Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 163: Grace: What Jer Saw

My lungs burn from the effort of dashing to Jer’s scream.

Even then, I trail far behind Lyre and Owen, who have the advantage of supernatural speed.

I hate it.

Hate being human and slow when a child needs me.

These kids are vulnerable, and I’m supposed to be watching over them—what was I thinking, letting him dash off like this?

Easy: Jer was being Jer. Overexcited about the idea of taking a dog with us, even if we don’t need it and she belongs to other people. I didn’t think twice about his exuberance as he bounded off to "ask for permission". I should have.

By the time I reach the Archie and Doris’s camper site, everything’s already in motion. Broad-shouldered Owen pushes his way into the trailer first, disappearing into the doorway. Lyre, on the other hand, reaches inside and drags Jer backward, away from whatever he’s seen.

As soon as he spots me, the boy bolts from Lyre’s grip. He slams into me, arms wrapping around my waist so tight I almost stagger back. His entire body trembles against mine, his face buried in my chest. I curl my hands around his shoulders instinctively, one palm moving to cradle the back of his head.

Whatever he saw is bad. Bad enough to shake a rambunctious seven- or eight-year-old boy.

Lyre stands behind Owen in the RV doorway, peering around his bulk. She lets out a long sigh. "I knew it."

"I should have noticed," he agrees, his voice tight with frustration.

"They hid it well enough." Her tone is flat; whatever horror is inside, it hasn’t affected her. "They knew what they were doing."

My stomach knots into multiple tiny pretzels. "What’s wrong?"

shirt, Jer’s voice comes out muffled and small.

feet. Archie and Doris—the sweet elderly couple who’d welcomed us with barbecue and laughter—dead? We’d just had

of the kid," Lyre says without looking back, stepping deeper into the

out of the camper on her order and kneels beside us. I loosen my grip on Jer just enough for Owen to reach out, patting his head with surprising gentleness for

not dead, Jer," Owen says, his voice calm and measured. For once, he

words don’t make

utterly confused.

at me. "Vessels. Nothing to fear. Those within are merely absent for the

is that possible?" I ask, still holding Jer

trying to think of how much to share. Finally, he says, "It’s more common than you’d think. Their souls will return

just leave your body, take a stroll, and pop back in. That’s not how anything works.

case? Of course Owen’s not explaining—he’s worried about

Plausibility is seriously getting in my way.

rules or who created the App, but I

against my chest. "No. They’re dead. I saw them." His shoulders shake harder, little

me to a familiar approach, and I glance over

Sadie sits in the field like she hasn’t noticed the chaos at all. Her golden fur stirs in the breeze, tail

happening inside the camper. Or maybe she does.

scan the area before landing on

asks, gentle despite the tight

lifts his head from my chest, looking up at Caine with eyes too wide and dry for how much he’s trembling.

ache. He’s trying to be brave in front of the