War of Wolves: Part 1

By Carrie Glass

In an instant, Zora Agreeva’s world shattered. When the wolves came for her village, she fled into the night, watching everything she ever knew or loved burn behind her. Lost and frightened, she stumbled through the forest, sure she would die, until a chance encounter changed her life...

Torvin is a man with few equals. Strong and steady, he is a son of the forest, his past shrouded in mystery. When he shelters Zora from the danger that follows her, he is drawn to a treacherous path, where old enemies lie in wait, and destiny calls...

Approximate length: 10,200 words (a novella)

Part one of a series

Excerpt:

Zora finally relented slightly, pulling back the staff so she could lean heavily upon it, the tension of his sudden arrival dissipating. She nodded slowly. 'Both. My village was attacked two days ago.'

He kept his distance, respectfully, but nodded back at her, understanding in his eyes. 'I though that I saw smoke in the distance. That explains it.' He removed a wineskin from his belt, and offered it to her. Seeing her regard it warily, he explained that it carried water. Approaching cautiously, he held it outstretched, and she took it from him. Zora hadn't had anything to drink since the day before when she'd found the stream; the cool drops on her tongue felt like heaven. She finished the whole thing quickly, handing it back with an apology and a chastised look. The stranger assured her it was no problem.

His eyes took in her ample frame once more. 'My name is Torvin.' She introduced herself in turn. He inclined his head towards her in a gesture of greeting, and turned to replace the wineskin on his belt. 'So Zora, who attacked your village?'

She shook her head. 'I do not know what they were. Great black skinned beasts, like men but...'

His head whipped around, his long locks dancing in the air. His eyes focused upon her, and one word passed his lips.

'Wolfkind?'

Zora stared at him uncomprehendingly, unfamiliar with the word. His mannerisms had changed in an instant; he paid her little attention, his eyes scanning the forest around them for any threat. His hands were suddenly upon the hilt of his sword, and he spoke without looking at her. 'Were you followed?'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carrie Glass
• Release date: Mar 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310108525

Book preview

War of Wolves

Part 1

Carrie Glass

~ Smashwords Edition - Copyright 2014 ~

~*****~

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All Rights Reserved

Sexual Content Warning

This book contains depictions of sexual situations. All sexual participants in this book are aged eighteen or older.

Zora Agreeva bolted through the darkness, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The forest reached out to take her in. Branches clawed from the periphery of her vision, grasping at her face like the claws of some hideous beast. The light of the fire receded in the distance behind her, her ears still ringing with the sound of screams.

Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, running down her scratched and scarred cheeks. She was terrified, and utterly alone now, her thoughts a maze of grief. Zora would have time later to mourn, if she survived the night. Now the only thought that consumed her was the need to run, fleeing from danger. Like an animal evading the hunt, she bounded through the forest, cutting through thick knots of trees, heedless of the direction her path took through the stygian dark.

Her body worked against her, hindering her passage; Zora had never been a thin girl. Instead she was stout and solid, possessed of traits highly valued by the people of her clan; the same people whose graves were now marked by the conflagration that clawed at the sky in the distance behind her.

Those much desired qualities now conspired to undermine her. She had never needed to run like this before, and she was desperately out of breath. Tripping and stumbling through the night, she nearly fell before catching herself. To fall would be death, she knew; her enemies would be upon her in a second's time. Her senses were on highest alert, desperately searching for any indication of pursuit.

She thought she perceived movement to her right, a dark form darting between the trees; in the frenetic path of her headlong flight, she could not be sure. The chill of the night air bit at her skin like the branches. In her unthinking terror, Zora did not know where she was headed; and for the first time the thought entered her mind that she may freeze to death if she couldn't find shelter. The only sanctuary she knew of was burning behind her though, and there was no question of returning to it.

She slowed, hoping to catch her breath. It was done more out of necessity than conscious decision; she did not think she could continue on at her frantic pace, now that the immediate adrenaline rush of fear began to wear off. Zora desperately did not want to pause. Only fear had driven her on at such a brutal pace; now though, reality was