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.

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

is capable and, while he doesn’t respect humans, he seems to have accepted Grace’s position as someone to be protected. Though I’m sure I’ll hear his

problem with letting your subordinates have a voice. They use

unconvinced. "Grace doesn’t seem like she would trust someone she

out she’s done precisely that;

to tarnish her reputation in the heart of a

need stability, and Grace provides

her recklessness shouldn’t

trusts my judgment," I

Hah.

believe me, but he’s

think I should

in my chair, meeting the

keep my face neutral as I watch him squirm. This is part of his education too—learning to articulate his instincts rather than just

when it comes to Grace, but it’s training any alpha has

strength comes a volatile temper; controlling it is

righteous coming from

eyebrow twitches. Shall I rip out your tongue the next time

As if you could.

in his hand, as his gaze slips from mine. "I should be with them. With the children." His voice drops, not quite mumbling but close. "Sara and Jer

listen without interrupting, but he cuts himself off. I

leave Grace or the children

His shoulders stiffen. "No."

and he sets it carefully on the top of

tell him, keeping my voice even. "The children are fine; they’re

need to protect battling with his desire to learn. He hesitates, then his shoulders drop

seem pretty childish

protective instincts are strong. We don’t want

curiosity. "You seem fine