Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 35

Chapter 34: Grace: Lighten

Sterling City is a small town. Too small to hide in. Andrew’s words, not mine.

"So you’re not leaving me here?" I ask, confused.

Andrew’s grip tightens around the steering wheel. "It’s the first place they’ll look. You’re going to need some more distance from the Lycan King, just in case."

His words send ice through my veins. Of course they’d search Sterling City. It’s the closest human settlement, so it makes sense I would run here.

"We’re going to keep driving for a while, but first we need some food."

He pulls into a vast parking lot illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights. A massive blue sign looms ahead.

"Where are we?"

"Walmart. We need food."

The automatic doors slide open with a mechanical hiss, releasing a blast of cold air that prickles my skin. Inside, the store stretches endlessly, aisles upon aisles of... everything. So many things.

"Bathroom first," Andrew mutters, nodding toward the back of the store.

We navigate through the nearly empty store. Past midnight, only a few night owls roam the aisles alongside us. A tired woman in a blue vest pushes a cart of items to restock, and two guys crowd stand in front of the frozen pizzas. They’re the only two people I see.

After using the bathroom, I emerge to find Andrew waiting. His gaze follows mine as I take in everything around us.

"Want to look around?"

I hesitate. "Is that okay?"

"Sure. If you’re not tired." He shrugs. "We can take ten minutes to look around."

It’s a little embarrassing to admit how much fun it is just to drift through aisles.

I end up in haircare, drawn to a wall of colors and promises. My hair’s brown and boring, but I’d never cared much about it before. It’s just hair, after all.

blonde woman catches my eye. I reach for it, reading the instructions with burning curiosity.

Andrew says, "Wait here while I grab some food

How different would I

a third option when a

that brand.

girl with hair in every color of

not really sure what I’m looking

around before grabbing a different box. "This would work best out of what’s

box, not seeing any real difference except—"This one costs

cocks her head, studying me.

"No."

of her nose, eyes narrowing as she looks

around. She seems a little too helpful to

in the parking lot," she says, jerking her thumb toward the

you... some sort of

I’ve bleached my hair enough times. I can help with

his basket filled with canned foods, crackers, apples, and a couple bottles of water.

to call her Lyre, solving that

basket, her

I flinch.

His eyes drop to the box in my hand. "Did you want to change

guilty. I wasn’t trying to spend Andrew’s money or anything. It feels even more

off the shelf and tossing

want to botch up your dye

with a giant camper hitched to the back. My stomach churns with nerves. It’s probably stupid to follow a stranger, but at least we’re in the parking lot

here, it’s unlikely she can do

the door to her fifth wheel, sweeping her arm in a dramatic gesture. "Welcome to

ceiling cast a warm glow over everything, and plants hang from macramé holders in every corner. The kitchenette gleams with copper pots dangling from a rack, while the small dinette area has been transformed with cushions covered in fabrics that look like they

tossing her keys into a ceramic bowl shaped like a

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