The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 16

The next few days went smoothly, although the shop still had no customers. But today was Sunday morning, and dad had orchestrated a big family BBQ cookout. Mom had the whole house scrubbed spotless, furniture was moved, and her best décor had been brought out. Tables and chairs were outside, and fresh linens were waiting in the dining room to be brought out when it was time.

I woke up early in the morning, as the sun began to rise, and joined him and Erik in the laundry room. I was in my pajamas, while they were in spare clothes. They’d gone hunting this morning for the barbeque, and just finished bringing back their game.

“You missed a good hunt. Should’ve come with us” Erik said, with his hands on his hips. A proud, beaming smile crossed his face.

“What a great idea, let’s serve the entire forest for dinner.” I grimaced, imagining the slaughter that would’ve happened. Erik flinched and dropped the smile. He’d seen enough wreckage to know me shifting wasn’t a good idea.

“We caught three boars, an elk, and a moose for today.” Dad said, glancing between us. “I want to try the new, local foods, eh?” He rubbed his hands together and his eyes lit up.

“Why do we need so much? An elk and a moose is excessive.” I crossed my arms and watched the sun rising higher through the window behind him.

“Ah! Do you remember the surprise I told you about?”

Erik and I exchanged glances.

“You didn’t tell us about a surprise. Is this going to be like the time you invited the whole pack and didn’t tell us?” I cringed at the thought of all those people cramming into our house.

“What? Yes, I told you, that night when you came home, after you went to bed I-“ He blinked and stroked his beard. “Oh, I told your mother. Didn’t I tell you both the next morning?” He looked between Erik and I, and we both shook our heads no.

“At least mom knows this time.”

“I invited our neighbor! He seemed nice; it’s the neighborly thing to do.” He grinned from ear to ear.

“How many people are coming?” Erik asked.

“Just him, I think. He didn’t smell like he had a mate; that’s partly why I asked. Thought you and your sister might like to meet him.” He winked at me, and I threw my head back, groaning.

“Who is he?” Erik asked.

“He was, uh… I don’t think I got his name.” Dad stared into the distance, then shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You remember the dealing with the witches? He was involved in that, helped stopped it.”

“He did?” Erik perked up. He’d been stressed over the idea of going to war; Ava had just been born.

“Yes! Told me so himself! Do you remember the stories Alpha Reid used to tell us about the wolf who dealt with the Fae?”

“The one who wasn’t scared of them and came and went as he pleased?” Erik practically squealed like a little girl.

“You mean the ones about the wolf wasn’t afraid to sleep with the Fae?” I corrected him, recalling our old Alpha’s tall tales.

“Same thing.” Erik glared at me. “What about it?”

Dad grinned so wide I could almost see all of his teeth. His eyes beamed, and he bounced on his feet and rubbed his hands together.

“He’s coming here! Today, for the barbeque!”

Erik practically jumped for joy, and my gut dropped.

“Those were just old stories; they aren’t real.” My mind reeled, recalling all the crazy, outlandish stories we’d heard.

“Hey! Go to Ireland and listen to their pack’s stories; I’m sure I’m in some of them.” Dad puffed his belly out and glared at me.

“No. You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s our neighbor? And you invited him for lunch?” I wished I could crack open my dad’s head and peer inside his mind. “How is mom okay with that?”

“Why do you think she’s got the house so spotless?” He waved his arms out and laughed, deep from his belly. I put my head into my hands and groaned.

“Can we just get this over with?” I huffed.

“Yes, yes. They’re over here.” My dad chuckled, and we all left the laundry room. I followed them out to the meat, and helped butcher it, preparing for the day.

Once we were all finished and I was cleaned and showered, I got myself ready. I threw on a blue dress with little white daisies and didn’t bother to put on shoes. My hair dried into its natural curls, and using bobby pins, I neatly arranged it so it was down but wouldn’t be in my face all day.

I went downstairs, and the house was in a flurry, mom primped and prepped everything, all the kids who were old enough helped prepare. Soon the kitchen and backyard were filled with the scent of roasting meat and various side dishes.

Maeve showed up, and she, me, Quinn, and Bridget helped as much as we could. I’d put on an apron while helping in the kitchen.

Mom, Quinn, Bridget, and Maeve expertly chopped, seasoned, and sauteed while I stood in front of boiling noodles, holding a spoon.

“Are you stirring that, dear?” My mom eyed the big pot of noodles.

“Yes. I’m stirring it.” I put the wooden spoon in the pot and stirred. I’d rather be out fanning the meat than in here. I glared at the four of them, working like a well-oiled machine.

“Are they done?” My mom frowned; her brows knitted together. I leaned over the pot, watching the water bubble.

“How do you tell?” I took the wooden spoon out and huffed. The water bubbled over, spilling out of the pot. The burner spat, and the fire puffed up. I jumped back, flinching, and my mom raced over, turning the stove off.

She turned to me and grimaced at me.

“Why don’t you go out to the garden.” Her eyes darted around the room. “We need, um… flowers. For the entryway.” She nodded, like this was a spectacular idea. I followed her gaze.

Next to the front door was a little table, where things like papers, keys, and other things collected. We’d kept flowers on it in a vase when we’d first moved in, but promptly stopped because the younger kids kept knocking the vase off, breaking it.

“I’ll go grab some.” At least it gets me out of the kitchen.

“And we need carrots!”

“Carrots?”

“Yes! I’ve completely forgotten; I wanted to make sugared carrots.” She nodded, and smiled, then motioned for me to get out of the kitchen.

I did as she asked and went out back. Dad had built a big in ground pit where one of the wild boars was smoking. I followed a little stone path behind the house, past where the cooking was happening, and went into our little fenced in garden.

I grabbed a basket, and plucked carrots from the ground, then snipped a bundle of blooming white daisies, and piled them in the basket.

A car pulled up out front, one I didn’t recognize. It clanked like it was on its last legs. All the kids in the yard froze, then raced towards the front yard.

“Hey! Don’t bombard the man, wait inside for ‘em!” Dad shouted. The kids giggled and squealed and went into the house. Dad laughed, and he and Erik went up to the house as well.

I followed them inside. Kids were piled up at the window, watching through the curtains. Mom was at the front door, fluffing her dress and fixing her hair. Dad went to stand next to her. The house was filled with murmurs and whispers. Everyone was piled into the entry room, watching the front door.

I left the basket with carrots by the sink, so they could be rinsed, and grabbed the flowers from the basket. Maeve and Quinn were standing in the kitchen entryway, watching the door like everyone else. I joined them and Maeve raised her brows, shrugging at the excitement.

I rolled my eyes and glanced at everyone in the room. The room was filled with excitement, and everyone was preening themselves. All for one person, and we don’t even know if it’s really him from the stories! There’s no way he could’ve done all those things.

Gravel crunched, and the room grew tense as our guest got closer to the door. Feet walked across the wooden patio and paused.

Mom swung open the door and my gut dropped. I squeezed the flowers in my hands and let out a low growl.