Wolf's Grace

Chapter 179: Grace: Not Wolf Enough For Him

"Is something wrong?" Caine asks, and | shake my head immediately, swiping the notification away.

He shouldn't be able to see it, but I'd rather avoid situations where | have to outright lie to him.

"Nothing, just an annoying notification. I'm looking now."

| pull up the map on my phone, pinching and zooming while everyone bustles around me. Sara zips around

gathering toys for Bun, Jer searches for his missing shoe, and Ron's already standing by the door with Bun, who's

got her hands filled with carrot sticks.

It takes under three minutes to find exactly what we need. | zoom in on the blue dot marking our salvation.

"There's another Walmart about one hundred seventy-four miles away," | announce, turning my phone to show

Caine. "They've got a massive parking lot, and it’s right off the highway. No rivers in sight, so hopefully no

flooding, either."

Caine stares at the screen with a frown. "Another Walmart? Why is it always Walmart?"

| shrug. "Lyre says they're the best choice for overnight parking. They don’t hassle RVs. Well, most of the time."

He grunts. "She would know best, | guess."

"She's lived in that camper for god knows how long. So yeah." | zoom in further, showing him the satellite view.

"I was going to look for a truck stop with hookups, but this is better because we need to get cat supplies, too."

"Good call."

His approval sends a flutter through my chest. Being useful is such a nice feeling.

"Andrew, pull up the directions." Caine hands his phone to the other man without skipping a beat.

He takes it, his expression unreadable. "Sure thing."

The next ten minutes are a flurry of activity—securing the cabinets we opened, tucking away loose items from

play, and washing the dishes we’d used. It's now our third tdoing this, and we've found a bit of a rhythm to

our chaos.

Everyone knows what to do, and it makes a big difference. Well, that and we didn’t exactly camp out like we

were expecting to stay here.

"Who's riding with who?" Ron asks. "Sas last time?"

Caine looks to me, allowingto make the call. It’s a small thing, but it doesn’t escape my notice.

"Sas before, except—" | glance at the hall, where the cat's still locked in the bathroom. "I'll take the cat with

us. Sadie can go with Caine and Ron in the truck."

He nods. "That works. Sara, Jer, Bun are still with you, then?"

"lI want the dog!" Jer protests, his bottom lip jutting out.

"Not this time," | say, my tone firm enough to prevent further argument. "The cat stays with us, and Sadie will

stay in the truck."

With the cat loose, who knows what havoc it might cause. Having an adult pair of hands to wrangle it is better

than leaving it up to Ron while Caine has to focus on towing while he drives.

Andrew pulls a small black rectangle from his pocket, handing it to Caine. "Got these on my way back. Old

school, but they work. Better than using the phone during the drive."

He turns the walkie talkie over in his hands. "Smart."

"They've got about a two-mile range," he explains. "Better than nothing if our phones die in the storm."

Though there's no guarantee the walkie talkies won't, either...

Caine clears his throat. "Everyone ready?"

A chorus of "yes" and "yeah" fills the camper. | do one final sweep, making sure we haven't forgotten anything

essential, then scoop up the soaking wet cat out of the bathroom, where it’s hidden itself behind the toilet.

* kK

The walkie-talkie crackles to life. "We're pulling out now," Caine’s voice comes through, slightly distorted, but

easy to understand. "Stay close."

Andrew grabs it and says, "Copy that."

Is it wrong ofto feel like they're two boys playing with toys?

"You look better," he comments, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Better than what?"

"Better than you did earlier. You looked pretty pale, but there’s scolor in your cheeks now."

| press my hands against my cheeks in surprise. "Oh. | guess | was just a little tired."

"Hmm."

The white cat shifts in my lap, kneading its paws against my thighs before settling into a tight, if still oversized,

ball. Its fur feels impossibly soft under my fingers. | stroke along its spine, and a rumbling purr vibrates against

my legs.

"You're a strange little thing, aren't you?" | whisper.

The cat's ears twitch but it doesn’t open its eyes.

| can’t shake the feeling that it’s not just a cat, just like I'm positive Sadie’s not just a dog.

| glance over my shoulder after ten minutes have passed, surprised by the quiet from the back. The kids are all

zonked out, their little bodies surrendering to the exhaustion of the day. Sara and Jer have their heads tilted

toward each other, both leaning against Bun’s car seat. Bun’s head has drooped forward, her mouth slightly

open, a tiny puddle of drool collecting on her shirt.

| smile and pull out my phone, snapping a quick picture of the peaceful scene. After the chaos, this moment feels

precious.

Andrew catches my movement and glances in the rearview mirror. "Hopefully they stay asleep until we get

there."

"That would be good." | tuck my phone away and rest my head against the window. "It’s a nice change of pace

from the rest of this hellish day."

We drive in silence for another few miles, and suddenly Andrew clears his throat.

"So... you and the Lycan King, huh?"

My whole body tenses. | keep my eyes fixed on the road ahead. "What about it?"

"Nothing." His fingers tighten on the steering wheel. "Just surprising. | thought you loved Rafe."

My lips press tightly together. "No. | stopped loving Rafe when he stopped loving me."

"AR

He goes silent again, and this tI'm annoyed enough to break it. "Why? Is there something wrong with Caine?

Because he’s way better than Rafe."

"No, of course not. It's just..." He hesitates. "He's the fucking Lycan King, Grace. And you're... you."

| have plenty of insecurities over this relationship, but they're mine to have. Not anyone else’s. "What the hell is

that supposed to mean? Is it because I'm not wolf enough for him?"

"That's not what | said. He glances at me, but | refuse to look at him. "If anything, it’s the other way around."

That pullsup short. | twist in my seat to face him. "What do you mean?"

He sighs, his shoulders slumping.

"Look, I've known you for years,

Grace. You're nd Yoepa aft

PROF oO orefen not to notice

en the pack treats you like shit,

just so you don't cause trouble. And

Caine is..." He shakes his head. "He's

not a kind person, Grace." The

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the latest chapter there!

"You don’t know him well enough to say that!"

"Do you?" he counters. "We've known

him the samount of time. He,

led Alpha. He killed 60r deople. |

0rdomt think it's good for you to

stay with him. You need someone

better for you." The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

"Like you?" | scoff. "Like Rafe? Neither of you are good options for me, Andrew."

He rubs at his eyebrow, glancing at