Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 191: Grace: Her Return

Returning to the pack feels weird.

Worse than weird.

Icky.

Yeah, icky is a good word for it.

I stare out the window as Andrew pulls into a large, semi-circular driveway toward the edge of town. My stomach knots tighter with each rotation of the tires, like my body is physically rejecting the idea of being back on Blue Mountain territory.

The last time I was here, I was running away. Now it kind of feels like I’m crawling back with my tail between my legs—except I don’t have a tail because I’m human, which is exactly the problem in the first place.

Caine’s already backed the RV beside a small home with boarded-up windows. The fading light catches on the dusty greenhouse attached to the main building, its glass panels shattered in places, jagged teeth ready to bite anyone who ventures too close.

"What’s the name of this place again?"

"Miller’s Flowers." Andrew’s voice is flat as he parks. "It’s been empty since Eliza Miller moved to a different pack."

The memory clicks. "The omega who married that beta from North Ridge?"

"Yeah."

Eliza was sweet. She used to give me flowers whenever I ran into her. Of course, I’d only been here a year when she was mated out and left.

I didn’t realize this was her place, but it makes sense. I remember the greenhouse; it was always filled with rows of vibrant flowers. The pack mostly ignored it because, as it turns out, wolves don’t really use florists much. Something about the scents being too cloying.

I frown at the building, at its broken windows and faded sign. Kids from the pack used to dare each other to spend the night here. It’s commonly considered to be haunted by the younger pack members, though of course I’m an adult who doesn’t believe in such superstitions anymore.

Not much, anyway.

But then again, things have changed since I ran away, and my worldview has... widened.

"Is it really okay for us to stay here?" I unbuckle my seatbelt and glance at Andrew.

He nods, already reaching for the door. "The Lycans have already settled it."

The Lycans. Not "Caine" or even "your mate." It feels like a subtle distancing, but I could just be reading too much into it.

rather be. Staying there would be so much better than being in reach of this pack again, and

as we entered the city limits with a new

her red eyes wide and uncertain. "Are we living in

dinner to a pack of ghosts. Bun, on the

reach out to smooth Sara’s hair, my

in the camper. But this place has enough space to park, plus we

had given us the rundown before leaving. I hadn’t even considered where to park Lyre’s camper once

main lodge. Which

any midnight run-ins. Which is probably for the best, but makes my heart feel a little itchy

the Alpha lodge. Which means Ellie will

already getting things put together, and Andrew frowns in their direction. It takes me only a minute to realize the Lycan King is being way too helpful for someone he

more than a nuisance he brought back, and he’s over here playing Boyfriend,

the men as he shouts over his shoulder, "Can I

a low profile. We can play games in the camper, and maybe explore a

immediately. "Don’t worry, guys. It’s going to be hectic today and maybe tomorrow, but after that we should be able to go

in front of

Then she shivers dramatically.

also shivers dramatically,

to reassure the girl, who keeps eyeing the shuttered building like it might grow fangs and eat her, I state, "It’s not

jumps, her red eyes widening. "So it is

exactly the opposite of what

fingers against my temple, I clarify, "No. I said

bring up it being haunted if it

face leaves me with no real

ghosts," Jer shouts from where he’s now helping Caine unload something from the back of the truck. His voice carries across the

falling from her lips

I nearly give myself whiplash. I glare at Jer, who just blinks back at me with a completely

you, watch

to realize she said something she shouldn’t and hides her face in her hands, assuming

not grasping what he’s done wrong, while the toddler peeks through her fingers to gauge if I’m still

the one in trouble.

to regain some semblance

glued to Caine, doing... something. I’m not sure it’s a task we actually need done, but

her age—so, basically... me, I guess? Hm. That’s a sobering