Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 115: Grace: Hide and Seek, Peek-a-Boo

I fish my phone from my pocket and shoot Lyre a quick text.

[GRACE: Made it safe. Kids settled. Everything ok on your end?]

The three dots never appear. Not even a "delivered" notification.

Signal’s probably garbage out here. Or she’s napping. Could be dealing with her own crew of supernaturals with big personalities and bigger egos. Jack-Eye seems like he’d either be helpful or a handful.

Kind of like Jer, actually. Maybe they share initials for a reason.

Tucking my phone back into my pocket, I squint at the solar panel display again. The battery percentage has dipped slightly since Caine left, but we’re still at a respectable 94%. Not bad for an hour of AC use. And the trailer’s significantly cooler now.

Behind me, Ron’s taken over entertaining the kids. "Hey, Sara, wanna play a game with Bun?"

"What kind of game?"

"Hide-and-seek peek-a-boo, but with a twist. You shift into something small, and Bun has to find you. When she does, we all say peek-a-boo."

A pause. "That’s basically just regular hide and seek. And I can’t say peek-a-boo in hedgie form."

"So? She likes finding animals better than people, and she likes saying peek-a-boo. Come on, it’ll keep her occupied."

"Pa-buu!"

The camper jostles as they storm about, like we’re a ship at sea. Sturdy—Lyre made it perfectly clear the movement is very normal—but probably strange to them.

I’m barely listening, focused on deciphering the solar display, only to get distracted when my stomach grumbles. It’s later in the day, and we’ve only had breakfast.

It isn’t hard to make a giant plate of baby carrots, sliced cubes of cheddar, apples, and even grapes. Putting it out on the counter? Even easier. Getting the kids to eat it...?

Apparently, it’s quite hard.

"Snacks, guys!"

Ron glances up from where he’s crouched near the couch. "Thanks, Grace."

Jer appears out of nowhere, his head at my elbow. "I’m not hungry."

Bun? Ignores me. It’s mildly offensive. She was glued to me, but now she’s trying to cram her head under the couch and oblivious to my existence.

"That’s fine. It’s here if you want it." I scan the room. Something feels off, but I can’t put my finger on what. Like I’m forgetting something important.

Jer hovers as I head back to the kitchenette. "How does the water work in here?"

Great question. I’ve recently learned all about it, too. Okay, not all about it. But I do know there’s a button for the water pump and now I know it’s important to keep the "fresh water" tank filled.

I answer, gesturing vaguely to the electric panel. "It’s connected to a fresh

Is it all from the

We have a generator,

"Why gas?"

I’m not super familiar

it rains for a

know. We’d probably use the generator more?" I wonder how

there was a zombie apocalypse? Would we still

as the sun rises, I guess." I lean

back? Could we outrun

reply, unable

the place. No idea where they come from—or why—but

the Lycan King could

the chicken’s

dark eyes wide with horror. Ron snorts

So technically, T-Rex is

quirk as he splutters, gangly arms waving in the

Dinosaurs," he protests. "He would totally eat the Lycan

isn’t the king. There’s no

squints at me, looking more suspicious

messing around with his head a little. It’s more fun than I

king rules over. Like England. They have kings." I pause. "Well, a queen right now? Uh. No, maybe it’s a king. Both?" I don’t follow royalty, but I vaguely feel like maybe someone important over

the dinosaur

my vote, I’d pick velociraptors over T-Rex any day." I’ve literally never thought about tiers of powerful dinosaurs before this very moment, so I just throw out one of the only other dinosaur names

not dinosaurs. What are the ones who—right. Pterodactyls. The

my dinosaur knowledge. Chicken evolution and three whole

more than

His eyes widen. "They

reason

big. His arms

I watch as he slides onto the bench seat, grabbing a baby carrot while still debating dinosaur royalty in

high-pitched shriek. It has

and my eyes

closer. Ron straightens, instantly on alert as he looks at

wish Caine were here. Just his presence—solid, watchful, impossible to startle—would be enough to make this less

the younger

is under the camper. It’s probably just him, shifting position or bumping

I say, surprised by how steady my voice sounds. "Probably just Fenris. He’s the black wolf

moves to the window, lifting the blind to peer outside. "The golden retriever is running away. Maybe Fenris scared her off. Dogs are terrified of

Nothing to worry about." I plaster on a reassuring smile, feeling my