Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter : Caine: Raising an Alpha

CAINE

The moment Fenris and, a few moments later, Randy, report Grace left without any sort of protection, my head pounds.

This woman is going to be the death of me.

Of course, she isn’t alone; my wolf is stalking her without her knowing, mainly because she’d be furious if she did. Thankfully, humans don’t have the superior senses of shifters; it isn’t hard for Fenris to stay hidden.

I grind my teeth together so hard my jaw aches and turn to Dylan. "Pick up Grace. She’s on her way to the laundromat."

Dylan’s weathered face remains impassive, but his eyes flicker. "Which one?"

I stare him down, my patience hanging by a thread. The question strikes me as deliberately obtuse—there can’t be that many laundromats in this backwater territory.

You’d be surprised.

The Lycan clears his throat. "I’ll figure it out, then."

He leaves the room without another word, boots clicking against the floor in retreat.

"What’s going on?" Ron asks curiously, looking up from the stack of reports in front of him. Nothing major, just reports on the different complaints brought up by pack members and notes on what have been done to either pacify or dismiss whatever issues were brought to my people during my absence.

All things he needs to learn if he wants to become a pack alpha in the future.

"Exactly what I said." I keep my voice level, not wanting to spook the kid. "Grace is out alone, and left the children with Randy. Dylan’s going to take care of her."

Ron’s brows pull together, his mouth pulling down into a sharp frown. "That’s strange. Grace wouldn’t leave the kids with a stranger."

I wave off his concern with a sigh. "Randy’s a father. He’s good with children."

Fenris grumbles. Probably better than you with women, too.

thrilled about a younger, virile male being near our mate. Neither am I, but Reggie didn’t

and, while he doesn’t respect humans, he seems to have accepted

letting your subordinates have a voice. They use them a

unconvinced. "Grace doesn’t seem

my mouth to point out she’s done precisely that; Lyre’s a walking example. But I

reputation in the heart

stability, and Grace provides

her recklessness shouldn’t undermine what

trusts my judgment,"

Hah.

gives me a strange look. He doesn’t believe me, but he’s smart

I

back in my chair,

neutral as I watch him squirm. This is part of his education too—learning to articulate his instincts rather than just following them blindly.

muddled these days when it comes to Grace, but it’s training any alpha has from

our strength comes a volatile

so righteous coming

rip out your tongue the

As if you could.

from mine. "I should be with them. With the children." His voice drops, not quite mumbling but

but he cuts himself off. I tilt my head slightly, studying his

think I want to leave

His shoulders stiffen. "No."

as he looks down at the paper he’s slowly destroying, and he sets it carefully on the

sigh. "The position of an alpha comes with sacrifices," I tell him, keeping my

behind Ron’s eyes—the need to protect battling with his desire to learn. He hesitates, then his

pretty childish

alpha’s protective instincts are strong. We don’t want others to

some curiosity. "You seem fine with it,