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.

"You need to go. They're all going to

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 breath from my

echoes fade, an eerie silence descends

every direction. The predatory sounds have goosebumps

he

my fight, but I'm somehow caught in the crossfire all the

I don't recognize has them both darting

is quick and nimble. They tumble across the forest floor. Andrew occasionally escapes the strange wolf's

his body language screams that he's on the defense, even to someone like me, who's rarely seen a true

see the moment the tide turns. My protector's jaws close around Andrew's hind

might hate me, but he's still Rafe's best friend. Still someone I've grown up with for the past several

scrambles away. His yelps of pain fade into the distance as he flees, leaving behind tufts of fur and

for a second. Reality slaps into me as my protector stands tall and

is coming. I can hear them drawing closer, their howls growing louder with each passing

there's no time for that now. He needs to leave, to get as

palm connects with his hindquarters in a resounding smack that startles us both. "Go!" I yell, my

whirls around in a sleek movement that has me cringing, preparing for retaliation. But there's no time for regrets. "They're coming. All of them. You need to

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

presence to him that even