Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 143: Grace: Too Domestic

A few hours later, we’re finally back in the camper. The last of the barbecue has been packed away, the fire doused, the children full and sleepy, even though Jer insists he’s wide awake even as he rubs his eyes.

My shoulders ache from the tension I’ve been carrying, but I check the solar panel as the kids flop onto the couches in the living room, relieved by the cool, air-conditioned air.

"The battery’s low," I mutter, checking the display panel. The numbers flicker between 10% and 11% in a way that makes my stomach knot. Something’s still not right, even though the storm has passed and everything looks normal.

"I’ll start the generator," Caine says, already heading for the door.

"Thank you," I call after him, but he’s already gone.

When he returns, the roaring of the generator accompanies his re-entry.

The battery’s already gone back to 11% and is now steady, as if all the strange flickering never happened. Relief washes through me for all of three seconds before Caine launches into action.

"All of you, go wash up," he orders the kids, who groan from their positions on the couch. Bun looks around at each of them, then mimics the groan.

"We don’t have much water—"

"We’ll sponge-bathe," he corrects himself. "We need to conserve."

"I already washed my hands," Jer protests, but Caine gives him a Look.

The boy scurries into the bathroom, followed by Sara. Immediately, there’s a spat of squawking.

"Get out of my way!"

"Stop elbowing me, Jeridiot! Go stand in the shower!"

aren’t

At least your ugly face won’t

but Caine

at me, and I shrug. The man’s in Daddy mode

Sara’s constant squabbling. "Take turns. Jer, wash in the shower, just don’t keep the water on. Wet this washcloth with some soap

little white from being too close to Caine again, and jumps onto the couch beside Ron, whispering,

head and pats hers. "He’s not going to

"Didn’t you see how mad he was when he

He was concerned. There’s a

his dinner might

My lips quirk. "Sara—"

head out of the bathroom. "I’ll have you wait until Jer and Ron are done, since you’re a

her face as Ron heads

don’t have to call

"Right, Sir."

take their turns in the bathroom—Caine even brings them their backpacks so they

and she does her best to make music with various utensils and the countertop.

Ron is back, and he takes Bun as Caine wipes down the counters. Then he goes around straightening cushions and folding the blanket on the daybed that Jer had disturbed with his bouncing earlier. He looks like some kind of deranged househusband, moving with

in particular. Ron’s trying to work the TV to

I move toward her, but Caine is there in an instant,

if he’s suddenly fluent in toddler. He grabs a sippy cup from the cabinet, fills it

he turns

groans. "Not this

left her tablet behind. So

choose what we watch when she goes to