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.

need to go. They're all going to come

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

last echoes fade, an eerie silence

predatory sounds have goosebumps

curl back, exposing gleaming fangs as he snarls. My protector responds

somehow

for me. Some signal I don't recognize has them both darting forward in a whirlwind of

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 few steps with his tail tucked, before dashing

defense, even to someone like me, who's rarely seen a

tide turns. My protector's jaws close around Andrew's hind leg,

he's still Rafe's best friend. Still someone I've grown

free, limping badly as he scrambles away. His yelps of pain fade into the distance as he flees,

a second. Reality slaps into me as my

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

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

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

retaliation. But there's no time for

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

presence to him that even Alpha