Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 208: Caine: Disdain

CAINE

My overeager steps slow as | approach the witch’s RV, an unwelcand all-too-familiar scent heavy in the air.

That damned whelp of an alpha was here.

| barely glance at Reggie's unconscious form sprawled several feet from the camper. I'll address his failure to

protect what's mine later.

Pacing the perimeter helps keep my boiling blood at a simmer, even as Fenris growls and snaps in my head. He's

been half-asleep all morning, grumpy with the decision to keep him away from Grace and the children, and

harassingevery step of the way here to remindhow terrible of an idea that was.

Just shut up and manifest already.

No way. I'm not manifesting until | know she isn’t angry.

Fucking coward of a wolf.

No, | just don’t want to share blwith my idiot soulbond.

Still a coward, though.

The camper door creaks open and my head jerks up, my heart jumping eagerly. I'm like an overzealous pup,

desperate for an ounce of affection—but the feeling dissipates almost immediately.

It's Ron who emerges, shutting the door behind him to close off even a hint of Grace’s scent. There's the faint

scent of blueberry out here, something I'd breathe in deep in other situations, but not when it’s mixed with her

spineless ex's.

Not so spineless if he’s sneaking around behind your back to get to her.

My molars grind together at Fenris’s oh-so-helpful commentary.

He’s not wrong, which only adds to its irritating flavor.

The teenager leans against the doorframe, arms crossed and eyebrows raised in what can only be described as

pure adolescent judgment.

| pause. Even Fenris halts his mental barbs.

What the hell is this?

| stop my pacing and level a glare in his direction, though | temper its intensity—no need to scare him. Grace

would be upset.

But | can’t let insubordination slide, even from a child under my protection.

Instead of cowering, Ron drops onto the camper steps with casual disregard and lets out a tic sigh.

"So, are you just gonna let her ex-boyfriend wander around her whenever he feels like it?" His tone drips with

disdain. "I thought the almighty Lycan King would be able to keep Grace safe. Not looking too reliable from where

I'm sitting."

My eyes narrow as | assess the boy’s unexpected challenge. Something unexpected flickers beneath my

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annoyance. The kid has balls, speaking tothis way. Most grown men wouldn't be able to.

More importantly, he’s protective of Grace.

Good.

Retracting my glower, | focus on what's important.

"Raphael was here."

Ron nods. "He's gone now. Grace was pissed."

This particular detail soothes something primal inside me. Fenris rumbles with approval.

"It won't happen again," | assure the kid, reminding myself he’s in need of protection. He's upset with me

because | failed to protect his family; it's understandable. No point in picking fights with children. "He won't

cnear her."

Ron doesn’t budge from his sentry position. | move to brush past him, eager to see Grace with my own eyes,

confirm her safety, and breathe in her scent to calm the storm raging inside me.

Instead, the kid shifts, deliberately blocking my path.

My back stiffens. "Move."

"No." He jerks his thumb toward Reggie's unconscious form, meeting my gaze without a single flinch. "Take care

of that first."

| suck in a deep breath, reminding myself | see this child as my own son. He's usually more responsible and less

audacious, but he’s mine now, and throwing my child off the steps is not an appropriate response to the

situation.

Wow. Your intelligence has risen another point. Congratulations on leveling up your basic humanity.

I swear, if Fenris was manifested—

Abusing animals is illegal under human laws.

My teeth grind even further.

"Where's Grace?"

It's suspicious she hasn't cout and allowed the teenager out here on his own to greet me. Also, mildly

annoying. Does she not want to seeas much as | want to see her?

"Inside," Ron answers, unfazed.

"Get out of my way, then."

"No."

The temperature between us drops several degrees. Fenris snickers. Under normal situations, he would be as

irritated as | feel, but he seems to enjoy watching Ron get in our way.

| like watching you struggle.

The boy isn’t afraid—not even remotely. His heartbeat remains steady, his gaze unwavering. He has absolute

faith | won't hurt him, and it calms the rising annoyance in my chest.

He's obviously doing this for a reason, Fenris says, finally helpful. He's not happy with you.

"She's taking a shower with Bun," Ron explains, still perfectly calm. "There was an incident with applesauce."

| frown, momentarily distracted. Applesauce? "That doesn’t explain why you won't letinside."

Ron blinks atlike I'm being deliberately obtuse. "Aren't you supposed to be keeping your relationship a

secret?"

The grimace on my face comes half from the reminder and half from Fenris’s mocking laughter. "There's no issue

with checking on her safety."

He glances around me, and | follow his gaze.

Reggie’s still over there, unconscious, a pathetic representation of our kind.

"Why'd you send him over, anyway?"

"To keep you safe."

"Hah."

My eyes narrow, but | can’t exactly argue with his mocking sneer in the Lycan’s direction. "Don’t worry. It won't

happen again."

All the Lycans are now aware of my fury with Reggie; they’ll be walking on eggshells around Grace. Of course, |

was careful to reiterate that we are not mates per her wishes.

This time, I'll leave Fenris here. I've

only been gone a short amount of

tand she’s alreagy(dealt than

insubordinate/ ican and this pathetic

little alpha sniffing around; who

knows what else she'd deal with if

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chapter there!

The girl seems to attract trouble in a strange way.

Ron stares atwith clear, calm eyes. "It better not."

My eye twitches. This kid...

I like him.

"It won't."

If I discipline him, Grace will probably

be upset. She's protective over these

children and too spfeprted Phck

discipline ©nluth harsher than what

she would have grown up with as a

human, though the details of how

Brax raised her are a bit fuzzy. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

An upset Grace will be even more unwilling to acknowledge our relationship publicly.

It has nothing to do with you being too lenient to lay a hand on him, Fenris drawls.

Of course not. The Lycan King has no qualms about disciplining his unruly children. His Queen, on the other

hand...

Right. It’s definitely because you're scared of Grace and not because you want to coddle them all for the rest of

their lives.

Shoving my annoying wolf's presence to the back of my head as much as I'm able, | squint at the boy in front of

me. "You're upset with me."

"Oh, you just figured that out?" His lip

lifts in a little sneer. "The only thing

you have going dor Yo your power,

aBdgoie Rot even capable of

keeping her safe from your own

people." The content is on

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chapter there!

My head jerks back a little. "The only thing?"

Ron looksover, from head to toe, in a strangely assessing way. Then he says reluctantly, "And your looks,

probably."