Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

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."

now. The person I thought

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

That's not good.

There's a predator somewhere.

sign of pursuit. Nothing but the whisper of wind through leaves. Another

nothing close, despite

chest that has nothing to do with physical exertion. How late is it? I can't feel my toes.

the same as

know. Don't ever let anyone make you feel less

serrated ones with the weird little hooks at

his true mate. How easily I

my skin, but I barely feel the sting. It's nothing compared to the pain tearing through my

emerge into a small clearing. No trees overhead. No creepy shadows. Just silver-blue moonlight

It's unnaturally perfect here.

the distance, a wolf howls. No matter how many years I've lived with this pack, the sound always sends a chill down my spine. Primal

stood beside Rafe, watching in awe as he

holds

Just bitterness and pain.

warmth. My teeth chatter as I stumble forward, eyes darting around the eerily perfect clearing. Something about this place feels off, but I can't put

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

This forest is my home—or was. I've explored so much of it with Rafe. But I have no memory of

even with my poor sense of direction. I could find my

A twig snaps.

in, suffocating. No insects chirp. No night birds call. Even the

moves in the

eyes straining against the darkness. Another rustle.

And then—

Oh. God.

emerges from the treeline. No, not just massive. Colossal.

his wolf form. I've admired Rafe's powerful build. This creature dwarfs them both. It could swallow

fur absorbs the moonlight, as if the very essence of shadow clings to its pelt. But

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

isn't possible. Wolves don't get

my head. Maybe I'm lying unconscious in the forest, and this is

wolf takes a step forward.

Not a dream, then.

instinct screams at me to flee. But my legs won't

with an intelligence far beyond any animal I've ever encountered. Even the shifters in their wolf forms don't have eyes like this.

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 took me a year to get home. At least I'd get home,

Mountain Pack's land," I tell the wolf

legs are trembling and I'm pretty sure it can smell my exhaustion and pain. There's no way I'm going to scare off a

fearsome reputation does nothing

step deliberate and unhurried. Moonlight catches its

back," I warn it, trying to stay strong despite the waver in my

Try standing up to one in the wild;

dogs around here. They want nothing

maintain distance, but my ankle gives way beneath

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

It lays down.

its belly, mere feet away from me. Its ears prick forward, head tilted in what can only be described as curiosity. I freeze, my breath

behavior of a predator about to attack. The wolf's body language speaks of interest rather than aggression. Yet my muscles remain coiled tight, ready to bolt

whisper, as if raising the volume of my words

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

trees, and violent shivers rattle my bones. Whoever threw me into the wild with just a bra and underwear is a sadistic bastard. It's cold

because it lets out a soft chuff. It tilts its head the other

suppose you have a blanket hidden in that fur