The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 72

Dirt hung in the air as I parked. Everyone’s cars were parked in front of my family’s home. Maeve’s, Erik’s, my parents’ cars. The house looked inconspicuous, but knots slithered inside my gut. I turned the car off, yanking the keys out of the ignition.

The front door opened, and my mom stepped onto the patio. It was dusk, the sun preparing to settle beyond the nearby mountains. Her face paled and she stopped at the patio edge, not taking the stairs down.

I sucked in a breath. She looked terrified. I almost jammed the keys back in the ignition and left the driveway. No. I have to do this. I can’t keep running away. I let out a shaky breath and opened my door. I prepared all kinds of excuses in my mind as my foot touched the ground. The door slammed louder than I’d intended, making me flinch.

I hung my head, unable to look her in the eye. Where are the others?

“Gwen?” She whispered, like my name was something sweet and forbidden. I blinked up at her. Her eyes were red with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mom?” My chest tightened. It wasn’t the look of fear I’d been dreading. A wide grin spread across her face, and she raced towards me with her arms spread out.

I stepped towards her, and the gap between us closed. She wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my shoulder. Her body shook with sobs, and I squeezed her tight.

“What’s wrong? Is someone hurt?” The worst possibilities came to mind. I should’ve been here. No one would’ve gotten hurt if I was here. Her hands dug into my back, as if holding me was the only thing keeping her up.

“The car, I thought it was the packs. I thought someone was bringing us bad news.” She sobbed again and my shoulder grew damp with her tears.

“Everyone’s okay then?” I peered back up at the patio. My family had started to come out. My father, Maeve, Erik, and all of my siblings piled out of the door.

“Are we?” She pulled away from me and cupped my face. She turned and twisted my head, sniffing as if looking for injuries.

“Sorry. I should’ve come by sooner.” My cheeks warmed, realizing she’d been worried I was the one who got hurt. She pursed her lips and smacked my shoulder.

“We’ve been worried sick! Alpha Ansel came by and gave us no information, had no idea where you were! You just took off; you never stay away this long!” She pulled me into another hug.

My heart ached, and I pulled her tighter. They’ve been waiting for me to come home? I looked up at the patio, but they were no longer there. Big arms wrapped around me, and my dad’s scent hit my nose.

He was hugging us, and soon our entire family was in a big, huddled ball of hugs. Warmth surrounded me, with everyone’s arms wrapped around each other. They started letting go, and soon we all stood huddled together, but not so connected.

“Alpha Ansel came. He was angry we didn’t tell him about your wolf. He didn’t know where you were, wouldn’t give us information. I asked him to be gentle with you, that it wasn’t your fault.” Worry swam in his eyes.

“Ansel said you and I need to be punished for not telling him. That the pack is upset with us. I’m sorry.” I mumbled and slumped my shoulders.

“He thinks he can punish you?” Quinn snorted and chuckled. My cheeks flared and I met her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Quinn. I didn’t mean to ruin your ceremony, I-“

“Don’t.” She held up her hand and shook her head. Dread pooled in my core, making my body go numb. She flashed a smile at me, and I furrowed my brows. “That was the most bad*ss thing I’ve ever seen! Your wolf is huge! And the way you knocked Olivia out!” She mimicked swinging a baseball bat and made a pop sound as if she’d hit a ball. Or Olivia’s head.

“You were crying.” I said stupidly.

“Yeah, it sucked. My dress was ruined, and I was n*ked in front of everyone. But I was going to shift in front of them anyway, what’s it really matter?” she shrugged and flashed me another grin.

My mouth hung open, and I stared at her with wild eyes. I waited to see them thinking they’d be mad, and she’s impressed? Thinks my wolf is bad*ss? I should’ve come home right away.

“You’re really not mad at me?” I whispered, glancing around at my family. My dad recoiled, scrunching up his face.

“Only reason I have to be mad is you taking so long to come home!” His brows knitted together, his beard flopping around as he frowned. “Longest you’ve been gone is a day. It’s nearly been three. Jay followed you after you left, saying no one was allowed to hurt you. But we feared the worst after you didn’t come home for so long.”

