Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 3: Grace: Protector

Chapter 3: Grace: Protector

The wind steals every bit of the warmth the strange wolf had gathered, and I crouch behind a tree to block the worst of it.

A slinking shadow skulks forward, slowly coalescing out of the abstract darkness of the forest.

Andrew.

His lithe wolf body slinks forward, lips curled back in a snarl.

My mysterious protector tenses, fur bristling along its spine. Another low, menacing growl rumbles through its chest.

Andrew's head snaps back, releasing a bone-chilling howl that echoes through the forest. Answering calls rise from all directions. I know those sounds. The pack is coming.

Whoever my furry furnace is, he isn't known to the pack. Which means he's an intruder—which means...

The massive wolf at my side snarls, snapping its jaws at the air between itself and Andrew. A clear warning for him to keep his distance.

"Shit." My soft whisper is enough for my protector's ears to swivel in my direction, and I press myself against the tree trunk, hoping I don't get in its way. No, not it. Him, I think.

His identity might be a mystery, but he still kept me warm and safe, at least for the last few hours. I don't want him hurt.

flank, I whisper, "You need to go. They're all

earth beneath my feet. The sound reverberates through my chest, a primal force that steals the breath from my lungs. Even Andrew, cocky and aggressive moments ago, shrinks back, his ears flattening against his

echoes fade, an eerie silence descends upon

howls erupt from every direction. The predatory sounds have goosebumps erupting, as if they weren't already pimpling my skin, and I shudder even without the

as he snarls. My protector responds in kind, hackles raised and muscles

but I'm somehow

Some signal I don't recognize has them both darting forward in

him an advantage, but Andrew is quick and nimble. They tumble across the forest floor. Andrew occasionally escapes the strange wolf's jaws, darting away a

body language screams that he's on the defense, even to someone like me,

I can see the moment the tide turns. My protector's jaws close

me, but he's still Rafe's best friend. Still someone I've grown up

distance as he flees, leaving behind tufts of fur and spatters

second. Reality slaps into me as my protector stands tall and arrogant,

pack is coming. I can hear them drawing closer, their howls

almost looks like satisfaction. But there's no time for that now. He needs

his hindquarters in a resounding smack that startles us both. "Go!" I yell, my voice cracking with desperation. "Run! You need to get out of

a sleek movement that has me cringing, preparing for retaliation. But there's no time for regrets. "They're coming.

his head, one paw raised as he inspects me. A wolf's gaze is intense, but this time I

a presence to him that even