Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

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.

here while I grab some food and

already reaching for another box. How different would

up a third option when a

recommend that brand.

in every color of the rainbow. Her eyes—unnaturally slitted like

what I’m

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

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

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

"No."

nose, eyes narrowing as she looks me up and down.

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

lot," she says, jerking her thumb toward the entrance. "If you want help

Are you... some sort of

vagabond. But I’ve bleached my hair enough times. I can help

apples, and a couple bottles of water. I introduce him to the girl, whose name I

to call her Lyre, solving

the things in his basket, her eyes

I flinch.

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 awkward

the shelf and tossing

run away from home," the girl interjects, "you really don’t want to botch up your dye job. Also, you’ll need at

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

it’s unlikely she can do anything terrible to

fifth wheel, sweeping her arm in

everything, and plants hang from macramé holders in every corner. The

asks, tossing her keys into a