The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 28

Wonder and curiosity came over her face. She stared at my arm, running her finger along where the cuts had been. There were no blemishes, no sign anything had ever been wrong.

“I thought Fae gifts are dangerous?” She whispered, awe in her voice. My chest puffed out, and I ached to tell her everything I’d ever done, hoping to keep that look on her face.

But I didn’t want to encourage her going to the Fae.

“They are. I don’t suggest you ever receive one.” It came out as a growl at the idea of her asking the Fae for a gift.

I pulled my arm away and washed it in the sink. Blood had dried on it, but it came off easily enough. She stood next to me, watching me with curious eyes.

“How did you get it? Can you do that to other people?”

I finished in the sink and moved so she could wash her hands.

“You said no questions.” I raised a brow at her, and she scowled at me. “I’m sorry about the blood on your dress. It looks ruined.”

“That’s only part of a secret!” She snapped back and dried her hands.

“You only gave me part of a secret. It’s a fair trade.”

She snorted at me. I zipped up the first aid kit, put it back, and cleaned up the mess. There were blood spatters on the ground, and I made a mental note to tell someone so the marble could be properly cleaned.

“That’s why you don’t have scars?” She grabbed my arm again, sending a shock down to my fingertips. “And why you do what you do.” She glanced up at me with a brow raised.

She’s smart. I smiled, beaming down at her.

“Is that a question, or a statement?”

She paused and looked me over, like she was thinking. “An observation.”

I wanted to kiss her. To know what she tasted like, to feel her warmth. But my wolfs warning rang through my mind. Patience.

“I’ve never heard a story about you getting a gift from the Fae.”

“You’ve heard a story about me f*cking a dragon, but not one about me getting a gift?” I raised a brow and her cheeks turned red.

“My old Alpha told a lot of crazy stories.” Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“I assure you, the story of how I got my gift is crazy. And true. I’ll tell it to you if you offer something in return.” I smiled, and she snarled.

“I’m not sleeping with you for a story!” She spat out, her words like venom.

“What makes you think I meant s*x? You must have an awfully dirty mind.” I frowned and her mouth hung open, and her eyes went wide.

“Me? It’s you! Your voice, your demeanor, you always act like you're up to something!” She pointed at me and put her other hand on her hip. “With your smug attitude, always being so arrogant, and making unwarranted comments!” She huffed and crossed her arms.

“Do I really act that?” I scratched my chin. “Well, perhaps you’ll accept my story as an apology for my uncouth behavior.” I said in a mock regal accent and did a bow.

“I’d rather have an actual apology.” She tilted her head up and eyed me.

“We’ve discussed this. I’m sure if I said it, I meant it.”

“Then this isn’t an apology at all.” She frowned and her face turned sour.

“Don’t be ungrateful. I’m offering you a story; take it or leave it.” I said sternly. She ground her teeth together, but her eyes gleamed with curiosity.

“Fine. I’ll accept your offer.”

I leaned against the bathroom counter and grinned.

“I was young, and admittedly quite st*pid-“

“One of those is still true.” She quipped. She’s got a sharp tongue. How did I end up with such a sassy mate? I frowned and glared at her.

At least she can hold her own.

“If you interrupt, I’m not going to tell you.”

She pursed her lips and her brows pressed together.

“As I was saying, I was naive. My family had warned me of the Fae, but I ignored their warnings. I ended up meeting a Fae woman, and we became… friendly. I learned one of her past lovers had been unkind to her. I was angry and went out seeking vengeance. She’d warned me not to, but I thought myself indestructible, like young st*pid people often do.”

“I went after him, and it took me a while to find him. It turned out he was very powerful and feared in the Fae world. He kept me prisoner for a while, but when the time was right, I fought him. I barely survived. The Fae woman gave me the gift afterwards, to so it wouldn’t happen again.”

I watched her expression as I told the story. I waited for the same awe inspired look to come over her again. I puffed my chest out and prepared my speech about how it was nothing to be proud of; easy work really.

But her face twisted into a scowl, and she crossed her arms. Her cheeks puffed out and her lips were pressed together.

“You lost then? He got away?” She stared me in the eye, and I balked.

“No! I won! If I’d lost, I’d be dead, unable to tell you the story at all.”

“And that’s why the Fae respect you? Because you k*lled someone who held you captive?” Her words were sharp.

“No, they respect me because I managed to k*ll one of the most powerful Fae at the time! And I’ve done it several times since. The Fae know not to f*ck with me; when they do, it doesn’t end well for them.”

“It sounds like they do like to f*ck with you.” She snapped and frowned. She looked oddly hurt, and a scent came over the room. One I’d smelt on her before but hadn’t been able to name until now.

“Are you jealous?” I asked before I could think.

“That would be ridiculous!”

“That isn’t a no.”

She opened her mouth and snapped it closed. “I’m not some schoolgirl drooling after men; don’t think so highly of yourself.” She snorted and turned her head away from me.

“If it makes you feel any better, she’s dead.” I said, trying to hold in laughter. I grinned, and she bared her teeth at me.

