The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 67

The world went dizzy as I stepped through the portal door. It was as if I was spinning, upside down than right side up, the world going topsy-turvy. I squeezed my eyes shut as I stepped out the other side. Jay squeezed my hand and said something I didn’t catch.

The air was cloying with an odd, spicy, musky scent. Something new and so strong it burned my eyes.

“Gwen?” Jay’s voice was soft against my ear, yet so loud. Once my body stopped spinning, and the urge to vomit dissipated, I peeled open my eyes.

We were in the living room of a little cottage. A little fireplace with couches, walls of bookshelves. Someone bumbled around in what sounded like a kitchen further into the house.

“Are you alright?” Jay’s face was scrunched in concern.

I nodded yes, unsure if it was too soon to open my mouth. Another whiff of the nasty smell made me scrunched my nose and wonder if it would be impolite to request we leave. Jay chuckled, released my hand, and wrapped his arm around me.

“Have you ever smelt that before?” He raised a brow, and my cheeks warmed. I shook my head no, hoping I hadn’t offended whoever we’d come to visit. “It’s magic. Witch magic, to be exact. Burn it into your memory, you should always be able to smell if someone is a magic user.”

“Do other kinds of magic smell different?”

“If your good with your nose.” He pulled me further into the room, and footsteps came closer to us. I tensed, wishing I wasn’t so d*mn nervous. They’d definitely be able to smell it.

A woman came from downstairs, through a dark little hallway. She blinked at us, and I froze. Are we supposed to just enter her home like this?

I smiled, hoping she wouldn’t take offense. She glanced between Jay and I with an odd, surprised expression. Curvy with tanned skin, brunette hair in a tight braid behind her, freckles dotting her cheeks, and gray eyes; she didn’t appear to be threatening. Instead, she looked ready to head out into the garden in her blue denim overalls and white undershirt. Gloves and some pruners poked out the front pocket of her overalls. Looks are deceiving. And if this place smells like magic, wouldn’t that make her a witch?

Is this who Jay wanted me to meet? I smiled harder, meeting her eyes. She frowned and glanced at Jay.

“This is my mate, Gwen.” Jay announced, a grin spread across his face. He was beaming, his chest puffing out, holding me tight against his side. My cheeks burned, and my tummy fluttered.

“I see you have a mark…” the woman glanced at his neck. “Is everything okay?”

“My mark’s fine.” Jay growled, making the woman frown.

“I’m not saying it isn’t. But you’re here, and it looks new, and her eyes are…” the woman glanced at me, a flicker of fear in her eyes.

“My eyes are what?”

“They’re purple. You’re not on edge?” She tensed, like she expected me to pounce at any moment.

“They’re still purple?” I glanced up at Jay, my gut filling with dread. He nodded yes and shrugged.

“I’ll see what I can do to help.” The woman said, turning away.

“We’re here for Rhett, actually. But we might need your skills too.”

“Me?” A man, presumably Rhett, called from the back to the house, where the clinking had been coming from. The woman led us to his voice, turning around a corner. The man’s back was to us, standing at a stove. A little girl was next to him standing on a chair, stirring something with a big wooden spoon.

“You and Gwen have something in common. I was hoping you could talk.” Jay said, his hand tightening around my waist. A faint hint of an odd scent came off him. Anger? Anxiety? It smelt similar to both, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Is Rhett dangerous? I stood up straighter, watching them. But he didn’t seem dangerous, switching places with the woman, so she could help the little girl.

Rhett turned to us, wiping his hands on a simple black apron. He had curly black hair and striking blue eyes. More striking was the deep scar that went over his eye. I darted my eyes away, hoping it wasn’t obvious I’d been staring at it. He had an air about him, just like Jay had when we’d met. He’s old, and powerful.

“I see Fate has blessed you as well. Selene seems to be smiling upon us.” Rhett grinned, staring at Jay’s neck. Jay chuckled, and craned his neck, showing off the mark. Not that he needed to. It was obvious, bright red and deep.

“She has. That’s part of why I’m here.”

“Oh?” Rhett eyed me, and I tried not to scowl. It was like I was a fish in a tank being observed. “It’s a pleasure to met you.” Rhett did a little bow. I stilled, realizing he’d been avoiding my gaze the whole time.

“You as well. I take it you’re all friends?”

“It’s hard not to be when you’ve survived battle together.” Rhett smiled.

“I’d like to hear the story. We only met three weeks ago.” Curiosity came over me, and I watched Jay from the corner of my eye, all to aware I barely knew my mate.

“I’m sure they’d like to hear the story of how we met too.” He glared at me, my cheeks burning recalling the slap. “But we’re here for something else. Gwen shifted as a child. I thought you two could talk.”

Rhett tensed, his whole body going still. His eyes widened, and he smoothed his hands on his apron. He slowly nodded, clearing his throat. I chewed on my bottom lip, pressing tighter to Jay.

“I see. Why don’t we sit at the table?” he motioned to the table behind him. It was a large rectangle with six wooden chairs around it. We all sat, with Rhett frowning the whole time.

“You shifted as a child too?” I asked, keeping my voice soft and low. He grimaced and nodded, clearing his throat.

“Sorry, it’s been a long time since I’ve talked about it.” He glanced at Jay, frowning. “But yes. I did.”

“You never told me that.” the woman said, standing back at the counter with her hands on her hips. Rhett blushed and scratched the back of his neck.

“It’s a rather… unpleasant conversation.” He glared at Jay, who grunted next to me.

“Gwen is having difficulties controlling her wolf. I was hoping you two could talk. I know it took you some time to learn how to control yours.” Jay’s tone was surprisingly soft. I fumbled with my hands in my lap, under the table.

“I’ll put on some tea.” The woman said, setting a tea kettle on the stove.

Rhett looked me up and down, and I stilled under his scrutiny. I knew my purple eyes had to make me look bad, like I was out of control. He sighed, his shoulder’s hunching over.

“I know the difficulties. If your wolf is anything like mine was, she must be a heathen.” His face softened. Thousands of questions came to mind, all of them bursting to come out first.

“Is your wolf big?” I blurted out. Rhett blinked at me and shrugged.

“He’s big.”

“He’s not big.” Jay chuckled, his eyes glimmering with humor. He flashed me a big toothy smile, and Rhett frowned.

“He might not be as big as yours, but he is big.” Rhett grumbled, his eyes narrowing.

“Your wolf is very big. Much bigger than mine, and you’re almost as big as Jackson.” The woman patted Rhett’s shoulder as she set the tea pot on the table on a metal trivet.

“No, I mean like… big. Huge.”

“He’s big. Averagely big.” He glared at Jay, whose shoulders were shaking in silent laughter. I glared at him, and he stilled, clearing his throat.

“I mean massive. Bigger than this room. Your wolf was never that big?”

“No.” Rhett glanced around the room, taking it in. “I could shift if that’s easier?”

“Gwen’s wolf is large enough to swallow you whole.” Jay said.

The room went silent. Everyone’s eyes were on me, burning into my skin. My cheeks burned and I desperately wished to slink under the chair, away from their judging eyes.