Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 216: Grace: Inside the Wash-N-Were

Inside the Wash-N-Were, several machines are in use, but no one’s inside.

A little strange, I suppose, but it isn’t uncommon for shifters to go for a little run while they wait for cycles to finish.

Still, it’s creepy to be in an empty laundromat.

Thankfully, Andrew’s staying in the car, though the animals are determined to follow me inside.

Sadie prowls around, sniffing every inch of floor as her fluffy tail swishes back and forth.

The white cat—still nameless, despite the many suggestions ranging from "Snowball" to "Death Claw"—jumps from machine to machine with effortless grace before settling on top of a washer mid-spin cycle. It curls into a comfortable ball, eyes half-closed, clearly preparing to sleep.

Super fucking helpful. A part of me had kind of assumed these two strange animals-but-clearly-more-than-just-animal-beings would be a little more help with the way they tagged along against my will, but nope.

Just a mundane cat and a mundane dog, doing shit-fuck for my mission.

Ignoring them both, I take the time to do the most pressing assignment: shoving our disgusting laundry into three separate machines. Thankfully, Wash-N-Were has detergent provided for those of us who forget to bring it (or don’t know where Lyre has it stashed).

Coins clank as I feed them into the slots, and the washers rumble to life, blending into the sounds of already-running machines.

I glance out the window. Andrew’s still in his car, head down, probably scrolling through his phone.

His loyalty’s welcome, but confusing. He was Rafe’s shadow, his wingman, for years. I’m tentatively positive he’s a safe ally, but it still just seems... strange.

Loyalties can’t change so easily, can they?

Or were they never as close as I thought they were?

bandwidth to solve that puzzle right now. I have a quest, like I’m some sort

feels heavy in my pocket. I pull it

Something.

Anything.

A message. A

about a 20% off sale for diabetic supplies. I don’t know a

fierce prejudice, I glance around the

easy, but... what the hell am I looking for? A magical sword hidden in a dryer? A cursed amulet taped under a folding table? A haunted

Who fucking knows.

how to use them. Rows of washers and dryers line both walls and a few folding tables stand

with vending machines and a bulletin board filled with self-printed business

app won’t tell me what I’m looking for, I’ll have to search every inch of this place

The bulletin board is a chaotic collage of cards—lawn care services and babysitting offers being the most prevalent. For some reason, shifters hate taking care

run my fingers along the edges

Nothing.

them, but all I

an "Out of Order" sign hanging crookedly from a single piece of tape. I push it open anyway. The lights flicker on automatically, revealing a single toilet, sink, and a small trash can. I check under

Empty.

nose pressed against the baseboards, tail

I

intent on whatever she’s

The cat’s ear twitches.

the row of washers and dryers, opening doors and peering into empty drums. As expected, there

even a speck of

halfway through my inspection of the front counter when I notice something odd about the wall behind it. There’s a slight discoloration, a rectangular patch about the size of a sheet of paper that

patched a hole, or hung something there that was later