Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Grace: Abandoned

How long do I stand there, eyes straining in the darkness that steadily grows?

Who knows. I sure don't.

The howls change; many are still hunting. Several have found their mates. Is Rafe howling out there, sharing a joyous run with his newfound mate?

That pretty little red wolf, the gorgeous woman within—she's everything I'm not.

My breath puffs out in wispy smoke, a visual reminder of the temperature, even though my body's already long cold.

My teeth chatter as I wrap my arms around myself, finally roused out of my fugue state to ponder more immediate concerns. Like how to get home.

I've never been great at reading the stars. Alpha always warned me I should learn these basic skills; I don't have an internal compass, and I'm terrible at tracking. But I live with wolves, so I don't spend many nights outside alone. It's too dangerous.

The forest stretches endlessly, nothing but shadows and the rustling of leaves and howls in the distance.

At least no one seems to be around me. Hopefully that means I'm close to home. I pick a direction at random, praying it leads me out of this nightmare.

Who would do this to me, setting me up for such a cruel fate? The questions swirl in my mind, but answers are out of reach. Yes, there are occasional pranks when you live with wolves. There's some harassment. There's even a solid amount of bullying I endure in silence.

But this? To threaten my life, to put me in the middle of the Mate Hunt, knowing at any time a frustrated wolf could hunt me down?

Human women are fully aware of the statistics; unmated shifter males are their biggest fear. Any male shifter in human territory is automatically suspect whenever a sexual assault case comes up.

It's no secret in the shifter community; it's a struggle every pack deals with. Most of the assaults are from rogue wolves, but not all. It's one of the many reasons they're not welcome among most human communities.

So who would be this cruel, knowing my likely fate?

As much as I can be disliked among the pack, I'm not generally hated.

The forest floor bites into my bare feet with every step. Twigs snap, leaves crunch, and sharp rocks dig into my soles. My toes curl against the cold, damp earth. Each step sends a jolt of pain up my leg from my throbbing ankle.

I crash through the underbrush, all grace abandoned. Branches whip across my face and arms, leaving stinging welts in their wake.

"Move quietly. Blend with the forest. Especially because you're human, you'll need to move like a wolf."

Rafe's voice echoes in my head, unbidden. Tears prick at my eyes as I remember his patient instructions, his warm hands guiding me through the woods. How many nights did we spend out here, him teaching me to navigate the wilderness?

No. I shove the memories away, blinking furiously against the moisture threatening to spill over.

But they keep coming, relentless as the cold seeping into my bones.

"Watch where you step. See how I place my foot? Roll from heel to toe, avoid anything that might snap or rustle."

I stumble over a root, nearly falling face-first into the leaf litter. Every move I make announces my presence.

"You're doing great, Grace. Soon you'll be moving as well as any wolf."

A choked sob escapes my lips before I can stop it. Rafe's proud smile, the warmth in his eyes as he watched me improve—it's all tainted now. Poisoned by the cold dismissal in those same eyes mere hours ago.

Fuck this mated bullshit.

Who wants a man that changes so much over a little bit of pheromones?

I limp onward, each step a battle against pain and exhaustion. Shadows dance at the edge of my vision, taking the shape of prowling wolves. Every so often I jerk around, convinced something's following me.

But there's nothing there.

Even distant howls have gone silent.

"If you ever feel lost or scared, just listen. The forest will guide you home."

rings hollow now. The person I thought was my future has

impossibly loud in the quiet night. It's only then I realize that

That's not good.

There's a predator somewhere.

pounding as I strain my ears for any sign of pursuit. Nothing but the whisper of wind through leaves. Another far-off howl.

close, despite the

ignoring the burning in my muscles and the ache in my chest that has nothing

each tree looks the same as the last, each shadow hiding potential

Grace. You're stronger than you know. Don't ever let anyone make you feel less than

of those serrated ones with the weird little hooks at the end. When you pull them out, they destroy

mate. How easily I was

as I push through a thick patch of undergrowth. Thorns slice over my skin, but I barely feel the sting. It's nothing

into a small clearing. No trees overhead. No creepy shadows. Just silver-blue moonlight resting against impossibly lush grass, unmarred

It's unnaturally perfect here.

years I've lived with this pack, the sound always sends a

Rafe, watching in awe as he shifted and added his voice to the pack's

howl holds no wonder, no

Just bitterness and pain.

my hands over my arms, a futile attempt to generate warmth. My teeth chatter as I stumble forward, eyes

before? The grass, untouched by fallen leaves, gleams silver-blue

This forest is my home—or was. I've explored so much of it with Rafe. But

it were daylight. The sun would guide me, even with my poor sense

A twig snaps.

in, suffocating. No insects chirp. No

moves in the

straining against the darkness. Another rustle. Closer

And then—

Oh. God.

wolf emerges from the treeline. No,

powerful build. This creature dwarfs them both. It could swallow Rafe's wolf in a single bite. How could it even hide among the trees? It's

absorbs the moonlight, as if the very essence of shadow clings to its

breath catches. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure the beast can

possible. Wolves don't get

hard, certain I must be hallucinating. Maybe I hit my head. Maybe I'm lying unconscious in the forest, and

takes a step forward. The

Not a dream, then.

to flee. But my legs won't move. I'm rooted to the spot,

eyes. God, its eyes. They burn with an intelligence far beyond any animal I've ever encountered. Even the shifters in

Ancient. Knowing. Powerful.

fixed directly on me, of course. Probably heard me coming from a mile away. Stupid, stupid Grace. Should have done my best to be quiet, even if it

on Blue Mountain Pack's land," I tell the

There's no way I'm going to scare off a wolf by myself. I can only hope they fear

reputation does nothing for

and unhurried. Moonlight catches its

back," I warn it, trying to stay

okay? I'm just a human. Wolves are terrifying creatures. Try standing up to one in the wild; knowing the power in

we have dogs around here. They

ankle gives way beneath me. My

back on my feet, hands scrabbling against the earth. But before I can right myself, the wolf

It lays down.

settles onto its belly, mere feet away from me. Its ears prick forward, head tilted in what can only be

speaks of interest rather than aggression.

as if raising the

of my voice. Its eyes, luminous in the darkness, remain fixed

through the trees, and violent shivers rattle my bones. Whoever threw me into the

chuff. It tilts its head the other way, as

don't suppose you have a blanket hidden in that

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