Grace of a Wolf (by Lenaleia) novel Chapter 191

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.

Honestly, the Walmart parking lot is where I’d rather be. Staying there would be so much better than being in reach of this pack again, and I’m already second-guessing my request to keep my identity as Caine’s mate a secret.

But the app had dinged at me almost as soon as we entered the city limits with a new mission—to present myself to the Guardian for assignment, or something strange.

Sara clutches Bun’s hand as she takes in the dilapidated structure, her red eyes wide and uncertain. "Are we living in that?" she whispers.

She looks like I’m delivering her as dinner to a pack of ghosts. Bun, on the other hand, just looks curious.

I reach out to smooth Sara’s hair, my touch gentle as I reassure them both.

"No, we’re staying in the camper. But this place has enough space to park, plus we can hook up to water and electricity."

Caine had given us the rundown before leaving. I hadn’t even considered where to park Lyre’s camper once we got here, so his foresight is certainly appreciated.

The Lycans, however, remain in the main lodge. Which means Caine won’t be nearby anymore.

And there won’t be any midnight run-ins. Which is probably for the best, but makes my heart feel a little itchy for some reason.

But, his distance aside, at least Rafe will be 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 she’d bother.

The thought provides small comfort as I take in our new temporary home. Ron and Caine are 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 shouldn’t care too much about.

I should be little more than a nuisance he brought back, and he’s over here playing Boyfriend, with a capital freaking B.

Jer, oblivious to the undercurrents of our thoughts, bounds to the men as he shouts over his shoulder, "Can I explore?"

"No," I answer too quickly, then soften my tone. "I mean, we need to keep a low profile. We can play games in the camper, and maybe explore a tiny bit of the surroundings, but we should stay inside for now."

I’m not 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 and maybe tomorrow, but after that we should be able to go on a lot of adventures."

Sara, still staring at the dilapidated structure in front of us, mumbles, "I feel like the adventure’s already here."

Then she shivers dramatically.

She jumps, her red eyes widening. "So it is haunted?"

Pressing my fingers against my temple, I clarify, "No. I said it isn’t haunted."

Is parenting ever going to get easier?

Andrew’s still hovering, shifting his weight awkwardly as he stands near me.

"What?"

"I need to go check in with Rafe," he says, his words coming out slow and careful, like he’s testing how the words land.

I nod. I’m surprised he’s still here, and it isn’t like he needs to report to me. Having him around was helpful, but it isn’t like I asked him to stay with us. Technically, this all started with him stalking me.

"That’s fine."

But before he can leave, I remember the car seat. "Wait, we have to get Bun’s seat out first."

The cat’s already in the shade, corralled in a tiny pink kennel. And Sara’s already grabbed their snack-filled backpacks out of the car, so it’s the only thing left.

His brow furrows. "Why?"

I stare at him blankly. Is he serious? "Because we bought it." Obviously. It’s not like we’re leaving a perfectly good, brand new car seat with someone who doesn’t have a child.

Andrew’s frown deepens, and something shifts in his expression. "I’ll help whenever you need it, you know," he says quietly. "You don’t have to act like I won’t be around."

The statement catches me off guard. There’s a hurt there I wasn’t expecting, and I’m not entirely sure how to respond.

Another voice cuts through the awkward silence.

"That won’t be necessary." Caine’s voice is cool, putting distance between us and Andrew without any ambiguity. "I’ll be here."

I didn’t even realize he was done with the camper.

Andrew shifts his weight again, looking uncharacteristically stubborn in front of the Lycan King. "You can’t do much if you’re trying to hide your relationship, so—"

"She’ll be fine," he says again, the voice of ice and snow.

It isn’t even directed my way, but I shiver anyway.