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.

I reach for it, reading the instructions with burning curiosity. A transformation in a

"Wait here while I grab some food and snacks,

for another box. How different would I look? Would Rafe even recognize me? Would

pick up a third option when a

that brand. You’ll end

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

sure what I’m

"This would work best out of

seeing any real

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

"No."

rubs the tip of her nose, eyes narrowing as she looks me up and down.

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

jerking her thumb toward the entrance. "If you want help going

you... some sort of hair

I’ve bleached my hair

basket filled with canned foods, crackers, apples, and a couple bottles of water. I introduce him to the girl, whose name I realize I don’t even

tells us to call her Lyre, solving

then me, and the things in his basket, her eyes narrow.

I flinch.

box in my hand. "Did you want to

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

grabbing it off the shelf and tossing it into his basket. "Might be

home," the girl interjects, "you really don’t want to botch up your

to a pickup truck across the parking lot with a giant camper hitched to the back. My stomach churns with nerves. It’s

it’s unlikely she can do

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

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

asks, tossing her

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