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.

being in reach of this pack again, and I’m already second-guessing my request to

almost as soon as we entered the city limits with a new mission—to present myself

as she takes in the dilapidated structure, her red eyes wide and uncertain. "Are we living in that?" she

to a pack of ghosts. Bun,

hair, my touch gentle

place has enough space to park, plus

even considered where to park Lyre’s camper once we got here, so his foresight

remain in the main lodge. Which means Caine

be any midnight run-ins. Which is probably for the best, but makes

even farther, since he’s taken over the Alpha lodge. Which means Ellie will have to come all the way here to bully me, and I doubt

Caine are already getting things put together, and Andrew frowns in their direction.

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

bounds to the men as

we need to keep a low profile. We can play games in the camper, and maybe

entirely certain how the pack will treat these kids, and Andrew seems to understand my reasoning because he nods immediately. "Don’t worry, guys. It’s going to be hectic today

staring at the dilapidated structure in front of

Then she shivers dramatically.

also shivers dramatically, scrunching up

like it might grow fangs and eat her, I state, "It’s not

her red eyes widening. "So

opposite of what

temple, I clarify,

why would you bring up it being

suspicion all over her small face leaves me with no real way to explain through

are no ghosts," Jer shouts from where he’s now helping Caine unload something from the back

word falling from her lips

so fast I nearly give myself whiplash. I glare at Jer, who just blinks back at

you,

shouldn’t and hides her face in her hands, assuming I can’t

he’s done wrong, while the toddler peeks through her fingers to gauge if I’m

she’s the one in trouble. She’s just mimicking what

trying to regain some

not sure it’s a task we actually need

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