Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 176: Caine: Where’s the Cat?

CAINE

Grace seems calmer, but she’s still a little too fidgety and pale for my liking.

I sigh. I had been planning on moving us out tonight, at least a little farther so we could get off the road. Now, I’m wondering if we should stay here overnight and leave in the morning.

We should leave soon, Fenris says. Before one of those human cops shows up.

I leave her in the bedroom to relax, feeling the weight of her silence like an uncomfortable boulder pushing down a part of my soul.

What the hell kind of trauma does she carry to trigger such a terrible response? She wasn’t even this afraid after I took over her pack, or when I’d come to her in the forest—though, thinking back on the memory only serves to make my heart twist into an awkward, guilt-ridden pretzel.

I was so angry at the idea of a human mate—irritated by the idea of another mate at all—and took it out on her, furious she dared to be so alluring with her blueberry muffin scent and pretty green eyes.

I’m not exactly known for my gentle touch, but I’m learning. At the very least, I’d never tie her up in a forest again. Or yank at her hair. Or choke her...

Damn it. Fenris is right. Considering our history, it’s a miracle she doesn’t run screaming every time she sees my face.

I told you.

Hindsight is a terrible thing.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, annoyed by the headache I’ve been fighting since earlier this morning.

It’s the cat. It has to be the cat making her feel so strange. Let’s get rid of it.

"I can’t do that."

Why not?

Because if I get rid of the cat now, she’ll think I lied about not being angry. She’ll think I’m punishing her.

hands over my face, roughly scrubbing away the faint exhaustion after a long day with these

out, and

I’m angry she put

just some random cat? What if

it’s impossible to say anything, and I already told her a bunch of bullshit about

stand

to

"Fuck off, Fenris."

a half-second after

who seems

strict rules on swearing around pups in the pack, but it still sounds off-putting to hear a toddler repeat words she shouldn’t even

Bun,"

eyes turn my way, and all three of those

first to speak up.

she looks at my face, blanches, and turns away with a mumble.

a useful fear, but I’m not sure what to do about the girl. She gets closer, but then returns to inexplicable states of fear around me. Perhaps it

swear," Ron explains from his position on the floor beside

only one

narrow as I look them over. "Where’s

exchange glances, and it isn’t subtle

left eyebrow twitches. Do these two really think they can pretend a

the pressure, even though both Sara and Jer look

is the

to me, forgetting about the dog as

ask, with an exaggerated face of surprise. "It’s just our sweet Bun. She loves to be

"Meow!"

be a cat. She was a cat the entire time you were gone. Right, Ron?" Sara says, sounding higher pitched

himself off the floor and takes his favored seat on the couch

arms and lean against the kitchen counter, watching in amusement as these children scramble to sell

"Help us