The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 39

Jay

My truck rumbled down Old Pine Road towards the bar. Ansel was meeting me there for drinks with Gwen’s father. The sky was dark, and I knew it would be busy tonight.

How am I supposed to sit and have drinks with her father? What am I supposed to say? Hello, good evening, sir, by the way, your daughters my mate and I dream about f*cking her.

That’ll go over well. I sighed and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, my nerves like fried wires.

If I’d known she was my mate at the time, I would’ve chosen a better way to get to know him. Hopefully, he isn’t a mean drunk. I grunted and stretched my neck. My muscles were tense, and I couldn’t make them relax.

I’m gonna get f*cking stabbed tonight. I bet he throws a mean punch.

I’d tried to think about every possible situation that could come up. Him fighting me, trying to strangle me, hitting me over the head with a bottle. None of them were pleasant, and all of them ended up with me getting hurt.

It’s not like I can beat up her father. That won’t earn me any affection.

I ground my teeth and squirmed in my seat. Hours had passed by, but my lips still tingled from this morning. I hadn’t showered, afraid I’d wash off her scent. If I thought hard enough, I could still taste her. Sweet, spicy mead mixed with oranges. It was oddly complimentary, the essence of winter turning to spring.

My knuckles were white as I squeezed the steering wheel. I should’ve showered. He’ll smell her on me.

But he would’ve known already. She would’ve come home smelling like me. The thought made my hands shake, and I groaned. Her skin had tasted so good, so intoxicating. I could’ve marked her then.

If she ran away from a kiss, what would she have done if I’d marked her?

I shuddered at the thought and my gut dropped. The scent of her fear had been thick in the air, spread across her face. I could still see the terror in her eyes.

What could’ve caused such a visceral reaction? It had taken all my willpower not to chase after her. Was it a bad kiss? I frowned and tapped on the wheel. No. She’d enjoyed it. I could still hear the little sounds she’d made. Gasping and mewling.

But what made her so afraid? She’d looked horrified. Was it that she was kissing me? That she liked it?

I frowned and tapped my fingers on the wheel. Why would my mate be afraid of kissing me?

I groaned to myself and ran my hand through my hair. Is she afraid of the pack finding out? What Olivia said, about people thinking she’s climbing rank in the pack? I scratched my chin and huffed. Why did she do it in the first place? I tried to recall the moments before. She’d been panicking. I didn’t do anything in particular. Was it something I said?

I mulled it over the rest of the drive, but I couldn’t figure it out.

I only knew I needed it to happen again.

It didn’t take long to get to the bar. The parking lot was packed with cars and trucks. The building didn’t have a sign on it. It was big and looked run down on the outside. The owner, Ethel, liked to make sure humans didn’t stray inside.

I parked and slammed the door shut. My stomach flipped, and my lunch threatened to come up. Keegan’s minivan was already here, but I didn’t spot Ansel’s car. Gravel crunched under my feet, and I took a deep breath before heading inside.

The room froze as I walked in. Everyone turned to stare at me, watching me with wide, cautious eyes. I forced myself to stay calm, not allowing my muscles to tense. I scanned over the room, meeting everyone’s eyes. Challenging them.

The scent of their fear hit, pungent, turning my stomach. I narrowed my eyes and tilted my chin up. They all looked away, shuffling back to what they’d been doing.

It was dim and hazy inside, with a plume of cigarette smoke hanging in the air. Billard’s clacked together, and I sighed, stepping further into the building.

A large stage was to my left, where someone was singing and playing the guitar. To my right was the bar, full of people and a few busy bartenders. A little hallway where fights always broke out was next to the bar, leading to a back room where the billiard tables were. They clacked together and someone high-fived.

I listened to the room, noting who was in the building and where they were. I walked further inside, stepping down into the room where red leather booths were at. People hurried out of my way, staring up at me with wide eyes.

I could hear Keegan’s booming, joyous voice in the back of the room. I headed for it, going closer to the bar.

