The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 8

As I got closer, my fuel tank showed it was empty. Grumbling to myself, I pulled into the mini gas station that was on the way home. It only had two run down pumps, and a little store.

Light from inside illuminated the parking lot. My truck’s poor suspension squealed as I pulled in. The parking lot needed potholes filled, but the store didn’t get many customers. Only pack members ever came this way.

I went inside and swung open the refrigerator door. Cases of beer stared back at me, taunting me.

But the whole way here, I’d tried to recall the woman’s scent, hoping it would give me some kind of clue. My nose had been too clogged with whiskey; the lack of recall left me like a hound stuck at the end of a trail. It had taken all my willpower not to pull over and follow her into the night, just to get her scent.

I slammed the door shut and grabbed chemically engineered, addicting snack foods, and went to the refrigerator. I grabbed for a case of beer, but hesitated. I thought of the women, and her scent, and closed the door. I went up to the register, plopping my things on the counter. A car pulled up at the other pump, shining its headlights into the store. They flicked off, and the door slammed shut.

“Long day, huh?” The man at the register asked.

“Do I still have a mark on my face?”

He paused and squinted at my face. “I don’t see anything.” He shrugged and scanned items, making annoying little beeps.

The little bell above the door rang as someone came inside, whistling a happy tune. The cashier and I stared at the man.

He stopped and gave us a friendly little wave before going down the aisles. His scent told me he was new to the pack, but my nose was still too fuzzy to gather anything else.

He grabbed a few things and stood a tad too close to me while waiting in line. I glared at him, but the man didn’t seem to notice as he looked over the items in his hands. He continued whistling, bobbing up and down on the heels of his feet.

“You’re new here.” I said in a low voice. Get away from me. The cashier grimaced and the sound of beeping speed up as he scanned faster.

“Aye! My family and I just moved here, to 28 Willow Lane. It’s a lovely pack, beautiful scenery!” The man grinned at me. “Names Keegan.” The man’s voice was thick with an Irish accent.

“Welcome to the Woods Bay Pack.” I said dryly.

The silence was awkward between the three of us, but I didn’t mind.

“Isn’t that the house right next to yours that was for sale?” The cashier asked, and I shot him a hateful look. He flinched and pressed some buttons on the register. “That’s $44.79”

I pulled out my card and shoved it into the reader.

“We’re neighbors, then? I thought I’d recognized that truck! My family’s having a BBQ this weekend; you should come by.” The man, Keegan, grinned from ear to ear.

He was stout, with a barrel chest and wide arms. A powerhouse and someone I’d want on my side in a fight. His long blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and he had a matching beard. Sharp blue eyes watched me, and he had a few scars lining his plump face.

“No thank you.” The card reader told me my payment was accepted, so I grabbed my things and went out to my car. I tossed them in and began pumping my gas.

The old gas pump took forever, and I groaned as the man joined me outside. He tossed his things in his light blue minivan and gravel crunched as he walked over to me. Go away. I frowned at the pump as it told me my car wasn’t even a quarter way filled.

“You look familiar to some stories I’ve heard. You wouldn’t happen to have helped with the dealings of the witches recently, would you?” He stood close to me, his breath was visible in the cold midnight air.

“Yes.” I grumbled. Take a hint.

“You’re the fella that deals with the Fae, aren’t you?” He grinned again and his eyes beamed.

“Yes.” Great. Now he’ll never leave me alone.

He patted me on the back twice and laughed. I froze, tensing my muscles. My eyes felt like they would pop out of my head. Is something wrong with me? What’s with these new pack members touching me?

“Then you have to come to dinner! It would be an honor, please, let us celebrate what you did for us! I’m very thankful we didn’t have to have an all-out war; I was worried for my family.”

“You’re welcome.” Was all I managed to get out. He’s thanking me? I couldn’t remember the last time someone had thanked me for my actions for the pack. “It wasn’t all me, though.”

“Yes, the shaman, of course, but she isn’t around for me to thank. Private information and such. Besides, we’re neighbors; let us be neighborly!” He waved his hands in the air in an excited manner.

I stared at the man, who gave me a warm, sincere smile, completely unthreatened. He doesn’t even smell afraid.

