Chapter 16 – Caden

"Grace he isn't going to hurt me." I hear Amelia say in a low whisper to Grace. I keep my body still and stay as calm as I can with a large, deadly and powerful she wolf above me. I wince as she growls, her teeth grazing my skin uncomfortably but she isn't going for the kill - yet. Amelia seems to be able to calm the angry wolf above me as the sharp teeth retreat from my neck and the slight pressure I felt pulls back giving me space to breath. Who knew that Grace could have so much power in her blood that it could cause me to have a hard time breathing.

"Grace, Caden has been helping me find you and keeping me safe from other wolves. You can trust him." Amelia continues, putting a good word in for me. I thank the Goddess that I met Amelia first. Without her, I don’t think I would be left uninjured if I met Grace alone. I supress the chuckle that wants to leave my lips when I think about how I met Amelia, the blonde tackling me to the ground and threatening me just like Grace is right now. I can see why these two are close as they are similar in how they treat unknown males.

“I don’t think she trusts me yet.” I states quietly, looking over my shoulder to Amelia. Grace’s lips curl back in a warning snarl and reminds the me that in this moment, with her paw being placed back onto my back and the sharp claws poking into my skin that she is the one in control.

“She is just protecting me. We are sworn sisters and to her you are a male that might claim me." Amelia states, rubbing the top of Grace’s head. Grace nods, agreeing with her friend’s words and I let out a sigh of defeat. If I want Grace to trust me, then I have to submit to her right now. Turning my head to expose my neck, I surrender to Grace and hope that she sees that I am no threat to her. A few seconds later I feel her move away from me and breath a sigh of relief. Amelia and my actions must have shown her that I am no threat. I slowly move into a sitting position to spot Amelia throwing her arms around Grace, the small blonde nearly being buried by the long flowing silver fur. My breath catches in my throat and I wonder how beautiful Grace must be in skin form as her sapphire eyes look at Amelia with love and relief.

"I'm Caden-" She growls again when I try to introduce myself, making me stop in my tracks from waking towards her. I have a feeling that until she gets to know me, her guard will be up and I may end up like that male by the tree a few kilometers back from the way we came.

“I guess you are not in a trusting mood still Lady Silver." I mumble out sheepishly, looking away as I rub the back of my head. She really is a strong and powerful wolf and I cannot wait to earn her trust and get to know her. Grace closes her eyes for a moment before she abruptly stands and walks away. Amelia chuckles before turning to me with an apologetic smile while I look at her with a questioning gaze. It seems these two have been linking the whole time and all I can hope is that it was Amelia putting a good word in for me.

"She wants us to follow her to a cave." Amelia states with another chuckle. I nod, deciding that staying quiet right now is the right thing to do with Grace still untrusting of me and daylight being so close. We can’t risk other wolves hearing us before we make it to safety. We keep to the shadows of the trees as the sky lightens with each minute that passes until the entrance of a cave appears. Grace pads in first and I go to follow but Amelia stops me.

“She wants to shift and change into clothes first.” My friend states.

“I guess she wants to interrogate me?” I ask with a sigh, deciding to take a step back and lean against a tree. Amelia sighs, neither denying my words nor confirming them. It seems even she knows her sworn sister wants to question my intentions and I can’t blame her. A lone male traveling with an unmated female is questionable in The Run and most males would use this tactic to gain the trust of a she-wolf before claiming her. I just hope I can prove that the only other motive I have is to take Grace on a few dates and get to know her outside of The Run.

“We can enter now.” Amelia says quietly, breaking me from my thoughts. Amelia rushes in first and I follow, emerging inside the cave just in time to see Amelia run towards Grace and into her arms. I watch the heart warming scene of the two girls hugging one another, their eyes misty with unshed tears and lean against the wall beside the entrance to give them their moment.

“I am so glad I found you.” Amelia whimpers out. I can sense the fear in her words from my spot and sigh inwardly. Amelia was so scared and even though I helped her, I know I couldn’t ease the fear the way her best friend could.

“I am glad you found me too. Do you still have the token on?” Grace whispers out. Her voice is soft with a hint of love and affection. My heart skips a beat, not understanding how someone could have such a captivating voice that I could listen to it all day and never get tired of hearing it. She has this magnetic pull, one that calls to me and I realize in this moment how screwed I am if I can’t control myself.

