Page 20 of Grace of a Wolf 1
One of them—a tall, imposing figure with eyes that seemed to glow—had looked right at my window. I'd ducked away, heart pounding, Alpha's warnings ringing in my ears.
Now, years later, the thought of facing those wolves without even the illusion of Alpha's protection sends a chill down my spine. Where can I possibly hide? Alpha always told me to stay hidden during their visit. They hate humans.
My arms ache as I attack a particularly stubborn stain. Maybe I could sneak into one of the unused storage sheds on the outskirts of pack territory. It would be cramped and uncomfortable, but at least I'd be out of sight.
For some reason, as I clean the kitchen from top to bottom, my arms and back screaming with the effort, I can't shake the feeling of those glowing eyes looking my way.
Chapter nine
Grace: Unwelcome Advances
Ihave to leave the pack.
This realization is a long time coming, but when I wake up to Rafe's face staring down at me, in the relative safety ofmy own room, it's a decision made for me.
I'm not safe anywhere. Not even where I sleep.
"Don't shout," he whispers, placing a hand over my mouth.
I wasn't going to, anyway. No one would come to my aid here.
My nod seems to relieve him, because he lets me go and sits on my bed without asking for permission.
I sit up, my fingers clutching the blanket and pulling it over my chest. The thin fabric offers little protection, but it's all I have against Rafe's piercing blue gaze. I'm still wearing my clothes from yesterday, but being in my bed—in my room—leaves me feeling vulnerable.
My heart pounds, a traitorous rhythm that threatens to betray my resolve.
"What are you doing here?"
Rafe's sun-bright hair catches the dim light, a halo around his perfect features. His blue eyes, once a source of comfort, now make my stomach twist.
All I can see is how he dumped me for Ellie the moment he realized they were mates.
"How are you doing, Grace?"
His hand reaches for mine. I flinch away, pressing myself against the headboard.
"What are you doing here?" The words come out sharper this time.
Rafe's shoulders slump, and he runs a hand through his hair, mussing the perfect strands. "I'm worried about you."
A harsh laugh escapes my lips before I can stop it. "That's rich."
"I mean it, Grace. I care about you."
"You have a funny way of showing it."
His sad facade fades as his jaw clenches. There's a tick beneath his skin, a twitching that only serves to remind me he's changed. Like a personality transplant. Or, worse—I never knew him at all. "It's complicated."
"No, it's not. You chose her. You made that perfectly clear."
There's a flash of amber bleeding into the blue of his eyes. My lack of submission must anger his wolf, too. "It's not so simple. The mate bond—"
"Save it." I cut him off, wishing my words came out with more scorn and less trembling. "I don't want to hear about your precious mate bond."
Rafe leans forward, his scent washing over me. Trees and earth and everything I once called home. "Grace, please. I never meant to hurt you."
"But you did." The words hang between us, heavy and undeniable. Making me sound way too fragile.