“You here to solve problems or cause them tonight?” A familiar voice said. Ethel, the bar owner, appeared nearby, coming out of the narrow hallway.

“Hello Ethel.” I turned and grinned at her. She was a beefy woman, with arms as strong as iron cables and a deep gash across her right brow that went down her cheek.

“Don’t ‘hello’ me. I just fixed the damage you caused last time.” She pointed to a newly renovated wall. I’d been called to handle someone who’d gotten too drunk, and we’d gone through it.

“I’m here to drink with friends. Ansel will be here soon.”

“You’re both gonna be here? Lord, help me.” She rubbed her temple and groaned. “If you break something, you’re paying for it!”

“You know I’m good for the damages, Ethel.” I grinned, and she rolled her eyes.

“You want the usual?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded and headed to Keegan.

Keegan and a few other old wolves were already at a table. He waved at me, and I nodded. I sat in an empty chair next to him.

“You made it!” He grinned at me with a beer mug in one hand. It was foaming over the edge.

“I wouldn’t have missed it.” And give Gwen another reason to think I’m an *ss?

“You make quite an entrance.” He raised a brow at me, grinning. His eyes lit up. Right. Having everyone be so afraid of you, they pause and wait to see what’s going to happen is a good thing.

I scowled, glancing at the other men at the table. Fear was spread across their faces; their eyes wide as they exchanged wary looks.

“This is the friend you invited?” One of the other men at the table asked. They were all leaned back, watching me, like I’d reach over the table to grab them. The scent of their fear was cloying.

“Yeah! Hey, that wine you gave us? Magnificent!” Keegan did a chef’s kiss and grinned from ear to ear.

“I’ll bring you more; people gift them to me all the time. I’d rather have a nice, aged whiskey. Or brandy.” My stomach was in knots, but I smiled back at him. The other men looked between themselves. They looked at Keegan like he was insane and stood up, leaving the table.

I scowled, my gut churning. But it wasn’t unexpected.

“Where are you going? We were just getting to the good part of the story!” Keegan shouted after them, giving their backs a confused look.

“My apologies.” I said and clenched my jaw. He gave me an odd look, then his face relaxed. A look on understanding crossed his face, and his eyes softened.

“Ah, f*ck’em. They were young in’s anyway, looking for stories from old wolves. Guess they weren’t as tough as they thought.” Keegan said, winking at me. He laughed and took a drink from his glass.

I blinked at him, shock going through me. He really isn’t afraid of me. How dominant is he? Is that where Gwen gets it?

It’s too bad he’ll hate me by the end of the night. He’s good company. I frowned, thinking about losing one of the few people in the pack that didn’t seem to hate me.

“Did your son come with you? Erik?”

“Nah, he’s working some stuff out with his mate.” He grimaced.

Good. Gwen must’ve handled the rest of their argument. I debated asking what it was about, but my voice caught in my throat. If I ask, that’ll open the window to talk about this morning. He seems chipper; maybe he doesn’t know? He has to be able to smell her on me, though?

The room paused, going silent. Then everyone cheered. I turned, just in time to see Ansel coming down the steps. He nodded, waving to them with a big grin on his face. Everyone cheered louder, toasting their drinks to him.

I sighed and stared at our table, my skin itching.

“I see you’ve started without me.” He flashed us a grin and joined us at the table. “It’s just the three of us?” Ansel raised his brow and looked around the table.

I glared at him, knowing d*mn well he knew why it was just the three of us.

“Here you boys are.” Ethel set a whiskey neat in front of me, and some pink cocktail in front of Ansel. It had a little umbrella with pineapple chunks on the skewer.

We drank and talked, and other old wolves joined us at the table. They were older members of the pack, some of whom had been here since Ansel and I had formed it. They shared stories, boasting and bragging, and calling each other out. I wasn’t close with them, but at the least, they didn’t look like they wanted to throw up from fear of sitting near me.

