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.

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

massive wolf beside me throws back his head, unleashing a howl that shakes the very earth beneath my feet. The sound reverberates through my chest, a primal force that steals

the last echoes fade, an eerie silence descends upon

goosebumps erupting, as if they weren't already pimpling my skin, and I shudder

curl back, exposing gleaming fangs as he snarls.

somehow caught

signal I don't recognize has them both darting forward in a whirlwind of fur and fangs,

nimble. They tumble across the forest floor. Andrew occasionally escapes

he's on the defense, even to someone like me, who's rarely seen a true wolf fight. I'm not often around when the

protector's jaws close around

cuts through me like a knife. Andrew might hate me, but he's still Rafe's best friend. Still someone I've grown up

fade into the distance as he flees, leaving behind tufts of fur and spatters of blood on the forest

second. Reality slaps into me as my protector stands tall

drawing closer, their howls growing louder with each passing second. My

protector turns back to me, his storm-sky eyes gleaming with what almost looks like satisfaction. But there's no time for that now. He needs to leave, to get as far away from here as possible before the pack descends

dash forward. My palm connects with his hindquarters in a resounding smack that startles us both. "Go!"

retaliation. But there's no time for regrets. "They're coming. All of

one paw raised as he inspects me. A wolf's gaze is intense, but this time I almost feel like prostrating myself

to him that even