Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 219: Grace: Crash and Restart

After checking my phone, where a new mission has not appeared despite Caeriel saying it did, I glance up...

And he’s gone.

What the hell.

My eyebrows twitch with irritation, but mostly I’m just grateful the creepy reaper vanished. One second he’s all looming condescension, the next—poof. Supernatural beings must get off on dramatic exits.

My phone buzzes in my hand, the screen lighting up with a notification. Well, would you look at that. The mission he promised has finally materialized.

But the contents are... strange.

[ASSIGNED MISSION: 20-L.fnd-dgID.0039]

So helpful.

I didn’t think I’d miss Caeriel, but now I do. Maybe he’d explain what the fuck this means. It looks like some sort of error in the code instead of a proper mission.

Staring at it isn’t going to help me decode it any faster, though, so I shove my phone in my pocket, resolving to wait for ten minutes to see if some sort of update gets pushed through the app.

I scan the laundromat absently, going still when I see Sadie once again sniffing in the corner and the cat sleeping on the same washer it was before.

What the hell, what the hell, what the hell. Caeriel said they were gone giving reports, but now they’re back in the exact same positions they were the last time I looked at them?

Creep Meter has maxed, Grace Harper.exe needs to restart, this is getting too fucking weird.

(Fine. It was funnier in my head.)

Neither seems particularly disturbed by the fact Caeriel was just here.

Let’s rip the mask off these fake pets and start over.

I march across the worn linoleum floor toward Sadie, arms crossed over my chest. The golden retriever continues her intense investigation of whatever fascinating smell she’s found.

"I know you can understand me," I announce, keeping my voice flat so it doesn’t betray my annoyance. "What the hell are you?"

The golden retriever’s head whips around at the sound of my voice. She abandons her sniffing expedition immediately, her entire demeanor transforming into quintessential dog joy. Her tail wags so hard her butt swings with it. Big brown eyes lock onto mine with what appears to be pure, innocent adoration.

Convincing as hell, but we all know better now, don’t we?

I narrow my eyes, not buying the act for a second. "I know you aren’t a dog. Spill."

Her entire body wiggles with enthusiastic tail-wagging before launching at me, her front paws landing on my shoulders as she tries to lick

my cheek. "Gross." Even worse knowing

pleased with herself. Her tail continues its metronome-like sweep. If dogs could smile, she’d

she is, she’s holding

doesn’t seem out

my hands on my jeans. "But I’m

has to be a calculated move of

check my phone again, examining the new mission notification, but it’s as glitched out as it was

then. Another five minutes before I’ll try wracking my brain to figure

Meanwhile...

willing to spill her secrets, but there’s always the

in the air, so I just

cat yawns, showing needle-like white teeth, then blinks big blue

can feel her butt-wagging

I already know you disappeared to send in a

a little and trying not to feel like an animal abuser does little

cat just half-dangles there in my grip, purring as it continues to

Hah.

if either of you

Grace Harper, there

piles into the laundromat behind him, saying, "Grace, it looks like the king sent one of his lackeys to watch over

shoulders and stares back. They both block

suspiciously; he’s one of the Lycans who came to the camper with Caine, too. He didn’t seem

The point is, this new guy isn’t nearly as open-minded as Super Nanny, and I stiffen a little as he looks me over, like he’s

in real life, I’d definitely have question

stare at him blankly

it out loud. The man’s intimidating, with his weathered, scarred face. And, while I have about ninety-seven percent faith Andrew will try to protect me if he comes after me like the crazy one from earlier, I have about

mathed out, I’m pretty sure my best bet is to not get on this

decision to become Caeriel’s bootlicker to survive; may as well do the same with

already found her,"

snorts. "I

keep me safe and yet they’re at odds. We should be united against the common enemy,

you, sir. I appreciate it. I’m sorry,

lie, because there’s no way I would have entrusted myself into the car

holding the cat by its scruff, which just makes everything really awkward. So I set it down, watching as it immediately stretches and resumes its

Just you wait.

the interrogation begins