ellie isn’t going to play any tricks while I’m there. The rest of the pack isn’t much better, but at

"And about the kids—"

my patience,