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.

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

you are angry, Fenris points out, and I hate

angry about the cat. I’m angry

if it hadn’t been just some random

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

to stand by my

this time to reprogram your personality, Fenris suggests

"Fuck off, Fenris."

a

on the floor with the damn dog, who seems content with her life as a

frown. It isn’t as if we have any strict rules on swearing around pups in the pack, but it still sounds off-putting to hear a toddler

front of Bun," I

of eyes turn my way, and all three of those children look

first to speak up.

chimes in. "We’re good kids. We don’t swear." But then she looks at

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

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

one thing

narrow as I look

exchange glances, and it isn’t subtle

Do these two really think they can pretend a

both Sara and Jer look away, unable to

is the

Bun says proudly, cat ears sprouting from her head. She dashes to me, forgetting about

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

"Meow!"

a cat the entire time you

floor and takes his favored seat on the

kitchen counter, watching in amusement as these children

us out for