Grace of a Wolf (by Lenaleia) novel Chapter 173

173 Grace: White Cat (I)

It takes three hours to get the truck fixed, but we’ve run into a tiny dilemma.

Actually, it’s not very tiny. At least to Caine.

“Damn it,” he curses, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t think about this.”

“I didn’t, either.”

Andrew and Caine are both staring at the set of keys on the dinette table, which they’ve been doing for the past five minutes since we got the call the truck was ready.

I rest my hand on my chin, watching their impasse with mild frustration.

Caine lets out another huge sigh, and Andrew follows suit.

“I should have gone with him,” Andrew says, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Didn’t even think about the logistics.”

“We’ll be fine for thirty minutes without you guys.”

“No,” they say in unison. 1

I roll my eyes at their stubborn veto. “So, how are you going to pick up the truck then? Caine, even if you shift, you’ll take at least an hour to get there, right? Wouldn’t it be more dangerous for you to be gone for so long?”

“I could shift,” Andrew offers.

“It’ll still take you at least an hour to get there,” I point out. “This is ridiculous. It’s not even a big deal. The drive there will take ten, fifteen minutes at most. Just go and come back. Thirty minutes and you’re done. What do you think is going to happe. minutes?”

thirty

Caine grimaces. “Leaving you here is dangerous. Any crazy person can come off the road-”

“So leave Fenris here. He’ll scare anyone off.”

“But-”

“Just Fenris is fine.”

173 Grace: White Cat (1)

“If there’s a-”

“Just. Leave. Fenris. And go get the truck. Please.”

Caine rubs at his forehead, the hard line of his jaw twitching beneath his stubble.

“Fine.”

The air between us shimmers, and suddenly his wolf is there–the

slightly–less–terrifying “dog” version of him, anyway. And the first thing he does?

He swings his head toward Sadie and snarls.

Sadie–all golden retriever friendliness until now–yelps and leaps onto the couch in a rush of honey–colored fur, practically climbing behind Jer for protection.

So she’s afraid of Fenris, but not afraid of Caine or Andrew. I’m more convinced than ever Sadie’s a shifter child who won’t return to her human body for some reason.

The wolf, meanwhile, apparently satisfied with establishing his dominance, belly crawls under the dinette table until he reaches me, then sits up to plop his head into my lap in silent demand for pets.

“Good boy,” I murmur, scratching behind his soft ears.

Caine snatches the keys off the table and stomps to the door, and I swear the man is sulking.

Is it possible for the great and powerful Lycan King to sulk? Because–he is.

He slams the door open, then hesitates at the threshold. His shoulders tense before he whips back around, fixing each of the kids with his steel–gray gaze.

“Not a single one of you sets foot outside while I’m goné. Unless this thing catches on fire, you stay inside with Fenris. Understood?”

“Yes,” all three chorus, sounding mildly exasperated in the way only children can.

Satisfied with their obedience,/Caine turns to me. “Lock the door.

.nd me.”

Oh, my God. The man’s ridiculous. “I know how doors work, Caine. Just go already.”

His jaw clenches, but he turns and walks out. I follow, watching him and Andrew go before closing the door and flipping the lock with an exasperated sigh.

173 Grace: White Cat (1)

Like an RV’s lock will do much if someone really wants in. Fenris is the real defense

A sharp tug barely budges her an inch back.

She barks again, fixed on the distance. I squint, struggling to see beyond the green sea

of grass.

Something’s moving out there.

Fenris’s ears perk forward, his entire body tensing beside me. Then he prowls forward, head hunched low.

Whatever’s out there, it’s caught his attention too.

Sadie suddenly calms, her frantic barking quieting to occasional yips. Her ears stand at attention, tongue lolling as she watches Fenris take point. The black wolf stalks forward, and the familiar ethereal blue glow appears beneath his fur.

With a lightning–fast pounce, Fenris lunges into the tall grass. Something white and fluffy bolts out–a massive white cat, streaking across the field with Fenris in close pursuit.

“What the-

“1

The cat changes direction, darting straight toward me with Fenris closing in behind it. My heart jumps into my throat, but before I can move, the cat slides to a stop precisely at my feet and begins winding around my ankles, its loud rumbling purr sounding like a small engine and hearty enough to vibrate my legs.

”

front paws.

The

Sadie barks excitedly, bouncing forward to box at the cat with golden retriever’s entire demeanor has changed–now she’s playful, like she’s greeting an old friend. O

This is no ordinary cat. It’s massive, nearly the size of a bobcat, with pristine white fur and blue eyes and-

173 Grace: White Cat (1)

Son of a bitch.

Is this that cat?

Fenris snarls, saliva dripping from his jaws as he lunges for the cat.

“Stop!” I shout, throwing my hand out. “Fenris, no!”