Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 12

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."

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

pace never

don't belong in wolf packs.

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

Alpha took me in, but that was a long time ago. A really long time

wolf's ears swivel

get a job, or rent an

foot catches on an exposed root. The ground rushes up to meet my face, but sharp teeth

once I'm back on

"Thanks."

Ear swivel again.

listening. We're

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

I won't,

The wolf doesn't seem to

the hell did you

—shit.

Traitorous things, they buckle, causing me to stumble three paces, ending in

hard and

starts beating again, even if it is a little too fast and furious, and I curse myself nine ways from Sunday

course he brought

Of. Fucking. Course.

Idiot!

I'm busy berating myself, iron-hand-guy spins me

stare up at the man towering over me. His scowl is enough to shrivel my soul and every last millimeter of my self-worth, and I know his frosty gray eyes are coming for

The nightmare kind.

is. All dark and broody and serial

shouldn't exist on a shifter's skin. The patterns seem

half-naked guys on TV. Warm, dark, sexy. Nothing like Rafe,

is something else entirely, something I can't name, though it makes

commanding. Each word drips with

maybe he did, when I was

grip on my arm tightens, and pain shoots

has a scar under his bottom lip, like he used to have a piercing there.

lower half of my body coming

Power. Authority.

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