Grace of a Wolf (by Lenaleia) novel Chapter 250

Chapter 250: Caine: Room Service

CAINE

It’s strange.

My head pulses as Dylan explains what those damn suspicious pets were doing in the basement of a hunting cottage, struck by the strangest sense of deja vu.

None of what he says surprises me.

No, it would be more accurate to say I am surprised. Surprised I’ve somehow known all of it before he’s said a word.

"You’re dismissed. Make sure those animals are thoroughly cleaned before they come within fifty feet of Grace or the children." My voice remains steady, without a hint of the uncertainty leaking into my thoughts.

Dylan nods and backs away, Sadie’s muddy tail thumping against his leg as they go. The moment the door shuts behind the messy trio, I rub at my temples, attempting to clear the pressure building there.

Scrolling through my messages with Grace only reinforces the strange, not-quite-right feeling in my gut.

I read them again. And again. The relatively short exchange doesn’t trigger the same disorienting feeling of foreknowledge, but it doesn’t ease my discomfort either.

If anything, it’s worse.

Grace has never voluntarily updated me on her whereabouts. She certainly never mentioned when she needed to get the laundry done. Never mentioned her little jaunt into the forest for no apparent reason.

The steady rhythm of my finger tapping against the table irritates even me. Clenching my hand into a fist helps still the impulse, but the restless energy trapped in my body no longer has an outlet.

I’d love to believe her text messages are a simple signal of progress in our relationship, that she’s inching toward accepting her role as my mate, my Luna, the woman who will rule beside me and carry my children.

But it isn’t.

My chair scrapes back as I jerk upright and stride to the door, slamming it open with great irritation. I grab the first Blue Mountain shifter I see—a young male whose name I can’t be bothered to remember.

"Where are your Alpha and Luna? When did you last see them?"

The shifter’s eyes widen. "I—I believe Alpha Raphael is at his private residence, High Alpha. The Luna..." He swallows as my eyes narrow. "I haven’t seen her today. I can—I can ask the pack, High Alpha. Please give me some time."

I grunt. "Do that."

Reggie’s on Rafe’s annoying little tail, but his Luna... I’ll have to arrange someone to watch her. If Grace won’t keep herself safe, I’ll have to do it for her.

A quick check with Randy assures me the children are fine, inside the RV and playing together. Ron has taken the day to spend with the family, leaving me more comfortable ordering Randy to do a more thorough sweep of the area to ensure no one’s creeping around.

Something isn’t right. The crawling sensation beneath my skin intensifies, my tattoos seemingly restless for the first time in years. I press my palm against my neck, trying to calm the now unfamiliar itching.

I could track her, Fenris offers out of nowhere, having been silent all day. Find where she’s gone.

He’s speaking of the annoying Luna, of course, not my mate.

"Do it," I reply, then immediately reconsider. "No. Go to Grace. Stay with her. Don’t let her see you, but remain close." She’s obviously determined not to stay under the protection I’ve provided, but I have to be patient.

She doesn’t understand the weakness she represents in my life, and she has some vague objectives in this area.

"Let her do what needs to be done. Only show yourself when necessary."

Do I need reminders from a whelp like you? he scoffs.

Do you have strength? I ask, frowning. He hasn’t expended much energy of late, and yet he seems almost empty.

Enough for this. I’ll be fine with some rest tonight.

What are you going to do, since we’re all doing your work for you?

I look out the window as I head toward the lower floor of the lodge, my mind already calculating. Make sure everything’s perfect for tonight. The resistant packs arrive tomorrow. I need time with Grace tonight—without interruption. Otherwise, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to.

Will you mark her tonight?

The mark would bind her to me completely, wrapping her in my power and keeping her by my side forever.

So get her consent tonight.

My teeth grind together. Simple. Clean. Fenris delivers the directive like he’s suggesting I order dessert, but somehow I know it isn’t as easy as he says it is.

"You think she’ll agree?"

No.

I stop again, this time at the bottom landing. Annoyance flickers in my chest, but I was expecting this kind of reaction from my trickster of a wolf.

He loves to rub my face in any inadequacies I might hold.

"Then why the fuck are you even telling me to do it?"

A Blue Mountain wolf darts around the corner, freezing at the sight of me standing there. Then he turns around and walks the way he came, retreating without ever meeting my gaze.

To change her damn mind, obviously. Fenris’s mental voice drips with condescension. Are you too useless to even figure that out? Remember to order flowers. And a romantic dinner that isn’t just room service.

My heart jerks. "How did you—"

The thought had crossed my mind not ten minutes ago. Order something up to the suite I’d prepared, let her relax instead of having to go out and face more people... I’d thought it was a good idea.

I live in your head, you idiot.