Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 183: Lyre: Do You Sense It?

LYRE

The moment we hit the Fiddleback subdivision, the arcana changes. It’s darker, but strangely clean despite the undercurrent of blood magic seeping the land.

I notice the house before Jack-Eye points it out, because it glows like a beacon of bright arcana.

"That’s where they had us stay," he says, as expected.

On the outside, it looks no different from the others. I’m sure the wolves wouldn’t be able to sense how unique this particular domicile is. Perhaps even Fiddleback didn’t know.

The moment we enter, the smell hits. It’s not a physical scent—nothing the wolves would notice. But it’s like a lingering odor clinging to the threads of arcana, mixed with sweat, wolf musk, and the unmistakable residue of werewolf sex.

One scent stands out with embarrassing clarity.

I glance at Aaron from the corner of my eye. "You worked hard."

The flush crawls up his neck like wildfire, starting below his collar and racing across his cheeks. He scratches at his head, fingers tangling in his red hair.

"I was—" he starts.

I wave a dismissive hand, already uninterested in his explanation before it begins. Something else has caught my attention.

"Owen," I say, cutting Aaron off mid-stammer. "Do you sense it?"

The angel-descendant’s silver eyes narrow, his jaw tightening as he gives a single, grim nod. "Yes."

"Sense what?" Aaron looks between us as the blush slowly recedes. "What are you talking about?"

Owen just smacks him on the shoulder and moves deeper into the house, methodically checking rooms.

a scowl. "What the hell was

stairs, not bothering to explain or see if he

course, he follows. I’m sure he’s trying to

reconnaissance," he mutters behind me. "Getting close to potential informants is

my interest. This isn’t

"Mmm."

strange energy signature. It’s too

but the house is empty of personal effects, outside of

the signature pulses stronger. The room reeks of Aaron and a wolf—female, young,

throat awkwardly. "There

stare at him, genuinely surprised by the comment.

be disappointment. He

so I don’t. We can always settle it later, if it comes down to it. But not in the middle of gathering

Priorities matter.

beyond the physical as I inspect the threads of arcana, perfectly and unnaturally

why didn’t he sense it before? Another in his territory should have set off

his silver

lips twist down.

physical. I recognize the look—he’s seeing what I see, the perfectly knitted strands

shifts closer to me, his body radiating heat. It’s annoying how he does that—inserts himself into my space

place many times," Owen says calmly, though his words are rougher than normal. Betrayal does that, though. His fists are tight,

there’s no way to tell how long it’s been this way, or how many people have touched it. And as a denizen of

though. Especially in this

you talking about?" Aaron interrupts, his breath tickling my ear. as he

turn to inspect him with a frown. For some reason, his scent is getting on my nerves, especially mixed

shower," I tell