Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 215: Grace: Andrew’s Loyalty

There’s a saying somewhere about narrow roads and enemies and it seems pretty fucking accurate.

A familiar blue sedan slows to a stop beside me, and Andrew leans across the passenger seat with a frown etched deep into his forehead as he rolls down his window.

It’s pointless to pretend like I don’t notice, so I stop walking and wait to see what he has to say.

"What are you doing?" he asks sharply, glancing around like we’re in some spy movie. His nostrils flare as he scans the area.

I adjust the heavy backpack straps digging into my shoulders; Sadie and the cat meander around my feet, completely oblivious to his presence. "Heading to the laundromat. What does it look like?"

As far as retorts go, it isn’t a good one. Carrying a few backpacks doesn’t scream laundry run at all. If anything, it looks like I’m on the run. But it’s not like I’m about to start treating Andrew like a bosom buddy or anything.

Even if he seems to be on my side.

His eyes drop to the three stuffed backpacks I’m lugging. Doubt shadows his expression, but he says, "I’ll give you a ride."

I consider my options.

Having him help isn’t like having some random Lycan guard breathing down my neck. If he gets too nosy, I can always kick him to the curb. The thought of the power being back in my hands has my mental ears perking up, and I upgrade him from the mental category of enemy to frenemy.

Then, thinking about how he was willing to get Ellie off my literal back and didn’t tell Rafe anything, I begrudgingly upgrade him again to friend with a question mark.

Oblivious to my mental classification system, Andrew jogs around to grab my bags and tosses them in the backseat while I slide up front, grateful for the sudden rescue. The animals hop into the back with the laundry without even an invitation.

The car smells like Andrew and the vague pine tree undertone of all Blue Mountain shifters. I roll down the window a crack, wondering why it smells so offensive after years of living with it.

"Which one?" he asks, back in the car and buckled in.

"Wash-N-Were."

"Got it."

a whole block before he asks, "Why are you

along is a smart idea?" He’s seen

"Oh. Right."

an entire second block, then, "Don’t run around too much on your own. Ellie’s backed off for now, but I don’t expect

curiosity. That’s right. Ellie never did come to pound on my camper, though now I regret not leading her there after seeing how the one Lycan

"How’d you manage that?"

kind of oh no, how do I explain this cough. You know the one.

It’s universal.

to eat any food except what’s in the camper or what I bring to you, would you get

me to eat other

the proper

If it isn’t poison, then... "Please don’t tell it’s a lame plotline where she’s going to drug us to sleep and then kidnap me, probably involving a lot of

photos is probably the nicest

coughs again, his discomfort radiating through

Of course it is.

do you know

her

about it, but there’s just... there are standards, okay? Standards. "That’s a terrible plan. Even the soapiest of operas is looking down on you. I’ve already been kidnapped once; how can there be a second kidnapping in the same lifetime? Come up with

the steering wheel tighter "—she thinks I’m on her side, and I

the window. Standards, okay. He could have at least come up with a better fake

into Ellie’s head, and I’m going to spend the rest of my stay in this territory worried she’ll do

where she tells me dramatically to keep my hands off her man? Better yet, I’ve seen some TV shows

no, it’s kidnapping

I sigh.

was just trying

like pulling teeth, but I add slowly, "Good

can sense his entire presence relaxing a little with my approval. Sighing, I prop my cheek against my fist and stare out the window, wondering what I did in my past life to cause so

Speaking of which.