The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 24

My stomach did flips. Why would she be looking for me? Guessing by the look on her face, whatever she wanted wasn’t good. I stared at the floor, hoping she would go away.

“That was a beautiful dress you made.” Her tone was snide, like she was spitting out the words.

“Thank you.” I mumbled. F*ck yeah it was.

“You know, I had my dress custom made three months ago for this event.” She swished her dress, motioning to it. “It’s impressive you made one so soon. Right after the meeting.” Her lips pulled into a harsh line, and she squinted at me.

Does she think I was spying on the meeting or something?

I looked her over, grinding my teeth together. I thought of how much Eleanor and Geneieve liked my dress. She’s just mad because she was proven wrong. She kept acting like my dresses are ugly, yet Geneive loved it.

F*ck her. I opened my mouth, ready to tell her off. To shout at her, put her in her place. But I snapped it shut and glared at the floor.

The shop might not be in jeopardy now, but she’s still the Beta’s mate.

“I made the dress months ago, before my family moved. I only thought Eleanor would like it.” I said to the floor, trying to make myself look small. I played all the times my family had to move because of me through my mind, using it to force myself to submit to her.

Olivia growled at me, inching closer. I could feel her eyes on me. Waiting for me to crack. Don’t let her win. Just keep pretending and you’ll be fine.

“I think women like you are disgusting. Using Eleanor to get to Luna Genevieve, trying to climb up in the pack using others.” She hissed. Shock went through me, and I recoiled, blinking up at her.

“What are you-“

“I’m not done!” She shouted, cutting me off. I tensed and bit my tongue.

I stared back down at the floor and clenched my jaw shut. Just be a good submissive wolf, Gwen.

“I hear Jay went to your house recently.” Her tone was sharp, but quiet. Threatening.

“I didn’t invite him.” I tried to keep my voice low and calm.

“But you let him in?”

“My dad invited him.”

“You’re f*cking him, aren’t you?” She whispered, staring me down.

“What? No, absolutely not!” I shouted and my cheeks warmed.

“I heard that you were friendly with him when he went to your house. Flirty even.” She scowled at me. How would she know something like that? My stomach twisted in knots and my heart raced.

“Did Bridget tell you that?” I whispered. How could she! She’s family, she’s going around talking about me to someone who obviously hates me?

“You’re not even denying it?” Olivia stood up straight and scoffed at me.

“Who I’m friendly with is none of your business!” I growled, clenching my fists at my sides, forcing myself to stare at the floor.

“So you are f*cking him! Didn’t I warn you to stay away from him? He’s a dangerous, repulsive man who m*rder’s people!” She snarled at me.

“He isn’t dangerous! He doesn’t m*rder people; he’s protecting the pack!” I snarled back, staring her in the eyes.

Rage flashed in her eyes, and her face twisted in hideous anger.

“How dare you talk back to me! Shut your mouth!”

Her words were an order, a direct command.

“Hit her! Rip out her hair!” Lilith screamed at the back of my mind, clawing to take control. I thought about it, envisioning punching her, slamming her head into a wall. Making her bleed, making her pay for what she’s said.

Stop! You’ll only make things worse!

“Put her in her place! She thinks she’s more dominant than us!” Lilith snapped, begging.

She can’t know! She already thinks I am; that’s what got me into this mess!

I sucked in a breath and lowered my eyes; staring at her feet. I shook, fighting to keep my hands at my side. Everything in me wanted to make her pay, but I couldn’t.

Images flashed in my head. Of Olivia bleeding. Her head being bashed into the ground by my own hands.

Lilith practically squealed for joy, clawing at me, trying to get out.

Stop it! I squeezed my hands together, digging my nails in my palms. I forced her down, into the depths of my mind.

I can’t have another incident. I can’t make us move again. I repeated the thoughts in my mind, playing all the memories over in my head. Of my dad finding out I’d fought another Alpha. That they’d learned of Lilith.

That she was out of control. Rampaging. K*lling everything in the woods. I can’t let Olivia win. She can’t find out about Lilith.

I sucked in a slow breath, preparing myself for the torture of forcing myself to submit to Olivia.

“See? You’re just going through Jay, and now the Luna, to climb the ranks of the pack. You don’t deserve the higher rank. How disgusting of you to take advantage of others like that. A useless submissive should know their place in the pack.” Olivia snarled, whispering to me, getting closer.

She was inches away and I squeezed my fists so tight I waited to feel hot, sticky blood on my fingers. I watched her throat from the edge of my vision, while keeping my eyes focused on the floor. She’s almost done. She’ll leave me alone soon.

But all I wanted was to reach up and dig my fingers into her throat and feel her blood drip down my hands.

“This pack has an image to uphold. We’re the top pack in the entire country! Your behavior is ruining our image.” Olivia spat and I flinched as drops of her spit got on my face.

The door to the room swung open, slamming against the wall. Olivia looked up and her face paled.

“You’re awfully concerned about the pack image for someone behaving like a spoiled brat, Olivia.” Jay said.

I tensed, looking up at him. What the h*ll is he doing here?

Olivia backed up and glared at him. “You can’t speak to me like that.” She jutted out her chin and straightened her back.

