Page 7 of Grace of a Wolf 1
And fixed directly on me, of course. Probably heard me coming from a mile away. Stupid,stupidGrace. Should have done my best to be quiet, even if it took me a year to get home. At least I'dgethome, and not get eaten—or worse—by a massive wolf who glows.
"You're trespassing on Blue Mountain Pack's land," I tell the wolf with bravado that doesn't actually exist in my body.
My legs are trembling and I'm pretty sure it can smell my exhaustion and pain. There's no way I'm going to scare off a wolf by myself. I can only hope they fear Alpha's reputation.
The wolf just snorts. Alpha's fearsome reputation does nothing for it, I guess.
My heart hammers as it pads closer, each step deliberate and unhurried. Moonlight catches its fur, but I swear it just sucks it right in, creating darkness around it.
"Stay back," I warn it, trying to stay strong despite the waver in my voice.
I'm not that brave, okay? I'm just a human. Wolves are terrifying creatures. Try standing up to one in the wild; knowing the power in their bodies, it's impossible to stay calm when a strange one approaches you.
They're not like dogs—not like we have dogs around here. They want nothing to do with wolves.
I take a step backward, desperate to maintain distance, but my ankle gives way beneath me. My ass meets grass a second later.
Panic floods my system. I scramble to get back on my feet, hands scrabbling against the earth. But before I can right myself, the wolf does something unexpected.
It lays down.
The massive creature settles onto its belly, mere feet away from me. Its ears prick forward, head tilted in what can only be described as curiosity. I freeze, my breath caught in my throat.
This isn't the behavior of a predator about to attack. The wolf's body language speaks of interest rather than aggression. Yet my muscles remain coiled tight, ready to bolt at the slightest provocation.
"What do you want?" I whisper, as if raising the volume of my words might shatter the uneasy peace.
The wolf's ears twitch at the sound of my voice. Its eyes, luminous in the darkness, remain fixed on me with an unnerving intensity.
A gust of wind whips through the trees, and violent shivers rattle my bones. Whoever threw me into the wild with just a bra and underwear is a sadistic bastard. It'scoldat night. Near-freezing.
The wolf must notice my discomfort, because it lets out a soft chuff. It tilts its head the other way, as if trying to puzzle me out.
"I don't suppose you have a blanket hidden in that fur coat of yours?"
The wolf's tail thumps once against the ground, but of course it doesn't answer. Great. Now I'm making jokes at a potentially deadly creature. Shock must have set in.
I take a deep, steadying breath, trying to assess my situation. I'm alone in the woods, injured, and face-to-face with a wolf larger than any I've ever seen. And yet... it doesn't seem intent on harming me.
Maybe it's supposed to be here? But I think I'd have heard about a giant-ass wolf. People talk about Alpha's size all the time, saying he's massive. They've clearly never seen this guy.
"Are you here for the Mate Hunt?"
The wolf's ear twitches. I'm positive it's a shifter, but why won't it shift to talk to me? Why remain in wolf form if it doesn't want to attack?
Another shiver wracks my body, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to conserve what little warmth I have left. The wolf watches this action with what almost looks like concern. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking.
"Don't suppose you'd be willing to share some of your body heat?" I joke weakly. "No? Didn't think so."
To my utter shock, the wolf rises to its feet. My breath catches, fear spiking through me once more. But instead of attacking, it takes a step closer, then another.
Panic rushes through me. Why is it coming after me now? I thought we'd already established it doesn't want to eat me. "What are you doing?" I ask, my voice just a teensy bit on this side of shrill.
The wolf doesn't answer, of course. It simply continues its approach until it's right beside me. Then, with a grace belying its massive size, it lowers itself to the ground once more. This time, however, it presses its warm, furry body against my side.
I sit there, rigid with disbelief, as the wolf's warmth seeps into me. It's like sitting next to a furry furnace.
A stinky one.