“You k*lled her? How is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“She tried turning me into a puppet after I didn’t do what she wanted. Apparently, getting a gift from a Fae, even while unconscious and unable to say yes or no, means they get ownership over you. I wasn’t a well-behaved pet, so I was punished.”

The anger dropped from her face, and she uncrossed her arms. She eyed me, and she shifted her weight from side to side.

“Did you love her?” She met my eyes, and my heart skipped a beat.

What do I say? She got jealous at the mention of me being with another woman! I don’t want to keep offending her, but I won’t lie either.

“I’m going to assume you did at some point. Why else would you risk your life and go after someone who’d harmed her.” She tilted her head up and my blood went cold as I waited for some harsh comment. Or another slap. She eyed me, and the hint of a smile reached her lips. “You really are st*pid if you think the Fae fear you because you k*lled whoever the first one was. The one that hurt her.”

“Excuse me? You weren’t even there. Have you dealt with the Fae?” I growled at her. I’ve been dealing with the Fae for hundreds of years! I know how they work!

“I haven’t, but I’ve heard plenty of stories about them. Isn’t the greatest threat that the Fae will lure people? Make people fall in love with them, so you can never escape? They put people in some kind of trance?”

“Yes, but-“

“Did you k*ll him because you wanted to, or did she make you?”

“I choose to! I did it for her; she was afraid of him finding her. I was protecting her!” I snapped at her, and she shook her head.

“I’d bet a lot that you didn’t choose. Maybe she had you think you choose, but I bet you were under her hold. And she gave you the gift because her toy, which proved himself to be capable, was too good to let go. And the Fae fear you, because you somehow managed to get out of her hold. It’s one thing to k*ll someone who was bad and deserved it. But k*lling someone you love, even if they’re hurting you? That’s almost unheard of.”

She looked proud of herself as she stared at me. My head reeled. Everything she’d said made sense. It was like a veil had been ripped from my eyes, and I could think back to that time clearly.

Sylphine, the Fae woman, had grown manipulative over the years after she’d given me the gift. Made me k*ll anyone who disrespected her. When I went after him, and I first challenged him to a fight, he didn’t even recognize her name.

I’d thought he thought her so below him; he didn’t bother to know her name. But did he really know her at all? Was he just another person she sent me after because he’d disrespected somehow? All those years I was just her h*tman.

I stared at Gwen, who’d lost the proud look, and replaced it with worry. She was eyeing me, her face soft and her brows scrunched together.

She got that from a simple story? It was the shortest version I could’ve given her.

“No wonder you were able to hide behind a mask for so long. You’re quite observant, aren’t you?” Pride swelled in my chest.

No wonder you picked her. My wolf made a thoughtful hum in return. Her face turned red, along with the tips of her ears. She’s cute when she blushes.

I opened my mouth to say so, but footsteps were outside, near the bathroom.

“Someone’s outside. Turn off the shower water.” I pointed at the shower and flicked off the bathroom fan.

“Jay?” Ansel said from outside the door. Right. That’s why I came here in the first place. I swung open the door. He was standing outside, with a worried look on his face.

“I was worried. You called hours ago saying you left the airport, and I saw your truck out front.” He looked at me, and his eyes got big. I was topless and a bloody mess. “You were hurt while you were away? We talked about this, you’re supposed to let me know-“

“I was hurt after I got to the pack house.”

“After? You’re fighting someone?” He became alert, standing up straight, and he looked around, like he needed to join in on the fight.

I moved to the side so he could see Gwen. His eyes got big, and he bounced on his heels.

“Oh! I’m interrupting something; please excuse me. Find me when you’re ready.” He nodded at me, flashing a grin.

“No. Gwen and I were finished; I was about to find you.”

“Yes! I have to find my parents and get a ride home.” Gwen said to the floor.

“Everyone’s gone.” Ansel said and gave her a puzzled look.

“What time is it?” She squeaked out. I looked at my watch.

“It’s half past midnight.”

Her face went pale, and she made an odd deflating groan sound.

“Perhaps Jay could give you a ride home?” Ansel motioned to me, smiling at her.

“No. We need to discuss my trip. Dixon can give you a ride home in a pack car; he should be by the front door.” I gave her instructions on how to find him in the little cubby room by the front door where the pack’s keys are held.

“Thanks. I’ll be going now, if that’s alright.” She talked to the floor, with her shoulders hunched. She’s acting submissive to Ansel? It made my skin crawl, but I’d made her a deal, so I kept my mouth shut.

She moved towards us, and I held the door handle, and moved out of the way so she could go through. Ansel moved as well, and she slipped between us. For someone acting submissive, she doesn’t seem hesitant about being between dominant wolves. Submissive’s would never.

“Goodnight, Gwendolyn.” I said, right as she was between both of us. She stopped and looked up at me, while keeping her head low. She squinted at me and bit her lip, like she was holding back words.

“Goodnight.” Her tone was flat and there was tension; energy crackled between us.

“Tell your father I haven’t forgotten about drinks on Tuesday.”

She swiveled her head to me and scowled; her mouth opened and snapped close.

“I will.” Her words were laced with venom, and I could imagine the harsh words she’d been thinking. She hurried out of the room and down the hall.

“Care to tell me what that was about?” Ansel raised his brows, and looked past me, into the bathroom.