Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 113: Grace: Daddy Material

The display for Lyre’s solar power says 1,384W in, 98% battery, and then a number to actually make my stomach flip:

Estimated Runtime: 3h 12m.

Three hours? That’s it?

I glance at the humming AC vents, the dehumidifier pulling swamp air from every corner, and the fridge. We’re pulling too much. Even with solar pouring in, it’s not enough.

How is that possible with 98%?

My fingers hover over the thermostat. I can’t shut everything off, but maybe I can cut the second AC. That’s one less thing bleeding our battery dry.

But first I have to figure out how.

"What’s wrong?" Caine’s voice comes from directly behind me, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from his body without him actually touching me.

I step quickly to the side, putting six more inches between us. "I have no idea what any of this means." I gesture at the panel. "How much power do we have? How long before we’re out? I don’t know anything about solar."

All I know is it’s expensive, which makes me wonder even more about how Lyre gets by.

He leans in to examine the display, his dark brows furrowed. The muscles in his arm tense as he braces himself against the wall, making sure not to brush against me. We’ve become experts at this careful dance of almost-contact.

jack-shit about solar," he admits, straightening. "But I’ve worked with generators before.

don’t know. "I’ve never

"I’ll

rampage—literally, he’s bouncing between the kitchenette and living room, going on about lasers and dinosaurs—and Bun’s sudden

table and reaches

the room, catching her just before she can grab the swinging pendant light. She squeals in protest as I set her down on the bench

crawl under the

had texted, telling me to take the bedroom, since we’ll need the extra sleeping space. It’s a small load off my

Ron and Jer on the daybed I’d used, though it’ll be a tight squeeze; Caine on

his head in. "Found it up front, but it’s dry.

My stomach drops. "Fuel?"

propane. I’m not sure how much propane we have, so we’re going to need to get some gas. We emptied all her water

need the AC running. Bun’s too small to handle this kind of heat—but even without her, all

but now it’s my biggest concern,

the generator, water refills, and probably more food." I mentally catalog our dwindling supplies. "Especially stuff the kids will

surroundings. I join him, staying far enough away that our shoulders don’t touch, but I sneakily breathe deep to experience his scent a little more thoroughly. Seriously, he smells so

smell like him thing I’ve heard about. I would wear his shirts every day just

in shallow hills. No trees for shade, just scrubby plants and packed earth. The fifth-wheel sits in a slightly lower area where recent rain has created muddy tire ruts