Am I losing my touch?

I opened my mouth to say no, but caught myself. Would it be so bad to be celebrated for once? Or at least not hated? If anything, maybe Ansel will stop yelling at me for ‘always pushing people away’. I pictured Ansel, perhaps my last living friend, and how angry he’d been tonight.

“Who could say no to such a warm welcome?” I gave the blonde man a forced smile.

He gave me more instructions before we went our separate ways.

Gwen

Blood dripped down my front as I stumbled through the pine needle littered forest. The night air burned against my raw skin. My legs ached, wobbling underneath me. My mouth tasted of iron and my hair was a matted, bloody mess.

I walked under the swishing pines and an owl hooted nearby. I’d turned back into a human a while ago, but I couldn’t remember when. I never remembered what happened during incidents. I only saw the aftermath. I stepped out from below the pines and into my family’s backyard. The lush green grass was soft on my feet compared to the forest floor, and I sighed.

Coming home had taken all my strength, leaving me empty and numb. I blinked heavy eyelids and focused on getting inside.

I knew my wolf had gone hunting. Deer, rabbits, whatever crossed her path, she killed it. Most wolves hunted for food, but mine hunted for the thrill. Led by blood lust, she hunted through the night, leaving behind uneaten prey.

The house my family had recently moved into had an outdoor shower. I climbed in and turned the knob. Ice cold water poured over me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I shivered and quickly scrubbed away the blood. It was hot and sticky and mixed with clumps of fur and flesh.

I opened my mouth and gurgled water to remove the iron taste. But even after I’d washed my body, face, and hair, the scent of blood clung to me.

Turning off the water, I dashed inside.

The back entrance opened to a mudroom, where our washer and dryer lived, along with a cabinet of spare clothes. I dried off; my teeth chattered as I shivered.

Headlights lit up the hallway, and I cringed. Who is that? All I wanted was to lie in bed and lick my wounds. The car door slammed, and I recognized my dad’s heavy footsteps.

Great. Now I get to tell him about how I just made an embarrassment out of myself in front of the pack.

I grabbed a shirt and gray sweatpants and pulled them on. The front door opened as I dried my hair. My dad whistled a tune from his childhood. And now I get to ruin his good mood. I sighed and nearly sank to the floor.

But that would be even worse. I straightened my spine, dropped the towel in a laundry basket, and met him in the kitchen. He dumped a bag onto the counter, filled with snack foods.

“Quinn told your mom and I what happened. Figured you might need this.” He held up my favorite bag of cheesy puff chips. His accent made it sound like he was always talking in a sing-song tone.

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled, staring at the bag in his hand, my shoulders hunched.

I walked past him, dragging my feet into the living room. Great. Everyone knows about the mess I made. His face fell after a moment of silence.

“We knew there’d be bumps along the way. That’s why we picked a house with so much property, remember?” He dropped his hand holding the bag of chips to his side and frowned.

“This isn’t just a bump. He was dominant. Really dominant. And…” I frowned at the floor, grinding my teeth together. “I had a blunder with the Beta’s mate. I didn’t know that’s what she is, so I didn’t bow.”

My dad’s face scrunched up, and he ran his hand over his beard.

“We talked about this. You have to bow to everyone when joining a pack.” My dad sighed. “Did you apologize to the Beta’s mate?”

I nodded yes.

“Quinn said the man deserved the slap. Said he was being a bit… direct. Even a submissive could slap a higher up if it was for a worthy reason. Things’ll be fine.” He smiled at me, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

The scent of his fear permeated the air. I knew his worries; they mimicked my own. That things would go back to how they used to be. That we’d have to move again, get away from our pack. Or that we’d have to fight through the night, him keeping my wolf from attacking people. All because I couldn’t control her.

My stomach twisted into knots and I sank onto the couch. My heart ached at the thought, and my stomach was in my throat.

“Come now, love.” He whispered and sat next to me. “It’ll work out. Chips?” He shook the bag at me. I snatched them from him and tore them open.

“I thought I could handle it.” I shoved chips in my mouth, pulled my legs up to my chest, and leaned my head on his shoulder. His scent was comforting, like fresh earth after rain. Tears ran down my cheeks as I munched.