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.

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

says, "Wait here while I grab some food and snacks,

already reaching for another box. How different would I look? Would

third option when

that brand. You’ll end up

to find a girl with hair in every color of the

really sure what I’m

around before grabbing a different box. "This would work best

I read over the box, not seeing any

cheap ones aren’t worth it." She cocks her head, studying me. "Ever lightened your

"No."

rubs the tip of her nose, eyes narrowing as

around. She seems a little too helpful to be a wolf shifter,

says, jerking her thumb toward the entrance. "If you

some

a vagabond. But I’ve bleached my hair

of water. I introduce him to the girl, whose name

tells us to call her Lyre,

at Andrew, then me, and the things in his basket, her eyes narrow. "You

I flinch.

too quickly. His eyes drop to the box

It feels even more awkward now, probably because he admitted

tossing it into his basket. "Might be a good

to botch up your

we’re following her to a pickup truck across the parking lot with a giant camper hitched to the back. My stomach churns with nerves. It’s probably stupid to follow a

here, it’s unlikely she can do anything terrible to

her fifth wheel, sweeping her arm in a dramatic gesture.

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, while the small dinette area has been transformed with cushions covered in fabrics that look like they came from at least four different countries. It feels more like

her keys into a ceramic bowl shaped like

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