The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 68

“What?” Rhett blurted out. I let out a nervous laugh and shrugged.

“Yeah, she’s always been that big. It leads to some problems, you know? Your wolf was never that big?” I shrugged, my stomach twisting into knots.

“No!” Rhett leaned back, watching me with wide eyes.

I scowled, slumping my shoulders. The woman’s mouth hung open a bit, her eyes wide. Great. So my wolf really is some kind of freak. I pursed my lips, debating on how much more to tell them. Although I knew it was necessary to get help, telling people my most well-guarded secret felt odd. Like I was ripping my chest open, pointing to my organs, and asking them what was wrong with me.

And they looked at me like I’d just shown them some strange growth, or that I had gills. My fingers ached from squeezing my hands together.

“We’re not a freak.” Lilith growled in the back of my mind. But judging but the looks on everyone’s faces, we were.

“Would you mind if I wrote this down?” The woman asked, her brows raised. “I haven’t read anything about this, and it might be important to document it. For wolf history.”

What, like a record of the biggest wolf? The strangest wolf?

“Sure.” I shrugged.

“Don’t include her name in the documents.” Jay said, scowling. “Pepper is the shaman; she might be able to review records to any other documents instances of… large wolves.”

“Aright.”

The little girl, who’d still been at the counter, climbed off it. Her wooden chair scrapped against the ground, and she reached up, grabbing the ceramic bowl off the counter. She held it to her chest, making her way to the table. Long blonde hair framed her face, and her blue eyes were filled with determination.

Her tongue stuck out a bit as she strategically placed the bowl at the end of the table, between me and Pepper. After she sat down with us, she used her big wooden spoon to scoop fruit chunks into her mouth.

“Your eyes are pretty.” She said through a mouth full of fruit, pointing the spoon at me.

“Thank you.” My cheeks warmed. At least she isn’t afraid. And children are always so honest.

“This is Lily. It’s impolite to talk with our mouth full.” Pepper put her hand on Lily’s shoulder. Lily glared at her in response. She reminded me of Henry. “Would I be able to see you shift? It might be good to document accurate measurements.”

“Oh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I clenched my jaw, recalling the last time I’d shifted. Well, before I’d carried Jay back to his house after marking him. Neither times were very controlled.

“I’m in control.” Lilith huffed. “I’m not a wild animal.”

You act like it, doing things without thinking.

“I think.” She growled, making sure I knew how she’d made the choice not to swallow someone whole.

“Can I ride on your back?” Lily said through another mouthful. She blinked innocent blue eyes at me, and I almost said yes.

“Maybe another time.” I smiled at her and glanced at Pepper and Rhett. Neither of them seemed bothered by her request. They don’t even smell afraid of the idea. Sure, they were surprised at hearing my wolfs size, but they never smelt afraid.

I stiffed, realizing that they were completely calm. Whether that was due to me being Jay’s mate, and trusting me because of that, or if they were certain they could protect themselves, I couldn’t be sure. But the little family was calm, not even a hint of fear.

I blinked at them, letting the tension leave me. My stomach untwisted, and a weight I wasn’t aware of left my shoulders. Maybe that’s why Jay brought me here. I glanced up at him, and he gave me a soft, lazy grin.

“So, how did you learn to control your wolf?” I asked Rhett. He shrugged, and our eyes locked. Before I could look away, he glanced down at the floor, letting me ‘win’ the dominance challenge.

“I’m not really certain. When I was young, I ran around fighting whoever and whatever was out there. Let my wolf take out all their rage. It felt good, but it got lonely. Then I met Jay and Ansel, and we fought together. I guess I mellowed out over the years.” Rhett scrunched his brows, staring off into the distance.

Great. So, I’m supposed to run around fighting people? Letting my wolf do whatever she wants?

“Sounds fun.” Lilith rumbled.

“You became an Alpha, and then you calmed down.” Jay said, chuckling. He’s an Alpha and looked down first? My mind reeled, and realization hit me. I don’t have to pretend to be submissive anymore. I’d already known that, but seeing it happen, having someone look away without a second thought, was surprising.

Thrilling, even. He didn’t get mad. Didn’t try and challenge it. Is it because of me, or because I’m mated to Jay? It didn’t matter. I no longer had to hide in the corners of the room, slumping over, avoiding everyone’s eyes, pretending. I can just… exist. I grinned, beaming like an *diot.

“Pepper might have some books about it? After I shifted, my dad found me wandering the house at night with gold eyes. Said he’d wake up in the middle of the night rummaging through stuff, talking in one-word grunts. I guess it freaked him out, so he sent me to my sister, who was a shaman. She was supposed to help me.” He stopped, his body tense.

“She wasn’t able to?” I stared at Pepper, wondering why she’d be able to help me if the other shaman couldn’t help Rhett when he was a child.

“She died shortly after I moved in.” He whispered; his eyes glazed over.

“Oh. I’m sorry.” I cringed, wishing I could reverse time, and stop myself from asking. Pepper gave him an odd look before wrapping her arms around him and kissing him on top of his head.

“There has to be some books about it if he sent you to your sister. I’ll see what I can find.” Pepper said.

“I don’t if she actually knew what to do, or if he thought that was the only option. I was young and it was a long time ago.” Rhett glanced at Lily, and an odd tension filled the air. Like he wanted to say more but couldn’t.

“It’s all rather odd. You shifted as a child and were sent to a shaman. Then we have our first shaman in over a hundred years. And know we have another wolf whose shifted as a child, around the same age as our new shaman.” Jay’s creaked as he sat back and tapped his fingers on the wooden table. He titled his head like he was in deep thought, his brows scrunched together.

“Sounds like Fate.” Pepper stood up straight, with her hands on her hips. Jay slowly nodded.

“Or a coincidence?” I offered.

“I don’t believe in coincidences.” Jay’s voice was firm.

“But you believe in Fate?” I snorted at him. He raised his brows at me.

“I’m too old not to. And I’ve seen somethings.” He glanced at Pepper, who blushed. Jealousy flared in my chest, and I tampered it down. It’s nothing. She has a mate. That’s definitely not what he’s talking about.

“I’ll look and see what I can find in my books about children shifting. If it’s happened to two people, it’s happened to more.” Pepper nodded, as if she was already making a plan.

“I wish I could offer you more help. Maybe I could give some lessons on self-control? Anger management? Although, I think Jay has more experience teaching that. But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m all ears.” Rhett smiled at me.

I thanked him, and the conversation drifted to other things. It was nice not to be the center of attention. At least, it showed that the news of my wolf wasn’t too concerning. They also didn’t get the story of how Lilith had acted recently though.

My thoughts clung onto Jay’s observation. Does he think I’m some magical kind of wolf? Like the shaman? I blinked at her, talking about some meeting between the witches and the wolves. It sounded important, some signing of a new peace treaty. But I struggled to keep up, more concerned with the new prospect of my freakish wolf being divine.

No. The moon goddess isn’t even real. It’s some made up cr*p from old times. And even if she was, why would she be cruel enough to make me live in fear? To struggle as a child, have people be afraid of my wolf?

Soon enough, Jay finished discussing the details of the witch and wolf meeting, and we stood. After saying our final goodbye’s, we left back through the disturbing portal door, and left the pack house.