Grace of a Wolf (by Lenaleia) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Caine: Let It Slip

CAINE

“That won’t be necessary,” Jack-Eye assures the human with a placating smile. “Give us an hour.”

Bob’s shoulders relax. Of course; he’s stood up to us without immediate repercussion. He must be feeling quite pleased with himself. Strong. Capable of fighting back.

My fingers curl into the plastic fabric of the camping chair.

Wait, Fenris says, nipping at my knee. It’s quickly becoming an unpleasant habit. See what Jack-Eye is thinking first.

“One hour,” the insipid little human agrees, backing away. “Or I call the cops, okay?”

I bare my teeth. Bob quickens his retreat.

“What the hell was that?” I demand of Jack-Eye once he’s out of earshot. “Since when do we bow to humans?”

My beta looks uncharacteristically serious as he crosses his arms and widens his stance. This is body language I know a little too well; he always stands like this when he’s willfully defiant.

Of course, he usually has a reason.

“You’re trying to get on Grace’s good side, aren’t you?”

My eye twitches. I grunt noncommittally. Saying no is harder than I expected. I’m not agreeing with him; of course not. But I am interested in what ridiculous excuse he’s come up with.

Jack-Eye does have quite the experience with females, Fenris muses. His mating habits are unparalleled among the Lycans.

I study Jack-Eye’s face. It isn’t like I don’t know what he looks like; he’s been by my side for years. But it’s my first time really noting how unmarred it remains compared to most in our pack. His skin is smooth and free of battle scars Lycans typically wear like badges of honor. Or survival.

Most of us carry the marks of our conquest.

And yet my Beta has managed to keep his face relatively untouched. It’s almost unnerving.

It’s not his pretty face that attracts females, Fenris interjects with a dismissive mental snort. It’s his personality. He knows how to charm them. Makes them feel special before he moves on to the next.

Hmm.

“Then perhaps,” Jack-Eye says dryly, oblivious to our side conversation, “dominating and terrorizing other humans isn’t the best approach.”

I flinch. Of course Grace is human. I know this. But somehow, I’ve begun thinking of her as… apart. Different from others of her kind. Special.

In fact, I only seem to mention her humanity when Fenris brings her up as a mate prospect.

“The girl in that camper,” Jack-Eye continues, gesturing toward Lyre’s RV, “has already earned Grace’s trust. You haven’t. And bullying a campground worker won’t help your case.”

“I don’t bully,” I mutter.

Jack-Eye raises a skeptical eyebrow.

A rustling sound from the camper draws my attention. Through the window, I catch a flicker of movement—a flash of rainbow hair. Lyre stands just beyond the glass, watching us. For a split second, her eyes meet mine, and something cold slithers down my spine.

“Did you see that?” Fenris’s voice rumbles between us, so Jack-Eye can hear. Andrew and Thom are oblivious; they don’t have access to our pack link.

“Her eyes. They shifted. She appears human, but for a minute they looked like a cat’s.”

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