CAINE
It's strange.
My head pulses as Dylan explains what those damn suspicious pets were doing in the basent of a hunting cottage, struck by the strangest sense of deja vu.
None of what he says surprises .
No, it would be more accurate to say I am surprised. Surprised I've sohow known all of it before he's said a word.
"You're dismissed. Make sure those animals are thoroughly cleaned before they co 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 mont the door shuts behind the ssy trio, I rub at my temples, attempting to clear the pressure building there.
Scrolling through my ssages 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 sa disorienting feeling of foreknowledge, but it doesn't ease my discomfort either.
If anything, it's worse.
Grace has never voluntarily updated on her whereabouts. She certainly never ntioned when she needed to get the laundry done. Never ntioned her little jaunt into the forest for no apparent reason.
The steady rhythm of my finger tapping against the table irritates even . 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 ssages 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 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 na I can't be bothered to rember.
"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 so ti."
I grunt. "Do that."
Reggie's on Rafe's annoying little tail, but his Luna… I'll have to arrange soone to watch her. If Grace won't keep herself safe, I'll have to do it for her.
A quick check with Randy assures the children are fine, inside the RV and playing together. Ron has taken the day to spend with the family, leaving more comfortable ordering Randy to do a more thorough sweep of the area to ensure no one's creeping around.
Sothing isn't right. The crawling sensation beneath my skin intensifies, my tattoos seemingly restless for the first ti 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 imdiately 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 so 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.
I rub at my forehead, a dull ache settling behind my eyes. The Blue Mountain shifter I grabbed earlier has already hustled off for answers.
Fenris materializes beside , looking a little smaller than usual. Even his ethereal blue flicker seems muted.
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 so rest tonight.
He bumps his cold nose against my thigh before he lopes away, in search of my errant mate, gallivanting across the territory with another man.
What are you going to do, since we're all doing your work for you?
The mild sarcasm lining Fenris's words is so familiar I barely notice it.
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 ti with Grace tonight—without interruption. Otherwise, I'm not sure when I'll be able to.
Will you mark her tonight?
I halt mid-stride on the staircase, my fingers curling around the banister, sinking in to leave imprints.
The loaded question sparks my imagination into a frenzy, and shoving those desires down takes more effort than I expected.
"You were the one who said I shouldn't." My voice drops low enough that any passing shifter would hear nothing but a king muttering to himself like a crazy person. Granted, we all do it. "Not without her consent."
Irritation bleeds into every word as I stalk my way down the rest of the stairs.
The mark would bind her to 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 sohow I know it isn't as easy as he says it is.
"You think she'll agree?"
No.
I stop again, this ti 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 to do it?"
A Blue Mountain wolf darts around the corner, freezing at the sight of standing there. Then he turns around and walks the way he ca, retreating without ever eting my gaze.
To change her damn mind, obviously. Fenris's ntal voice drips with condescension. Are you too useless to even figure that out? Rember 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 sothing 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.
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