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

are angry, Fenris points out, and I hate how he knows me too

angry about the cat. I’m angry she put herself

been just some

impossible to say anything, and I already told her a bunch of bullshit about how I’m not mad

have to stand

to reprogram your personality,

"Fuck off, Fenris."

Bun squeals, a half-second after

on the floor with the damn dog, who seems content with

in the pack, but it still sounds off-putting to hear a toddler repeat words she shouldn’t

in front of Bun," I

my way, and all three of those

up. "You’re the

in. "We’re good kids. We don’t swear." But then she looks at my face, blanches, and turns

the girl. She gets closer, but

them to swear," Ron explains from his position on the floor beside Bun as she plays a

only one thing

look

glances, and it isn’t subtle at all.

eyebrow twitches. Do these two really think they can pretend

pressure, even though both Sara and Jer look away, unable to keep eye

the

cat ears sprouting from her head. She dashes to me, forgetting about the dog as she holds both hands

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

"Meow!"

cat the entire time you were gone. Right, Ron?" Sara says,

older kid pushes himself off the floor and takes his favored seat on

watching in amusement as these children scramble

us out for