Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Grace: Reassurance

Jer’s knuckles are white against my hand as we trudge back toward our camper. His fingers tremble, but his breathing has evened out.

Ron and Sara stand under the awning. Bun toddles between their legs, rabbit ears twitching above her dark curls. She doesn’t even notice us; something on the ground appears to be fascinating her.

"Can I... can I go to them now?"

I release the boy’s hand and nudge him forward. "Yeah. Just stay where I can see you."

He bolts toward the others, his shoulders already loosening with every step away from Archie and Doris. Away from what he saw. I fold my arms across my chest, trying to trap the cold spreading there.

Dead bodies, but not really dead?

It’s surreal.

The words spin through my head, refusing to settle into anything making sense. I press my palm against my forehead, willing the pressure to ease. One more supernatural mystery I don’t understand, dropped onto me when I’m already drowning.

"What happened?" Sara’s voice cuts through my spiral as she approaches, her curious eyes flickering between me and Jer. "Why was he screaming?"

I glance back at the other camper, where Lyre, Owen, and Caine are still inside with... whatever those bodies are. Not human, I guess.

Not anymore, at least.

Or ever?

"He was just startled. Come on, kids. Let’s finish getting everything ready."

"Are we really taking the dog with us?"

I blink and turn around, only to find Sadie, tail wagging low and golden fur catching the morning light. She’s giving us her cute dog smile, which is basically an arrow of guilt straight into my heart.

My head’s hurting again. "I don’t know yet."

Sadie sits, looking up at me with devoted puppy eyes as her entire body vibrates with golden retriever joy. No. I can’t get a soft spot for a dog. I’m already swamped in four kids.

"We have a lot to

interrogation to Jer. "What

alone," Jer snaps, his small shoulders hunching defensively as he stomps

"But you were screaming—"

ALONE!" he shrieks, high enough and loud enough to hurt my

steps forward, blocking Sara from her younger brother. "Why don’t you just play with Bun outside," he says to

expression she’s outraged Jer’s getting some sort of special treatment—but Ron clamps a hand on her shoulder and steers her

want to

room!" he hisses as they pass me, just loud

We were

to where Jer’s standing and gently pat at his dark curls, noticing how they spring back under my touch. He doesn’t flinch away, which feels like

gaze on Bun, who’s down on her hands and knees in the dirt. The toddler’s completely captivated by a line of ants marching in formation to an unknown destination. Her rabbit ears twitch with excitement,

voice soft enough Sara can’t overhear

Bun’s movements.

The

fingers find his small

like he’s desperate for

before?" I whisper, praying for him to say

finally meeting my eyes,

more

Or not.

Fuck.

not what I wanted to

there, his fact blank. It’s a struggle to maintain a

out strangled. I work to soften it, to

the ant-entranced Bun. "It

an answer, but pushing for one feels

can’t hear it. I want to pull him into a fierce hug, but something in his rigid

"Jer, I’m so sorry."

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