Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Grace: Awakening to Pursuit

As a human, I should be miles away from any large shifter event. Especially the annual Mate Hunt.

A hunt for mates. Doesn't that sound barbaric? Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.

Several packs in the area gather as their newly minted adult wolves shift. Females are let into the woods first and are given an hour's head start, just before sundown. Then it's time for the males, ostensibly thrown out to hunt down the scent of their fated (or chosen) mates.

It isn't an event for the faint of heart, and it's definitely no place for someone who can't shift. So why the fuck am I here, running my little human heart out, chased by what sounds like an entire pack of wolves?

Great question. I don't know, either.

Alpha warned me to stay home with all the windows and doors locked, saying you can never trust a hormonal wolf during the Hunt. And that's exactly what I did, because I've seen and heard of too many horror stories to want anything to do with a night like tonight.

But somehow, I opened my eyes to a canopy of trees over my head, half blocking out the light of the full moon. To near-freezing winds brushing against my half-naked skin. To the sound of howling, near and far.

And an unfamiliar, unsettling crunch to my left.

As soon as my brain function caught up to the situation, I got up and ran. Maybe not the smartest thing—I had no idea where I was running to—but every inch of my body was screaming danger, and there was zero percent of me interested in learning the origins of that suspicious sound.

And now I'm here.

Surrounded by howls fueled by the thrill of the hunt.

Feet bleeding. Lungs freezing.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

The distinct terror of being hunted has my blood cold and sluggish in my veins, even as my heart pounds erratically. Or maybe it's the fall chill. We're only a couple degrees above freezing tonight, and however I got here—my clothes were compromised in the process.

Bra and underwear. At least I have those.

No shoes, of course.

My skin's riddled with goosebumps and branches whip at my skin, leaving marks and scratches I'm sure I'll regret later. Unlike the pack I've been adopted into, I have no innate talent at maneuvering in the wild. My feet pound against leaves, probably leaving an easy trail to follow. But is standing around any better? Uh, probably not.

Then again, running just triggers their prey drive—

Fuck. I have no fucking clue, so I keep running.

My breath is ragged, choppy. Each gulp of air is like icicles stabbing into my lungs.

Alpha—the man who more or less adopted me six years ago—is going to be furious. But later fury doesn't help me in the moment. I learned that lesson a long time ago. Not everyone's willing to have a human around a wolf pack, and a few of them are willing to show me their displeasure in private.

This might be one of those times.

Super not my idea of fun.

My foot catches on something, sending pain straight through my ankle.

The world spins, and my face slams against the ground before I can break my fall. Dirt and blood fill my mouth; I'm surrounded in twigs and dead leaves.

I cough and sputter, trying to clear my airway. My arms shake as I push myself up, spitting out clumps of earth.

"Shit," I hiss, pain shooting through my ankle as I attempt to stand. It buckles, and I collapse again.

the underbrush sends my heart into overdrive. I freeze, terror gripping me as a

blink, recognition dawning.

rent with cracks and snaps, the wolf shifting stretching until slender, shorter-than-average Andrew stands before me, naked and scowling. "What the hell are you doing here,

catches me off guard. Andrew's always been indifferent to me at best, but this is different. Colder. More

know," I stammer, struggling to my feet. "I woke up out here. Do you know where

of course—though no wolf has a choice. It's a

the mention

shouldn't be here," he growls. "Turn back.

Andrew,

familiar gray form and a smaller red one. My breath catches as I recognize Raphael's wolf. But something's wrong. He's nuzzling the

his entire body going rigid. In an instant—faster than Andrew, thanks to his alpha ranking—he

are you doing here?" he snarls, his voice harsh

taken aback by

red wolf shifts then, taking little longer than Rafe. She must be a higher-ranking wolf. Maybe even

For some reason...

that knowledge makes my

freckle, or pimple, or anything. Just smooth, glass skin. Her green eyes are sharp and gorgeous, impossibly emerald-bright. She steps closer to Raphael, one hand on his arm, her gaze

I kidding? It isn't

she purrs,

Mate? Who? Him?

That's Rafe.

by the way his jaw clenches and he avoids my

My boyfriend. Her mate.

a forest full of sex-crazed wolves: My dreams of the

he assured me that tonight won't change

at the new girl.

a flash of something crossing his face. Is it guilt? "No one," he says

to process what I'm hearing. This can't be real. It has to be some kind

I whisper, "what's

jaw clenched. "You need

"But—"

he roars, eyes flashing

human. Run along now. The Mate Hunt

uncomfortably. "Grace, I'll escort

to the

vision protests, and he

right back." So gentle. So sweet. The same tone he used to

can things change in an

been living among wolf shifters

to be on

My other half.

snatching my arm in a rough grip, like a fucking stranger. Worse than a stranger. Like someone who doesn't give a

out of his grasp, to no

You're

a moment, I see a flicker of the boy I love in his eyes. But it's gone in an instant,

have any idea how dangerous it is for you to be out here

got here! I woke up

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255