Grace of a Wolf-Chapter 67: Caine: Strange (II)

CAINE

The house Marsh leads me to is no different from the others.

Marsh pushes the door open without knocking. No courtesy, not even a perfunctory tap. Interesting.

Inside feels bare, even more than a model home. There are no photos. No art. Nothing personal. Even Halloway’s pretentious display of wealth had some semblance of life to it. This place resembles a vacant rental property.

There is furniture, though.

Jack-Eye emerges from what must be the kitchen with Elizabeth trailing behind. His shoulder brushes against hers, a short-lived point of contact, and it speaks volumes. The faint whiff of her scent clings to him.

He catches my eye and winks, that insufferable smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Where are the other two?" I ask Jack-Eye, scanning the barren living room.

"Upstairs." Jack-Eye jerks his thumb toward the ceiling. "The wizard doesn’t like being around shifters. Gets the shakes." He drops his voice to a mock whisper. "I think we scare him."

Elizabeth chuckles.

"And Andrew?"

"In another bedroom."

Confined. Good.

Marsh clears his throat. "If that’s all, High Alpha, I’ll return to Alpha Halloway. We still have the banquet to arrange—"

I wave him off with a dismissive hand. His eagerness to leave is palpable, but I don’t think it’s from my display of dominance earlier. He seems more comfortable now that we’re here.

Letting my gaze wander to Elizabeth, I ask, "Is this your home?"

"Yes, High Alpha." There’s a tightness around her eyes, and the faint scent of deception. "I hope it meets your standards."

I cast another glance around the clinical space. "It seems rather large for a single woman."

"It serves multiple purposes." Her eyes don’t quite meet mine. "Guest lodging when needed. Work space when the den gets crowded." She gestures vaguely toward a closed door. "I have a home office through there."

The practical explanation doesn’t align with the emptiness. A multi-purpose space would show signs of its various uses. This place resembles a blank canvas.

Strange. My assumption they brought me here in order to show their legitimacy seems... wrong.

If they wanted to present their pack life as an acceptable twist of shifter society, it’s a little too strange. Almost as if their families live elsewhere, and their presence here is little more than a performance.

There is too little life in this place. They have another purpose for inviting me here.

Fenris grunts. Your brain has become exceptional since accepting Grace.

"I’m surprised you aren’t mated with a few pups running around by now," I tell Elizabeth, leaning into a side of me I rarely access. My lips curve into a friendly smile, and I can see Jack-Eye twitch.

He’s always uncomfortable when I act, as he calls it, normal.

Elizabeth glances away. "Not everyone follows the same path, High Alpha. I like my work."

"Of course." I keep my tone light, but file away her reaction. Another piece in this strange pack’s puzzle.

Jack-Eye clears his throat. "Elizabeth has been kind enough to offer her home instead of putting us up at the den. Isn’t she sweet, Caine?"

"Very."

Elizabeth’s blush is expected, and Jack-Eye slides an arm around her waist. She leans into him naturally.

For a woman who claims she would prefer work to pups, her body language says otherwise. She seems a little dazed by my beta’s affection.

"Would you like to see where you’ll be staying?" she asks, with a shy glance toward Jack-Eye. "There are four bedrooms. One is for you, and your beta has already settled your guests into the others. The last is mine."

Jack-Eye grins, pulling her a little closer as he says, "Don’t worry, boss. You won’t have to share."

His charm is irritating and inauthentic, but Elizabeth seems to love it. A soft giggle escapes her, at odds with her no-nonsense demeanor at our first meeting.

The performance is nauseating, but I keep the fake smile on my face. The moment I show any discomfort, Jack-Eye will ramp up his efforts—it’s his favorite amusement.

If he wasn’t my beta...

But he is.

Unfortunately.

You share such a strange friendship.

"I believe I’ll explore the place myself, if that’s acceptable."

Elizabeth’s eyes flicker behind me. It’s a microsecond of reaction before she plasters a bright smile on her face. "Of course, High Alpha. My home is your home."

"We have a couple hours before this banquet, correct?"

"Yes, High Alpha."

"Would you mind checking with Marsh about the hospital contact I requested? I’d like regular updates about my mate’s condition."

Elizabeth’s smile falters. A frown creases her forehead, and an acrid scent spikes off her.

Jack-Eye spins her around with fluid grace, lifting her chin as he brushes a kiss against her lips.

My eye twitches.

"You’re a gem, Elizabeth," he murmurs. "Completely wasted in Fiddleback. What would they do without you?"

Her transformation is immediate, her discomfort disappearing as she softens in my beta’s embrace.

He plays her like a violin. You should take notes.

No.

Jack-Eye’s manipulation is effective, but his gestures are empty, lacking true affection. Grace and I have so much more between us.

Elizabeth remains silent for several beats, lost in whatever fantasies Jack-Eye planted with his feigned respect and admiration. Then she blinks, returning to the present moment. Her smile, when she turns back to me, seems more genuine.

"I’ll contact Marsh right away, High Alpha. You should be getting your updates shortly."

I nod, watching her pull out her phone and step into her supposed office. The door clicks shut behind her.

"Subtle," I tell Jack-Eye once she’s gone.

He shrugs, dropping the charming facade as we head upstairs. He lowers his voice. "While you were at the hospital with our new Luna, I did a sweep of this place. Nothing out of the ordinary. No obvious traps."

"But?"

"But there’s no way this is her actual home. No personal items, not even a spare toothbrush in the bathroom cabinet."

I grunt. "That much was obvious."

"Oh? And here I thought I was being clever." He rubs the back of his neck with a sigh. "Something’s off about this pack. They don’t seem dangerous, but they’re planning something. I can feel it."