“I do but we haven’t run into any Fae yet.” Amelia mumbles taking me out of my thoughts. I wonder what they mean by token and Fae but decide it is another question for later as Grace tells Amelia to get some res. Her care and love for the blonde she-wolf reminds me of how I treat my little sister and I smile. I hope Karina is safe and okay at the Lodge. Grace watches Amelia until she is fast asleep, her warm gaze one I hope to gain in the future while I wait silently for her to interrogate me. Once Amelia is deep in her slumber, her gaze turns to me and her soft smile turns into a hard glare.

"You said your name is Caden?” She asks, her captivating voice holding a hint of distrust. “Yes Ma’am.” I answer promptly, keeping my words respectful and only speaking the truth. This seems to please the she-wolf as he glare softens and I hold in my sigh if relief. So far so good.

“Who are you Caden?" She demands the power in her blood radiating off of me. I think over my words, trying to decide how to speak the truth without sharing my identity. I don’t want to deceive her but I also don’t want anyone to know who I truly am.

"Caden Wolfrain, from Wœlf Haven and future Alpha." I state honestly, running a hand through my hair. It is not a lie as Wœlf Haven was my mother’s pack and I inherited from her as she has no living relatives. Right now, the Beta is the acting Alpha and as soon as I take my rightful place from my father, I plan to merge the two packs. Grace seems shocked by my answer as a look of recognition fills her eyes. There is another name I go by, one know to she-wolves in The Run.

"The Golden Boy, friend to she wolves at The Run." She whispers out and I nod. At twenty-four I have participated in The Run for six years, a total of twelve events. After watching Felix claim Linda I knew I could never do that and started helping she-wolves who did not want to be mated, sending them on the safest routs and showing them how to avoid the Fae, males and Ragers.

“Yes, that’s me.” I confirm, her gaze softening some more as she looks at me with a questioning gaze.

“Why are you here again? You haven’t claimed a mate and always help she-wolves. Aren’t you tired of coming to The Run?” She asks and I sigh. I look away and smile as Amelia turns in her sleep while mumbling something, Grace sees my action and does the same letting out a chuckle.

“I was forced to come to The Run by my father. If I don’t take a mate the old fashion way, then I lose my title as heir...” I mumble out my words slowly growing hard and trailing off as I think about my father and Felix. I hated them both. Hated their treatment towards the she-wolves in the pack and how they both abused their mates. It’s no wonder why my father loves Felix more than me.

"And if you don't then some one else you hate takes it and possibly ruins your pack." She finishes and I nod. It seems she is starting to trust me more and more with our short conversation.

"Who is he?" She asks as she walks over to my direction where a bag sits. I didn’t notice it before as she rummages through it and motions for me to sit as she brings out a container. I sit down, happy to let my legs relax after a long night of walking and settle in as grace takes a spot beside me, offering me the beef jerky and dried fruit she has taken out. I thank her, taking a bite of the jerky before answering.

"My cousin Felix. Vilest man you will ever meet. He raped his mate and beats her daily before heading into the cities to fuck unsuspecting humans or even just finding a few pack whores from the pack to play with. Linda doesn’t deserve it." I sigh and take another angry bite of my jerky.

“He sounds like he needs to be stopped.” Grace scoffs out, taking a bite of the dried fruit – apple if I am not mistaken – and I not in agreement.

"If he becomes Alpha then my pack will die from his reign. But I plan to do something about this at the lodge. I can’t let my father and Felix ruin our pack further." I state.

“Do you plan to challenge your father?” She questions and I nod, my gaze filled with hatred as I look at the wall where Grace once leaned against moments earlier.

“I plan to kill him and maybe even Felix.” Grace just nods at my words, her silence all that I need to know that she doesn’t judge me with my plan. If anything, I think she respects me for it and for how I plan to put a stop to their terror.

"Amelia is in a similar situation. Her father is a complete ass and if she doesn't step up as Alpha soon the pack will fall." Grace states. I already know the situation, Amelia confiding in me that she hope Grace wins the bet so that she can become Alpha and fix her pack. I know the she-wolf will become a great leader. I just hope that Amelia can forgive me if Grace and I end up together and I take the silver she-wolf away to be part of my own pack one day. That is if I can ask the wolf beside me on a date and get to know her.

“I am Grace Harvest by the way.” Grace says, her words now warm and accepting of me.

“Amelia already told me all about you Grace and about your bet with her Father. If you don’t mind, I would like to help you win it for both yours and Amelia’s sakes.” She smiles at my words before looking away with a blush and leaning her head on my shoulder. I am shocked with how fast I have earned her trust but thank the Goddess none the less as I allow her to lean against me.

“I’d like that Caden.” I smile out as she lets out a yawn.

“And thank you for keeping Amelia safe.” She mumbles quietly as she drifts off to sleep on my shoulder.