The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 36

What did you do? I imagined coming home, their looks of fear, them covered in blood. My heart froze, wrapped in ice. My breath caught in my throat and my body shook. Did you hurt them?

“They’re fine.” Lilith said. She flashed an image of my dad standing above her. I sucked in a shaky breath and rested my head on my knees. My heart raced, pounding in my ears. My arms dropped to the ground, and I went numb.

“D*mn it, Gwen; if you don’t answer by the time I’m done counting, I’m coming over there with my eyes open!” Jay shouted; his voice filled with panic.

“Please, just go away!” My body shook, and I took slow, deep breaths to calm my heart. It was deafening, pounding against my rib cage.

Calm, cool, collected. I repeated it over again in my head. My body relaxed, and my breath steadied. They’re fine. Everyone is okay. Dad handled it.

After a few minutes, the knots in my stomach detangled enough for me to lift my head. Grass swayed in the air, brushing against my legs and back. The water flowed down the river, light dancing off its waves. I turned my head to look at the waterfall and flinched.

“Why’re you still here?” I snapped.

Jay was sitting on my right with his eyes closed. He leaned back, using his left arm to brace himself, exposing his chest and other bits to me. His right leg was bent, and his right arm rested on his knee.

“I’m waiting it out with you, making sure you’re okay.” He faced the water, and his voice was gentle. I scowled at him, and a growl left my throat.

“I told you to go away.” I snapped.

“You asked. Care to tell me what that was about?”

“It was nothing.”

“That’s a lie.”

“I’m allowed to lie.” I scoffed at him and thought about shoving him into the nearby water. “Don’t you have something better to do, some other woman to harass?” I spat out.

He paused for a moment and sighed. His lips pressed together, and his brows furrowed.

“I… I don’t mean to pry. I only meant… I’m old. I’ve lived through some things. Maybe I can help? Offer advise? Or I could just… sit and listen.” His voice was calm. Soothing. Free of mockery or harassment. “If you want me to leave, I will.”

I squinted at him and pursed my lips. I grabbed a fist full of grass and ripped it from the earth. I tossed it at the water, but it fell to the ground.

“I had an argument with my family.” I plucked another handful of grass. “I’m just… not ready to go home.” I could see the disappointment in my dad's eyes. The fear that would linger, the worry that I’d regress back to how things were.

“What caused it?” Jay’s voice was soft, but it was like a knife stabbing into my gut.

It’s my fault. She was afraid he would hurt them, but I tried to attack her.

I’m the dangerous one.

“Gwen?”

Erik must hate me! I tried to attack his mate. My heart sank and my bottom lip quivered. Tears threatened to escape, and I squeezed my eyes shut. What if Bridget doesn’t let me near Henry and Ava?

I sucked in a deep breath and a sob escaped me. My body went cold as tears streamed down my face.

“Gwen, talk to me.”

What if dad hadn’t been there? They’re going to kick me out, get rid of me! My vision blurred. My heart raced, and I wrapped my arms tighter around my legs. My chest shook with sobs, and I gasped for air.

“D*mn it, Gwen, if you don’t answer me, I’m going to your house to kick someone’s *ss!” He growled and my snapped attention to him. His eyes were still closed, but face was twisted with rage.

“No!” I shouted, knots twisting in my stomach. “It’s me! I did it, I started the fight, it’s my fault!” My chest heaved as I spoke. My words came out choppy, pained, too fast. My neck went soft, and I dropped my head on my knees.

My vision went in and out, and my head went fuzzy.

Warmth gripped my ankle. I flung my head up, meeting Jay’s green eyes. They were filled with worry and his mouth opened and closed. My ears rang, sharp and piercing.

“Gwen?” His grip around my ankle tightened. The ringing stopped, and I squeezed my arms tighter around my legs. “Can you hear me?”

I nodded yes.

“Deep breaths.” Our eyes locked, grounding me. His chest rose as he inhaled. I mimicked him, letting cool air fill my lungs. My breath was shaky as I released it. After a few breaths, my racing heart calmed.

“Tell me about the argument.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, clenched my jaw, and shook my head no. I could feel the metal hood crumpling beneath me. My dad’s screams as he’d tried to snap me out of it.

