Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 35: Grace: Blonde

My hair is blonde, and it’s weird.

For whatever reason, I hear Caine’s voice in my head. "Your hair is brown," he’d said. A mere observation, not even a compliment, but for a second I mourn my generic brown hair.

"The toner helped with the brassiness, but it still isn’t perfect." Lyre runs her fingers through my hair with a soft click of her tongue. "Virgin hair is so nice to work with. It’s so soft even after lightening."

Andrew scratches at his cheek, his eyes darting everywhere except my face. "It, uh, looks pretty good."

"Thanks," I mutter, uncomfortable with his awkwardness. His crush doesn’t seem completely gone if he can’t meet my eyes over a simple compliment.

My attention drifts back to the mirror on the camper’s bathroom wall.

A stranger stares back at me. The blonde frames my face differently, catching light where shadows used to be. I twist a strand between my fingers, still damp and smelling of chemicals. My reflection looks alien.

I can’t stop touching it, running my fingers through the strands, flipping it side to side. The weight feels different. Everything feels different.

Lyre said it would be lighter after it dries, but something about solar power and batteries means she can’t run her hair dryer.

"So?" She leans against the doorframe, eyes bright with anticipation. "Do you like it?"

"I honestly don’t know." My hand drops from my hair. "But I definitely would’ve botched it without your help."

She waves a hand about airily. "It isn’t really that hard to do. Just need the right products and a bit of patience."

We shuffle out of the cramped bathroom and into the dinette—a small table with bench seating crammed against her kitchen counter. I slide in first, pressing myself against the wall to make room for Andrew. The space between us and the counter can’t be more than ten inches.

"Sorry it’s tight." Lyre squeezes past to grab three glasses. "Always harder to move around when the slides are in."

half of the RV, which looks

they’re extended, I hang over into neighboring parking spaces,

a glass of water. "Actually, Grace, we

rests her chin on her hand, observing us with her strange, slitted eyes. I fiddle with the glass,

about her—something free and untethered, calling to the

you know."

suddenly thumping faster in my

tomorrow. I’ve got a friend there with some land and full hook-ups, so I can stay a while if I want to." She traces a pattern on the tabletop with

it’s really far from

Andrew says, glancing at me. His voice lowers. "Don’t forget, Rafe’s

I didn’t want Andrew to

eyebrows rise, but she doesn’t seem particularly offended. "Just offering." She shrugs, the gesture fluid and unconcerned, and

not trying to be rude. We appreciate your help, but we have plans. And we don’t know you very well." Andrew’s polite, at least, as he explains things

smiles at me, not him. "The offer stands though. Especially if

not even sure what I’m going to say, when Andrew’s hand presses

really should go,"

take

to the Blue Mountain Pack. In fact, I never planned on playing long with their plan to begin with. Andrew was always just a means

Something about the chemical smell lingering

to come with you," I tell Lyre, my voice louder than I meant for it to be. "To Yellowstone. If you really don’t

I feel weightless, like I’ve jumped off a cliff and haven’t started falling yet. It’s even better than when I tried to escape the first time; it

over the rim of his glass and he

eyes widen slightly, but her expression remains neutral as she

me, snatching at my