Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 68: Grace: What Are the Chances...?

Lyre’s pulled her phone out and frowned at it at least fifteen times in the past few minutes, driving me mildly batty.

My nurse fiddles with a new bag of IV fluids, having saved us from the incessant squawking of whatever machine they have attached to a pole. A few buttons beep, and clear fluid drips in steady rhythm once again.

I crane my neck around the nurse’s blue scrubs, trying to catch Lyre’s eye. What’s with all the phone checking? But she doesn’t notice my curiosity, her eyes fixed on whatever message is on her screen.

The nurse taps the IV bag once more. "All set, honey. Your fluids are running nice and steady now."

"Thanks," I mumble, distracted by my friend’s increasingly pinched expression.

"Just hit that call button if you need anything. Anything at all," the nurse chirps.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, Lyre finally looks up from her phone.

"What are the chances your boyfriend’s gotten himself kidnapped by the local pack?"

A laugh bubbles out of me. "Caine? Getting kidnapped?" The absurdity of it makes me laugh harder. "Maybe if they’re dragons in disguise."

But Lyre doesn’t join in. Her slitted eyes narrow further.

My laughter dies in my throat. "Wait. You’re not joking."

"I wouldn’t say I’m genuinely concerned." She taps her phone against her palm as she glances out the window. "More... cataloging unusual happenings."

My heart does a nauseating somersault. "What unusual happenings? Is he okay?"

"Well, up until an hour ago, he was incessantly messaging me for updates. Now it’s radio silence. I watched him leave with one of the local shifters. It’s a small pack, so it shouldn’t be a problem even if they act up, but..."

It’s Caine we’re talking about. The

me. "Confirming: it’s okay for me to stop

her brow as if she needs my permission. "Sure. You’re free

says, sounding as if she’s warning me. "I’m washing my hands

lips keep twitching as she lets out

phone into her back pocket, her shoulders easing a little. "Okay. With that done, I’m afraid I need to run

I blink. "Again?"

pauses, tilting her head. "Let’s say I have connections to check in

time is right. It better be worth it. Her cryptic rainbow personality isn’t exactly getting old,

face with her unsettling perception. "I don’t have

their own agenda. First Caine breaking his own rules to protect me, now Lyre ready to postpone her plans if I need her. It’s enough to make a

I guess I

the door.

hundred marathons, and my brain is a little heavy after our conversation. A friend’s presence isn’t going to fix

A nap might.

a folded sweatshirt.

You

pass out while you’re gone.

for a moment longer, then nods. "Okay. But

phone on the cabinet by my

long." She hesitates at the door, her hand on the knob. "Don’t do anything crazy when I’m not

I try to

door open. I

pass before her rainbow-colored head

thing. If wolf boy returns while I’m gone—no sex in

jaw unhinges. "Excuse