“How about before? What caused it?” His voice was low, calm, reassuring. His thumb stroked my ankle. It felt like I was floating in space, with his hand grounding me to earth. I let out another deep breath and opened my eyes, staring at the flowing river.

“Bridget’s been talking to Olivia about the shop. She tried to get it closed.” My voice caught in my throat and more tears threatened to escape.

“Bridget? Henry’s mother?”

“I tried to strangle her.” I blurted out.

“She seemed like a tw*t anyway. Probably had it coming.” He shrugged, like it was a fact.

“No one deserves that.” I glared at him and yanked my ankle away, but he held on.

“I have a long list of people who’ve deserved it.” His eyes narrowed. “You might be snippy, but I don’t take you as someone who enjoys hurting people. She must’ve done something severe to p*ss you off.”

“She thinks you’re some menace who goes around on k*lling sprees, yet I’m the one who attacked her! Over what, hurt feelings? Wishing the shop would burn down isn’t a reason to strangle someone!” I spat at him.

He leaned back and his eyes were wide. His mouth was partly open, his hand still around my ankle. He tilted his head, and a strange look crossed his face. My heart froze, and I sucked in a breath. Why am I yelling at him? It isn’t his fault.

“She wished your store would burn down?” He whispered.

I nodded yes.

“Of course you tried to attack her. She threatened your livelihood. Something you love.” He let out a strange grumble, a sound I’d never heard before. Like a weird, pleasant purring in his throat.

“I shouldn’t have done it. I didn’t mean to.” I scowled, and my shoulders dropped.

“Your wolf did it, then? Is Bridget one of those people you pretend to submit to?” He raised a brow at me, and I cringed, looking away from him. “Ah. No wonder she did it. You wolf might be able to pretend during normal conversation, but while you’re being threatened? Forget it.”

I scoffed and looked at the ground. My cheeks warmed, and I ripped chunks of grass from the ground.

“She should’ve contained herself.” I grumbled and tossed the grass.

“A wolf? Contain themself?” He let out a harsh laugh. “I’ve never seen such a thing. Not in a dominant wolf, at least.”

“Everyone has to control their wolf.” I glared at him, remembering everything my dad had taught me about dominant wolves.

“Of course, but there’s a time and place for it. Every wolf needs to have a release. A chance to have fun. Some wolves have s*x, others go hunting. Mine hunts *ssholes who like hurting people.” He raised a brow at me and tilted his head.

He stared at me intently, like he was waiting for me to respond.

A release? I ground my teeth together and tried to think.

“Embroidery helps.” I remembered the day my dad asked my mom to teach me. He’d said it would help control my wolfs ‘urges.’

“No. You embroider. I bake. We do things to keep our minds and hands busy. Helps us keep control. What does your wolf do?”

I scrunched my brows and pursed my lips. She causes problems. Makes me say things I don’t mean. Puts thoughts in my head. Rampages through the woods, k*lling everything in sight. My heart sank, and I frowned. Dad hunts when he’s upset. But he only catches one animal. And he eats it.

Lilith doesn’t even eat them.

“She hunts.” I whispered. He blinked at me, then slowly nodded.

“I’m surprised. I wouldn’t expect such a cute wolf to hunt for fun.” He grinned and his eyes lit up.

“Cute? She’s a terror!” I recoiled in shock, looking at him with wide eyes.

“A terror? Are we talking about the same wolf? The little thing I watched blow bubbles in the creek with her nose last night?” He raised his brows and stared at me. His gaze was intense, making my skin grow hot.

My face burned and my heart skipped a beat. Little? My mind blanked, and I stared at him. I wasn’t covered in blood this morning. I blinked at him, trying to collect my thoughts.

Did she not hunt last night?

I stared into his green eyes and sucked in a breath. Did he stop her somehow?

Relief washed over me, and I looked him over. He was watching me, giving me a soft, reassuring look. His eyes were droopy, like he was sleepy or in a haze. The corner of his lips tugged up into a dopey smile. Not like the smirks or sly smiles of before. He was soft, welcoming, genuine.

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. He froze against me, making a startled sound.