His blue eyes deepened, and the scent of his fear filled my senses. It was the first time it had wafted into the air. Did he worry about the same thing I did? That Jay would need to handle me, a problem wolf?

“I marked him.” I blurted out, not being able to handle them thinking badly of him.

Everyone’s eyes widened, and my dad threw his head back, howling with laughter. His warm arms wrapped around me, and he spun me around in the air. I kicked my legs in surprised. He set me down and gave me a hard pat on the back, making me stumble forward.

“You marked him?” My mom’s eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open. She eyes my neck for a mark. My cheeks warmed, and I cupped my hand over my neck, in the spot where I’d marked him.

“Here.”

She gasped and my dad laughed harder, wheezing like he struggled for air.

“I warned that b*stard to be careful!” He coughed out, his face red. My mom pulled me into another hug.

“Oh, congratulations! No wonder you were gone for so long!” She pulled me back at arm’s length and gave me a toothy grin. I gave her an awkward smile back, knowing what she was thinking. That we’d mated, holed up together, f*cking like animals for the past few days. I wasn’t sure which was worse, that we hadn’t been, or that my mother was congratulating me on her assumption.

“Let’s head inside, I need a celebratory drink!” My dad waved towards the door, and we all shuffled inside together. The house was rambunctious as my dad made his way to his little bar cabinet, pouring drinks for everyone.

I refused like always, not wanting to lose control of my own mind. Out of me and my wolf, one of us had to remain sane.

I stood in the corner, watching my family. They clinked drinks together, laughing and cheering. They glanced towards me, thankfully not surrounding me too much. Something moved in the corner of the room. A face I hadn’t seen in the crowd outside to greet me. My stomach sank and I rushed across the room.

Bridget froze, stepping back from me. Fear was in her eyes, the scent saturating the air. Erik stepped next to me, letting out a soft growl. The room stilled and silenced. Bridget’s mouth flung open, and an odd croaking sound came out.

“I release my command on you.”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to, Olivia-”

“I know. Olivia made you, that’s why I attacked her, not you.”

She tensed, her eyes going wide. They flickered over to Erik, who let out another growl. A part of me wanted to growl back, but I knew he couldn’t help it. She was his mate.

Has she learned her lesson? That following Olivia was a bad idea, that she shouldn’t have gone against the family? I pursed my lips, eyeing her. She was tense, shaking before me.

“Are you still friends with Olivia?”

“No!” she spat out, shaking her head violently.

“Alright then.” I nodded and turned away. There was nothing else that needed said. Hopefully, with Olivia out of her position of power, and seeing what would happen if she f*cked up again, she wouldn’t go against the family again.

I returned to a corner of the room and the house became lively again. Maeve stood next to me and sipped her drink.

“So, how was he?” She leaned in, wiggling her brows. I blushed so hard the tips of my ears burned. My stomach twisted into knots, and I chewed my lip. She recoiled, and I knew she had scented my anxiety.

Maeve grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room, to the little laundry room. She let grow and crossed her arms, glancing at the doorway.

“Was it bad?” She whispered. “Does he not have a…?” She pointed to her crotch and grimaced. My eyes could’ve popped out of my head.

“That’s not it!” I whispered, shaking my head violently, flailing my hands around signaling no.

She frowned at me, and anger flashed in her eyes. “Did he hurt you?” She snarled, her lips curling. Panic built in my stomach.

“We didn’t!” I whispered and covered my mouth, like the words weren’t meant to escape. She blinked at me, confusion crossing her face.

“What?”

“I bit him. We haven’t…”

Her eyes widened in understanding. She gaped at me then promptly snapped her mouth s**t with an audible clack.

“How? I thought, I, you, how?” She pointed at me with a look of bewilderment. I shrugged, letting my hands flop against my thighs.

“I don’t know. I went to the shop to talk to you about it, but you weren’t there.”

She grimaced and looked away. “About that...”