The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 4

“My nose must not be working very well.” I met her bright blue eyes. They were dazzling, like sapphires. Blonde hair cascaded around her face, down her back like gold thread.

Her shoulders were muscular and eloquently defined. She held the baby with long, lean arms. Her knees were pressed together, and her long legs matched the rest of her toned figure.

Her legs looked like soft silk, smooth and pleasant to the touch.

“How’ve you gone without being snatched up?” I met her eyes and c*cked my head to the side. I could’ve swam in them, lost in their rich pigment.

Her face turned bright red, and she stammered, her mouth opening and closing while she made a strange choking sound.

Someone slammed into a wall in the room next to ours and wood creaked as furniture was tossed across the room. Shouting came through the wall and the boy and woman jumped at the sound.

“It wouldn’t be a party without a fight.” I grumbled. The shouting grew in volume and the familiar sound of bones cracking as they fought made me furrow my brows. D*mn it. I was enjoying myself, too. “I suppose I should go handle that.”

I groaned as I stood, and they both leaned back. I towered over them, and the woman held the baby closer to her chest. My nose filled with the scent of her fear. Of course. I’ve frightened them; how typical of me.

“Are you going to behave yourself?” I stared down at the boy. His hair bounced as he vigorously nodded his head yes. “Good. Don’t make me have this conversation with you again, Henry.” I glanced at the woman on my way out.

Her jaw was clenched as she watched me with eyes big as saucers. Anger burned in my core, and I kicked myself. i***t. You might’ve stood a chance, if I’d thought things through, maybe…

I shook my head. No. They’re always afraid of me, even if I do nothing wrong. At least now they’ll have a reason to be afraid. I swung open the door and let it close behind me.

Gwen

I sat frozen on the couch. The man’s footsteps carried him to the next room over. A fight had broken out, glass shattered, wood splintered. Foul language came through the wall.

The man’s footsteps stopped, and a door swung open.

“What the f*ck do you all think you’re doing?” He said in a calm, hushed tone. The room silenced. “This is how you show your gratitude to the pack? Breaking things, starting fights at a party? Get out, go home. All of you.” He growled the last word and feet pounded against the floor as people scrambled out of the room.

That’s all it took? A stern talking too? To calm down a room of fighting wolves?

I’d guessed the man was powerful, but what I’d heard boggled my mind. Fights like that would’ve taken physical force from our old Alpha to stop.

A slew of cusses came through the wall, followed by a groan.

“D*mn it, I said go home!” The man shouted. He sounded winded.

“F*ck you in the *ss, you c*nt!” a drunk man slurred.

I glanced at Henry, who was still on the floor where he’d fallen. More wood smashed, confirming my fear: someone was drunk and not willing to give up.

“Come on.” I plopped Ava back into her car seat, swung her diaper bag over my shoulder, stood, and grabbed Henry by the wrist.

“Wait! I’m listening!” He pulled his wrist out of my hand.

“No, this isn’t for your ears!” I grabbed him again, harder, and dragged him out of the room while holding Ava’s car seat carrier in my other hand. Henry lagged behind me as I rushed us out of the room.

“You made me drop my cookie!”

“You can get a new one.”

We went into the hall, and we had to pass the room they were fighting in order to get back to the main part of the pack house. The door was off the frame, broken into pieces. I stepped over them, but Henry froze.

He stared into the room with his mouth wide open in awe. I followed his gaze.

“Don’t make me force you to leave.” The man growl at the drunk. He stood in front of him with his hands at his side, like he was vastly annoyed. His face was twisted in a frown as the drunk stumbled around in front of him, slurring incoherent speech.

The drunk swung, hitting the man in the gut. He groaned, and I flinched, knowing the wind had to have been knocked out of him.

“Fine, if that’s how you want to be.” The man said and hefted the drunk over his shoulder with ease. He turned towards us, and we locked eyes.

I sucked in a breath and my heart raced. His eyes widened and his face fell. The man dangled over his shoulder, groaning.

I darted away, dragging Henry behind me.

“Hey!” He shouted. “My legs are little!”

I stopped at the end of the hallway, where the entrance to the main house was. Henry slammed into my legs.

“Sorry, Henry.” I cringed at him, knowing I’d practically run out of there. He huffed at me; his little face was red. He pulled his arm out of my hand and did a little imitation growl.

“I wanted to watch!”

So did I.

“Let’s find your mom.” I swiveled my head as I searched for her. She wasn’t in this room, which was more of a lounge area. People sat about, chatting and laughing as if nothing had just happened a few doors down.

I led us to where Bridget had been before and hurried when I heard her typical high-pitched laugh.

She was holding a glass of wine, laughing with Olivia, from earlier. A few other women were surrounding them, and they all looked like they were having a grand time. My mind was scattered as I raced over to them and plopped Ava’s carrier on the ground next to Bridget.

“Here, she’s fed.” I set the diaper bag next to the carrier and brushed my shaky hands on my dress.

“What’s your problem?” Olivia snorted at me, looking me up and down.

I just witnessed a hunk of man throw a drunk over their shoulder like it was nothing, and all I could think about was how much I wanted it to be me.

“We saw a fight!” Henry shouted, making me cringe. Anger flared in Olivia’s eyes, and Bridget gasped. I glanced around the room, hoping to find a way out.

“You let babies near a fight?” Olivia snarled and set her glass down. The surrounding women hushed and gave me disapproving looks.

“I’m sure Gwen didn’t do it on purpose.” Bridget kneeled down to Henry. “Are you alright?”

“It started in the room next to us; I got us away as fast as I could.” Maybe you should have parents take care of their own children. Submissive’s aren’t your slaves. I almost spat the words out at her. Lilith swirled in the background of my mind. Mind yourself, Gwen. Behave.

“People were yelling and breaking stuff and glass was breaking; it was so cool!” Henry jumped up. “We saw a big man; Gwen said he was old! He was super powerful; he got punched in the gut!” Henry punched the air as he mimicked the drunk.

Bridget grimaced, and Olivia gave me a disgusted look.

I let out a nervous laugh, and my whole body felt like it was vibrating. Everything was a bit shaky, like I was experiencing my own personal earthquake.

“Yes, that’s all true, we saw that, it was happening, there was a fight, I’m going to find Maeve now, take care!” I waved and bolted away before any of them could stop me.

Large sliding doors were open, and I raced through them, sucking in a breath of fresh air. But there were people crowded around the patio. They brushed against me, making it impossible to get a good lung full of air.

Lilith grumbled, brushing against the forefront of my mind. My heart raced, and I pushed her down.

I need space. Get away from me. I wanted to shout at them. Instead, I squeezed through the crowd towards an empty field of grass nearby. Kids played in a different section of the grass, screaming with joy.

My hands shook as I scurried across the lawn, searching for a quiet place to calm my mind. My teeth felt like they should be clacking together, like I’d drank a gallon of coffee.

Thoughts of the man raced through my head. The way he’d looked at me like he could see through my clothes. How my core felt like it was on fire every time I was under his gaze.

Pull yourself together, Gwen! I stopped and bent over, with my hands on my knees. Taking deep breathings, I worked to calm my racing heart. But all I could think about was how his voice had dropped when he realized I didn’t have a mate, how husky and silky smooth he sounded.

“He looks like fun,” Lilith purred.

Go away. I squeezed my eyes shut and counted from one to five, taking deep breaths. I’m in control.