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.

a blonde woman catches my eye. I reach for it, reading the instructions with burning curiosity. A transformation in a box. A new identity for

"Wait here

different would I look?

option when

recommend that brand.

girl with hair in every color of the

really sure what I’m

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

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

worth it." She cocks her head, studying me. "Ever

"No."

narrowing as

looking around. She seems a little too helpful to be a wolf shifter, but I’m still nervous. Where’s

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

you... some sort of

vagabond. But I’ve bleached my

canned foods, crackers, apples, and a couple bottles of water.

tells us to call her Lyre, solving that

things in his basket, her eyes narrow. "You two

I flinch.

quickly. His eyes drop to the box in my hand.

hastily return the box to the shelf, feeling oddly guilty. I wasn’t trying to spend Andrew’s money or anything. It feels even more awkward now, probably because he admitted having a crush on me once before. "I was

shelf and tossing it into his basket. "Might be a good idea

"you really don’t want to botch up your dye job. Also, you’ll need at least one

the back. My stomach churns with nerves. It’s probably stupid to follow a stranger, but at least

Andrew here, it’s unlikely she can do

wheel, sweeping her arm in a dramatic gesture. "Welcome to my

into another world—one splashed with color and life. Every surface holds something fascinating: lightweight cloth in rich jewel tones drape across the walls, fairy lights strung in zigzag patterns across the 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,

staying anywhere in town?" Lyre asks, tossing her keys into a ceramic bowl

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