Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 11: Grace: Rules

Time isn't my friend, so I lay down the ground rules. "Look. I'm trying to get out of here, okay? You can come with me if you want, but no more skulking around in the shadows. And definitely no pouncing on me anymore. If I sprain my ankle, I'm never getting out of here. Got it?"

Not even a flick of his ears to show acknowledgement.

He has to be a shifter, though. There's no way some random, glowing wolf just exists on its own in the wild.

"You're a rogue, right?"

Ear flick.

I guess that's his way of saying yes. "Okay. I don't know why you won't shift, but that's not my business. Either help me or stay out of my way. That's all I'm asking."

No ear flick, or tail wag, or any change in his body language whatsoever.

Fine. Don't answer. Two can play the quiet game.

Turning my attention to my mission, I glance around. Which way was I headed?

East, because I need to head east toward the city. But which way is east? Now that I'm all turned around, I'm not sure. The stars peek through branches above, but their patterns mean nothing to me. That definitely is something we covered in training, and would be helpful to know about now.

My feet crunch over dead leaves as I pick a direction that seems right and start walking. The wolf's massive paw steps behind me pause. A low rumble draws my attention back to him as he winds around me.

He plants himself in my path, blocking the way forward.

"What now?"

His head tilts to the right, ears perked forward.

"That way?"

Another ear flick. Progress.

I change course, following his suggestion. The tension in my shoulders eases as he falls into step beside me. His ethereal glow provides better light than my dying flashlight ever did.

My hand reaches out, brushing over his side. The fur feels softer than I expected, almost silk-like between my fingers. He doesn't pull away.

His presence keeps the worst of my fears at bay, lulling me into comfort.

"I'm heading to Sterling City," I say, breaking the silence after a while. "It's the closest human settlement I know of. Should be about east of pack territory."

but I do know it isn't far—by car. Walking is

steady pace

don't belong in wolf packs.

snaps under my boot, but I'm no longer paranoid

being human. I lived a normal human life until Alpha took me in, but that was a long

swivel

even know how to get a job, or rent an apartment,

an exposed root. The ground rushes up to meet my face, but sharp teeth snag the back of my shirt. The wolf's quick reaction

I'm back on my

"Thanks."

Ear swivel again.

We're having

how lonely I feel. It hasn't been that long since I was happy. Only days, really. And yet it feels like months since the last time I

a talker. It isn't like I won't, but

The wolf doesn't seem to mind,

hell did you bring

—shit.

heart plummets to Earth's core, taking my blood pressure with it. My knees? Traitorous things, they buckle, causing me to stumble three paces, ending

that's hard and cold as iron, hauling me upright as

a few seconds, but my brain and body sync back up. My heart starts beating again, even if it is a little too fast and furious, and I curse myself nine ways from Sunday for being so stupid as to

he

Of. Fucking. Course.

Idiot!

myself, iron-hand-guy

towering over me. His scowl is enough to shrivel my soul and every last millimeter of my

The nightmare kind.

Because of course he is. All dark and

beneath the collar of his shirt, intricate designs that shouldn't exist on a shifter's skin. The patterns seem

for some expensive cologne. The kind with half-naked guys on TV. Warm, dark, sexy. Nothing like Rafe,

can't name, though it makes my head spin. Or maybe it's my bottomed-out blood

a question." His voice rolls through me like thunder, deep and commanding. Each word drips with barely contained violence.

maybe he did, when I was

out. The grip on my arm tightens, and pain shoots through my muscles. It feels

through his left eyebrow. He has a scar under his

half of my body coming online to whatever strange

about him screams danger. Power. Authority. And sex.