Page 2 of Grace of a Wolf 1
A crashing sound from the underbrush sends my heart into overdrive. I freeze, terror gripping me as a slender gray wolf bursts into view. It skids to a halt, panting heavily. Golden eyes lock onto mine.
I blink, recognition dawning. "Andrew?" Could it be?
The air is rent with cracks and snaps, the wolf shifting stretching until slender, shorter-than-average Andrew stands before me, naked and scowling. "What the hell are you doing here, Grace? Dressed like that?"
His tone catches me off guard. Andrew's always been indifferent to me at best, but this is different. Colder. More hostile.
"I don't know," I stammer, struggling to my feet. "I woke up out here. Do you know where Rafe is?"
Maybe Raphael can keep me safe during the sexual haze of the Mate Hunt. He said he had no interest in joining, of course—though no wolf has a choice. It's a required event once you're of age. He'll be happy to have an excuse to desert the dubious festivities.
But Andrew's expression darkens at the mention of my boyfriend—his best friend.
"You shouldn't be here," he growls. "Turn back. Now."
"What? Why? Andrew, what's going on?"
He opens his mouth to respond, but the sound of more wolves crashing through the forest cuts him off. Two dash past, a familiar gray form and a smaller red one. My breath catches as I recognize Raphael's wolf. But something's wrong. He's nuzzling the red wolf, playful and intimate. It makes my stomach churn and my breath grow short.
Raphael freezes when he spots me, his entire body going rigid. In an instant—faster than Andrew, thanks to his alpha ranking—he shifts back to human form, blue eyes blazing.
"What are you doing here?" he snarls, his voice harsh and unrecognizable.
I flinch, taken aback by his anger. "Rafe, I—"
The red wolf shifts then, taking little longer than Rafe. She must be a higher-ranking wolf. Maybe even Luna-class.
For some reason…
No. Forobviousreasons, the knowledge makes my stomach twist into knots.
She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Long black hair frames an absofuckinglutely flawless face. Not a single freckle, orpimple, oranything. Just smooth, glass skin. Her green eyes are sharp and gorgeous, impossibly emerald-bright. She steps closer to Raphael, one hand on his arm, her gaze fixed on me with thinly veiled hostility.
Who am I kidding? It isn't veiled at all.
"Mate," she purrs, "who is this?"
Mate? Who?Him?
It can't be. He's Rafe.MyRafe, not hers.
But by the way his jaw clenches and he avoids my gaze, he's exactly who she's talking to.
Myboyfriend.Hermate.
My world shatters. Never mind I'm practically naked in a forest full of sex-crazed wolves: My dreams of the future are shattering.
Only hours after he assured me tonight won't change anything between us.
My boyfriend—is he still my boyfriend?—doesn't look at the new girl. Hismate. Fuck, I suddenly hate that word.
Instead, his eyes finally meet mine, a flash of something crossing his face. Is it guilt? "No one," he says flatly. "She's no one important. Just a human adopted by the pack."
I stumble back, unable to process what I'm hearing. This can't be real. It has to be some kind of nightmare.
"Rafe," I whisper, "what's happening?"
He looks away, jaw clenched. "You need to leave, Grace. Now."
