Grace of a Wolf (by Lenaleia) novel Chapter 143

143 Grace: Too Domestic

143 Grace: Too Domestic

A few hours later, we’re finally back in the camper. The last of the barbecue has been packed away, the fire doused, the children full and sleepy, even though Jer insists he’s wide awake even as he rubs his eyes.

My shoulders ache from the tension I’ve been carrying, but I check the solar panel as the kids flop onto the couches in the living room, relieved by the cool, air–conditioned

air.

“The battery’s low,” I mutter, checking the display panel. The numbers flicker between 10% and 11% in a way that makes my stomach knot. Something’s still not right, even though the storm has passed and everything looks normal.

“I’ll start the generator,” Caine says, already heading for the door.

“Thank you,” I call after him, but he’s already gone.

When he returns, the roaring of the generator accompanies his re–entry.

The battery’s already gone back to 11% and is now steady, as if all the strange flickering never happened. Relief washes through me for all of three seconds before Caine launches into action.

“All of you, go wash up,” he orders the kids, who groan from their positions on the couch. Bun looks around at each of them, then mimics the groan.

“We don’t have much water-”

“We’ll sponge–bathe,” he corrects himself. “We need to conserve.”

“I already washed my hands,” Jer protests, but Caine gives him à Look.

The boy scurries into the bathroom, followed by Sara. Immediately, there’s a spat of squawking.

“Get out of my way!”

“Stop elbowing me, Jeridiot! Go stand in the shower!”

“But we aren’t even using it.

143 Grace: Too Domastia

“So? At least your ugly face won’t be next to me.”

Ron sighs and gets up, but Caine waves him down. “I’ve got it.”

The older kid blinks and looks at me, and I shrug. The man’s in Daddy mode again; 1 have no explanation for him.

Caine wades into the fray of Jer and Sara’s constant squabbling. “Take turns. Jer, wash in the shower, just don’t keep the water on. Wet this washcloth with some soap and scrub yourself down…”

Sara squeezes out of the bathroom, her face a little white from being too close to Caine again, and jumps onto the couch beside Ron, whispering, “I think he’s fattening Jer up to eat him later.”

Ron shakes his head and pats hers. “He’s not going to eat us. Get over it, already

“He is,” she hisses. “Didn’t you see how mad he was when he first came back?”

“He wasn’t mad. He was concerned. There’s a difference.”

She grunts. “Concerned his dinner might have run away.”

My lips quirk. “Sara-

“Sara,” Caine interrupts, popping his head out of the bathroom. “I’ll have you wait until Jer and Ron are done, since you’re a girl.”

The color drains out of her face as Ron heads to the bathroom. “Yes, Sir.”

Caine frowns. “You don’t have to call me ‘sir, Sara. Just Caine is acceptable.”

“Right, Sir.”

daybed that Jer had disturbed with his bouncing carlier. He looks like some kind of deranged houschusband, moving with military precision through domestic tasks..

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