Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 221: Caine: Sneaking In

CAINE

Sneaking through the dark hall of her camper is starting to become a habit.

Not a great one, either.

Fenris sounds sour from his place beneath the RV, where he’s been keeping watch since Dylan and Randy left after the children were put to bed. He was less than enthused with my idea, but at least he isn’t getting in my way.

If she catches you, I was never here.

Such loyalty from the other part of my soul.

Gritting my teeth against his brazenly perfidious nature, I manage to avoid creaking or shaking the RV as I sneak my way into the master bedroom.

Sara and Bun are fast asleep, cuddled on either side of Grace. The fan’s on, blowing strands of golden hair across her nose, and yet the woman’s oblivious.

The scene’s so peaceful and perfect, it makes my little plot for a night of peace seem... dirty and mildly perverted.

What the fuck am I doing here, lurking in the darkness like some kind of deranged stalker because I can’t sleep without her goddamn scent?

This is pathetic even for you, Fenris agrees. The mighty king reduced to stealing pillows. How the legends will sing of this heroic quest.

"Shut up," I growl under my breath.

Just take what you came for and go. Or don’t. Either way, I’m not the one getting hit when she wakes up.

My original plan—swapping out the unused pillow under my arm for one carrying Grace’s scent—suddenly seems not just desperate but genuinely disturbing. What would she think if she woke to find me looming over her bed?

And it wouldn’t even be the first time.

You could just ask her for a shirt like a normal person.

It isn’t like I haven’t thought about it, but stealing her pillow somehow seemed a little less creepy at the time I made my plan.

Have you considered explaining it to her?

Damn him and his good points. I scrub a hand over my scruffy cheeks and inhale deeply, soaking in her blueberry muffin scent and consoling myself it’s better than not smelling it at all.

she’ll be happy to send her pillows to you.

urge to step further into the room

a step back.

from inconvenient to unhinged. While not abnormal in a mating bond, Grace has a slightly different view of boundaries, and I’m supposed to be respecting

away from the doorway, forcing myself to retreat. Tomorrow I’ll come back when she’s awake, explain how important scent is to a mate, and arrange a more normal, consensual pillow

its effects long-lasting. And now it feels like I need to

another deep inhale as I step out

You’re whipped.

hiss, tired of

for five full

I retort, still mindful of keeping my voice low to avoid waking the children. "You’ve been trying to get me to claim her since the day we

I suggested marking her, not creeping around

through my body, but I force it away quickly. She’s not ready for it yet, and I’ve already pushed her into too much intimate contact. She needs to recuperate without me pawing

makes the ache in

you could just sleep

have permission. And for some reason, Grace seems less than pleased

"...Caine?"

with sleep but unmistakably alert, sends heat straight through my veins. I turn slowly,

imagination I hadn’t heard her getting

off one shoulder. Even in the dim light, I can see the confusion in her eyes, the wariness

are you doing in here?" she asks, her voice so tiny my enhanced hearing

in her camper at three in the morning with a pillow

the pillow over my crotch and turn away to awkwardly look

her you were making sure she

lie feels

her you

into

her you missed

if I start down that road, I might end up being the horny, rutting beast I just told

sleep and wanted to make sure everything was okay

with sleep-soft eyes, even as her eyebrows

way, it

"I have a key."