“I’ll tell you what, merfolk are dangerous, but they’re a hell of a lot of fun!” Keegan laughed, waving around his beer mug. It sloshed around, foam spilling out on the table. His face was red and blotchy, with a toothy grin on his face.

Everyone at the table laughed, and I tried to join in. But my stomach was tangled in knots, and my hands were clammy. I struggled to listen to his story, even though everyone else seemed enamored by it.

He nodded and sipped his beer. The group quieted down, and everyone glanced at one another, waiting for someone to start the next story.

“Have any of you fought a werebear?” One of the men asked. He was loud, drunk, and fond of telling tall tales. He raised his brow and grinned as he looked around at us.

Great. Now I get to smell his disgusting lies for the next half hour.

“I ain’t fought one. But I’ve seen one. Massive beasts.” Keegan whispered. He stared into his glass; his eyes glazed over.

“Someone else fought it?” The man raised his brows. His shocked expression had to match my own.

“It was already dead.” He whispered. His face fell as he stared at the glass.

“I’d hate to run into whatever k*lled it!” The man slurred, his face beaming as he waved around his drink. “Go on then, tell us the whole story! Must be a good one!”

“That thing tried to attack my kids! It ain’t a good one!” Keegan growled and jumped up, bumping the table. The man recoiled away. He spilt his drink all over himself and looked down, away from Keegan.

Keegan let out a deep sigh and sat down. His face fell, and he took another drink.

The bar was silent. My mind was blank, and I struggled to find something to say. Werebears were big, solitary creatures. I’d fought a few, but not alone.

I can’t imagine having one attack your kids.

Everyone was silent, staring at each other. The room was tense, with rage rolling off Keegan. I squirmed in my seat and searched for something to say, anything to remove the discomfort in the air.

“I’m courting your daughter.” I blurted out. I grimaced and my heart raced.

F*ck f*ck f*ck f*ck! What the f*ck was that!

Keegan’s brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. His jaw tensed, and he sat up straight. His grip tightened around his mug, and my blood ran cold.

“Which one?” He tilted his head to the side.

I sucked in a breath and braced myself to get punched.

“Gwen.” I said firmly. Fight me all you want. I’m not letting my mate go.

His eyes widened and a face splitting grin crossed his face. He threw his head back and roared with laughter, making his beard bounce. Keegan slammed his fist onto the table. All the drinks jumped into the air, their contents sloshing out onto the table.

“I thought so! You be careful!” He wheezed out a growl.

“I’ll be careful with her. I’d prefer not to find out how you got those scarred up knuckles.”

“Me?” His laughter stopped, and he leaned into me, his beard brushing against my arm. His mouth twisted into a threatening smile and his eyes lit up. “I’m not the one you have to worry about, boy.” He whispered. He laughed and slapped me on the back so hard I swore he bruised a rib.

What the f*ck does that mean? I watched him, bellowing with laughter. Everyone else in the bar had gone silent, and eyes burned into my skin.

“I’d appreciate it if she didn’t find out about this.” I glanced around the room. People nodded at my hidden threat.

“I sure as f*ck ain’t gonna tell her!” Keegan shouted and laughed more, trying to catch his breath.

The rest of the night went smoothly, but my nerves grew. I couldn’t get Keegan’s warning out of my head. Who was talking about? Gwen? He thinks I should be afraid of her and her cute little wolf?

I pictured her playing, hopping around and yipping at the toad. My heart melted, turning to warm goo in my chest.

She’s got a sharp tongue and is obviously confused… but her wolf wants me. We’re mates. She can take all the time in the world to figure that out. We’ve got eternity.

"Patience." My wolf reassured in the back of my mind.

I took a sip of my whiskey and tried to think of ways to court her. What would she like? Dinner? A movie? I tapped my fingers on the table, and an idea popped into my head.

I grabbed a napkin and a pen and started writing.