Grace of a Wolf (by Lenaleia) novel Chapter 165

165 Grace: Reassurance

Jer’s knuckles are white against my hand as we trudge back toward our camper. His fingers tremble, but his breathing has evened out.

Ron and Sara stand under the awning. Bun toddles between their legs, rabbit ears twitching above her dark curls. She doesn’t even notice us; something on the ground appears to be fascinating her.

“Can I… can I go to them now?”

I release the boy’s hand and nudge him forward. “Yeah. Just stay where I can see you.”

He bolts toward the others, his shoulders already loosening with every step away from Archie and Doris. Away from what he saw. I fold my arms across my chest, trying to trap the cold spreading there.

Dead bodies, but not really dead?

It’s surreal.

The words spin through my head, refusing to settle into anything making sense. I press my palm against my forehead, willing the pressure to ease. One more supernatural mystery I don’t understand, dropped onto me when I’m already drowning.

“What happened?” Sara’s voice cuts through my spiral as she approaches, her curious eyes flickering between me and Jer. “Why was he screaming?”

I glance back at the other camper, where Lyre, Owen, and Caine are still inside with… whatever those bodies are. Not human, I guess.

Not anymore, at least.

Or ever?

“He was just startled. Come on, kids. Let’s finish getting everything ready.”

“Are we really taking the dog with us?”

I blink and turn around, only to find Sadie, tail wagging low and golden fur catching the morning light. She’s giving us her cute dog smile, which is basically an arrow of

165 Grace: Reassurance

guilt straight into my heart.

My head’s hurting again. “I don’t know yet.”

Sadie sits, looking up at me with devoted puppy eyes as her entire body vibrates with golden retriever joy. No. I can’t get a spot for a dog. I’m already swamped in four kids.

soft

Tearing my gaze away, I call out, “We have a lot to do before we leave.”

But none of them move. Instead, Sara turns her interrogation to Jer. “What did you see in there? Was it scary?”

“Leave me alone,” Jer snaps, his small shoulders hunching defensively as he stomps toward the RV steps.

“But you were screaming-”

“I said leave me ALONE!” he shrieks, high enough and loud enough to hurt my ears. The oldest of them all steps forward, blocking Sara from her younger brother. “Why don’t you just play with Bun outside,” he says to Jer, his voice low and steady. “We’ll deal with the rest, okay?”

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Sara opens her mouth to protest–it’s clear from her expression she’s outraged Jer’s getting some sort of special treatment–but Ron clamps a hand on her shoulder and steers her toward the camper. “Come on,” he mutters.

“But I want to know what-‘

“Read the room!” he hisses as they pass me, just loud enough for me to catch.

“What room? We were outside!”

I exhale heavily and cross to where Jer’s standing and gently pat at his dark curls, noticing how they spring back under my touch. He doesn’t flinch away, which feels like a small victory when his tiny shoulders are still all scrunched up.

He’s fixed his gaze on Bun, who’s down on her hands and knees in the dirt. The

toddler’s completely captivated by a line of ants marching in formation to an unknown destination. Her rabbit ears/twitch with excitement, her little nose scrunching adorably as she watches them.

165 Grace: Reassurance

“Are you going to be okay?” I ask him, keeping my voice soft enough Sara can’t overhear from where she’s sulking just inside.

Jer nods, his eyes still tracking Bun’s movements. “Yeah. It isn’t the first time, anyway

My hand freezes mid–stroke. The casual way he says it…

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