h4Chapter 208: Caine: Disdain/h4

    strongCAINE/strong

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

    That damned whelp of an alpha was here.

    I barely nce at Reggie’s unconscious form sprawled several feet from the camper. I’ll address his failure to protect what’s mer.

    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 harassing me every step of the way here to remind me how terrible of an idea that was.

    iJust shut up and manifest already./i

    iNo way. I’m not manifesting until I know she isn’t angry./i

    Fucking coward of a wolf.

    iNo, I just don’t want to share me with my idiot soulbond./i

    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.

    iNot so spineless if he’s sneaking around behind your back to get to her./i

    My mrs grind together at Fenris’s oh-so-helpfulmentary.

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

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

    I pause. Even Fenris halts his mental barbs.

    What the hell is this?

    I stop my pacing and level a re in his direction, though I temper its intensity—no need to scare him. Grace would be upset.

    But I 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 dramatic 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 I assess the boy’s unexpected challenge. Something unexpected flickers beneath my annoyance. The kid has balls, speaking to me this way. Most grown men wouldn’t be able to.

    More importantly, he’s protective of Grace.

    Good.

    Retracting my glower, I focus on what’s important.

    "Raphael was here."

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

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

    "It won’t happen again," I assure the kid, reminding myself he’s in need of protection. He’s upset with me because I failed to protect his family; it’s understandable. No point in picking fights with children. "He won’te near her."

    Ron doesn’t budge from his sentry position. I 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."

    I suck in a deep breath, reminding myself I 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.

    iWow. Your intelligence has risen another point. Congrattions on leveling up your basic humanity./i

    I swear, if Fenris was manifested—

    iAbusing animals is illegal under humanws./i

    My teeth grind even further.

    "Where’s Grace?"

    It’s suspicious she hasn’te out and allowed the teenager out here on his own to greet me. Also, mildly annoying. Does she not want to see me as much as I 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 I feel, but he seems to enjoy watching Ron get in our way.

    iI like watching you struggle./i

    The boy isn’t afraid—not even remotely. His heartbeat remains steady, his gaze unwavering. He has absolute faith I won’t hurt him, and it calms the rising annoyance in my chest.

    iHe’s obviously doing this for a reason,/i Fenris says, finally helpful. iHe’s not happy with you./i

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

    I frown, momentarily distracted. Applesauce? "That doesn’t exin why you won’t let me inside."

    Ron blinks at me like I’m being deliberately obtuse. "Aren’t you supposed to be keeping your rtionship a secret?"

    The grimace on my facees half from the reminder and half from Fenris’s mockingughter. "There’s no issue with checking on her safety."

    He nces around me, and I 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 I 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, I 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 time and she’s already dealt with an insubordinate Lycan and this pathetic little alpha sniffing around; who knows what else she’d deal with if given a few more hours.

    The girl seems to attract trouble in a strange way.

    Ron stares at me with clear, calm eyes. "It better not."

    My eye twitches. This kid...

    iI like him./i

    "It won’t."

    If I discipline him, Grace will probably be upset. She’s protective over these children and too soft-hearted. Pack discipline is much harsher than what she would have grown up with as a human, though the details of how Brax raised her are a bit fuzzy.

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

    iIt has nothing to do with you being too lenient toy a hand on him,/i Fenris drawls.

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

    iRight. It’s definitely because you’re scared of Grace and not because you want to coddle them all for the rest of their lives./i

    Shoving my annoying wolf’s presence to the back of my head as much as I’m able, I 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 for you is your power, and you’re not even capable of keeping her safe from your own people."

    My head jerks back a little. "The ionly/i thing?"

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