The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 51

Jay

Frigid water poured over my skin, jolting me awake. I growled and thrashed at my attacker, the harsh sounds burning my raw throat.

A bucket clanged to the floor in front of me, making my head ache. Ansel was standing in front of me, peering down at me with a scowl and his arms crossed. He looked royally pissed, with a vein sticking out on his forehead.

F*cker.

“What the f*ck is your problem?” I snapped, glaring at him, and around the room. How’d I get on the floor? I was in a puddle, sprawled out on the hardwood floor in my living room.

“I’ve been trying to call you for days. You didn’t answer.”

“I unplugged the d*mn thing after all your harassing calls gave me a headache.”

“What the hell happened?” Ansel scanned the room. Empty bottles of various booze were littered around the house. F*ck him and what he thinks. I bobbled my head before flopping it back on the ground.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to remember. But the memories came flooding back. Pain radiated through me, and I curled in on myself. Ice cold water soaked into my clothes, but it didn’t touch the deep ache in my chest.

“I’m not leaving until you answer me, Jay.” Ansel’s voice was somehow gentle yet harsh.

I groaned, knowing he told the truth. My mouth was dry at the thought of having to say out loud what had happened. As if it would somehow make it more real.

“Jay.” He growled out my name. I knew it was a replacement for a command, although, I’m sure if he could, he would have.

I groaned and squeezed my eyes tighter, pulling my arms in towards my chest.

“She doesn’t want me.” I mumbled into the hardwood floors.

“What? Gwen?” he whispered; his voice filled with horror. “What do you mean?”

My mind filled with static, and my mouth was bitter. I shivered and reached for my wolf. He spread through my mind, numbing me, wrapping me with warmth.

“She kissed me… then told me she doesn’t want me. Like a cruel temptress. D*mned Selene, giving me such a horrid fate.” A sob almost escaped me, but my wolf pulled tighter around my mind. I sighed into his embrace and relaxed on the floor.

“What exactly did she say?”

“It doesn’t matter. She made herself clear.”

“And what are you going to do about it?”

I snapped my head up, glaring at him. Anger flared in my chest.

“What am I supposed to do? She denied me, I can’t force her! What, you think harassing her will make her like me more?” I curled my lip in disgust at him, recalling the women I’d met over the years being afraid of stalkers and creeps.

He sighed and relaxed his shoulders, uncrossing his arms.

“I commend you for respecting her ‘no’, but this is your mate. You need to fight for her. Becoming mates is hard, everyone struggles. Don’t you remember what I went through with Geneieve?” He raised a brow.

Memories flooded my mind, and I groaned. I reached for a nearby bottle that was halfway filled.

Ansel stepped on my wrist, pressing down hard against the wooden floors. I snarled at him, and he matched my gaze.

“You need to fight for her. For your mate. You’ve waited too d*mn long to find her to just give up on her. Her sister is having her Coming-of-Age ceremony today. Go.” He squinted at me, like this was a warning. A harsh growl left my throat, and I tried to tug my hand out from under his foot, but he was stepping down too hard.

“She was afraid of me. Do you have any idea what it’s like having everyone afraid of you? Of people cowering when you walk into a room? Scuttling away like bugs, watching you with wide eyes? Like you’re about to stomp on them?” I glared up at Ansel, staring into his eyes.

They swirled with pain, but his gaze was still harsh. My gut twisted into knots. I could still smell her fear. It clung to me, even days after. I’d tried to scrub the scent off myself, but that would mean removing her scent.

And I couldn’t make myself do that, no matter how much it taunted me.

“No. I don’t have a remote idea what it’s like. But I do know what it’s like to feel as if your mate doesn’t want you.” He pursed his lips and looked away, his eyes glazing over. “You know, all that time when I was going after Geneieve, when she shot me down, and I thought she didn’t want me? I was wrong. After everything she’d been through, she felt hopeless. Worthless. She thought she wasn’t worthy of me.”

He sighed and the scent of his pain soaked into the air.

“Can you imagine if I’d given up? I would’ve proven her right. That she wasn’t worth fighting for.” He glared down at him, his face turning stony with determination. I tensed under his fierce gaze. “If you have any doubt that Gwen was lying, you need to get off the d*mn floor.”

Ansel removed his foot from my wrist and adjusted his jacket. He huffed and turned on his heel, going out the front door. I laid my head on the ground, listening as his car rumbled away.

I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed. She wasn’t lying. Her scent had been clear when she’d said yes.

Gwen

The gown bags were heavy under my arms. I hefted them from the car, with the sky bright and blue above me. Fluffy white clouds fluttered through the sky, making it the perfect spring day.

Perfect day for a ceremony. Nice weather tonight for Quinn’s first run. And it’ll even be with the pack. My smile dropped, realizing I wouldn’t be able to join. Whatever. It isn’t about me, and I don’t like going for runs anyway.

Quinn will have a great first time. I adjusted the garment bags, one for my gown and one for Quinn’s. Quinn’s was much larger than mine, making it almost impossible to get through the pack house’s front door.

Inside, people were in a flurry of activity. The kitchen was being cleaned and seating was being arranged. I walked past, forcing myself not to linger at the spot where I’d slapped Jay.

I went past, through a wide archway, and into a massive open room. I frowned at the room, glancing around. Have I been in here before? The floors were marble with a large crystal chandelier about me.

People were running around, cleaning, placing white candles around strategically. Fancy ‘silver’ decorations were being placed all around. I squinted at the room, knowing it was familiar, until it clicked.

There’s always been seating in here. Couches and tables, with big crowds. I recalled clinging to the corners, staying hidden. On one end of the room was massive windows and doors that opened to the backyard.

Now, where would Quinn be getting ready at? I stopped and asked someone, who pointed me in the direction of the designated dressing rooms.

I glanced around as I walked down the hallways. My muscles were tense, and I jumped as someone round a corner. They frowned at me, but I muttered an apology, keeping my head down.

Everything is fine. Olivia isn’t going to pull anything. Everything is going to be smooth. I nodded to myself, and finally arrived at Quinn’s dressing room.

I knocked before going in, hearing Quinn, Maeve, and our mom’s voice inside. The door swung open, and our mom ushered me inside.

“I was starting to worry you’d be late!” She chided, but a massive toothy grin was plastered to her face. She helped take the bags out of my hands, placing them on a nearby rack. Maeve and our moms’ gowns were on the rack already.

“Sorry. It won’t take long to get her in the dress. And the ceremony doesn’t start till dark.” If I put her in it now, she might need to eat and spill something on it. I grimaced at thought, remembering the times it had happened to other girls.

“What do you think?” Quinn asked. She was at vanity, similar to most hair salon setups. I went over to her, while Maeve continued to style her hair.

Quinn’s hair was in classic curls, making her strawberry blonde hair shine in the light. She beamed at me, fluffing the curls with her chin up high, showing them off.

“Very pretty. You’ll look picturesque in your gown.”

“Like a princess?” She raised her brows at me, her blue eyes beaming. I chuckled and nodded.

“Yes. Like a princess.”