“Really? I think you ought to remember your position in the pack.” Jay’s face was dark as he scowled at her. His voice was low, calm, and threatening. He strode with confidence, staring her down, tilting his head at her. His hands were shoved in his pockets, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Like he wasn’t bothered or threatened by the idea of a fight. No wonder people are scared of him.

“I’m the Beta’s mate! I haven’t done anything wrong!” Olivia shouted in a high-pitched voice, with a hint of fear.

Jay threw back his head and laughed, loud and sinister. He gave her a big smile, showing off all his teeth. It was menacing, ominous, like he was promising her something. Tingles ran up my spine, and my heart raced.

“Then you must’ve forgotten the rules.” He whispered and stepped closer. Olivia’s face paled, and she stepped back, eyeing the only door which Jay was in the way of.

The door opened, and Beta Liam came in. Jay didn’t bother to turn around and look at him.

“Stop threatening my mate!” Liam growled, puffing out his chest like he was readying himself to fight Jay.

Liam went up to him and put his hands out like he was going to shove Jay. But Jay let out a deep growl, and Liam flinched.

“This isn’t an argument you’re going to win, Liam. Stay out of it.” Jay snapped.

“If you have a problem with my mate, you come talk to me!” Liam bristled.

“Are you aware your mate is ab*sing her position?”

“She wouldn’t; you’re full of sh*t!”

“Then why have I heard from multiple sources that she’s been ordering people not to go to a pack member’s business?”

“She wouldn’t do that!” Liam snarled.

“Then how about her calling submissive wolves ‘useless’? I’m sure you were close enough to hear that.” Jay stared down at Liam, who choked on his words, glancing at Olivia.

“It’s disgusting what she’s doing! Sleeping around to get higher up in the pack, to get favors!” Olivia shouted at Jay. He let out a deep growl, making her cower.

“That’s exactly what you’ve done, isn’t it? You wouldn’t have the rank you do if you hadn’t slept with and mated with Liam!” He shouted, and they both flinched.

“That’s different! I’m Liam’s mate!” She snapped back but looked at the ground.

“It doesn’t matter! Sleeping with other wolves, whether to climb up in rank or not, isn’t against the rules!” He got closer to her, towering over her, and she shook. “But what is against the rules is ordering pack members not to sleep with certain people!” His voice boomed through the room.

“I didn’t!” She cried out.

“Yes you did, I heard it! You’re lying!”

“It wasn’t an order!”

“It doesn’t matter! A suggestion is enough to influence a submissive’s actions!”

“What’s the big deal? I’m protecting pack members from men like you!” She spat in his face.

“You could be blocking people from finding their mate!” He shouted, and their faces went pale. Liam looked like wind could’ve blown him over, and Olivia stammered, blinking at Jay. “I’m sure even someone as ignorant as you can figure out the consequence for that.” Jay whispered, leaning in.

Death.

My heart raced, and I sucked in a breath.

Anything involving mates was sacred. Blocking wolves from finding their mate was considered the worst crime a wolf could do and resulted in death.

I’d never heard of it happening, except in old stories, before Alpha Ansel had unified the packs in America, and created a set of rules for everyone to follow.

Jay turned to Beta Liam. “This is a warning. If you’d like to remain Beta, I suggest you go reeducate your mate on the rules of the pack and convince her to stop ab*sing her power and pack members. Next time, our conversation won’t be so friendly.”

Liam nodded and held his arm out, and Olivia took it. They raced out of the room and ran down the hall.

Jay’s face and body relaxed, like he took off a mask. He became soft, welcoming, and stared at the floor. Like it had all been some kind of act. He stayed where he was, leaning away, with his hands at his sides, like he was trying to be nonthreatening.

He was quiet for a moment, and I regained my composure. My heart steadied and my hands stopped shaking. Anger bubbled in my chest and I glared at him.

“I’m sorry you had to see that. I’ll go, but-“

“What’s wrong with you! She was almost done; she would’ve left me alone! Now she’ll hate me even more!” I growled and stomped over to him.

“What?” His eyes went wide, and he raised his brows at me.

“She would’ve worn herself out with all that yelling, and then things would’ve been normal! She would’ve forgotten about me, but you’ve just confirmed her point! Now she’s really going to think I’m using you to get higher in the pack!” I put my hands on my hips and glared up at him.

“You’re not scared? At all? After seeing me talk to them like that? I threatened to k*ll them, and your… fine with it?” He motioned to where they’d been standing and gave me a bewildered look.

“I don’t want them to die, but that’s not my business! I’m not a leader in the pack. They were breaking the rules; Olivia needed to learn a lesson! But you could’ve waited till after she was done yelling at me! At least then she’d think it was a you problem, now she’s going to think I’m the reason she got in trouble!” I poked him in the chest as I said it, snarling at him.

He stood there, staring at me with a shocked expression, his eyebrows lifted up and his mouth slightly open.

Then his brows lowered, scrunching together, and his lips pressed into a hard line, and he leaned in.

“Olivia didn’t release you from her command.” He whispered, and my blood ran cold.

“What?” Sh*t.

“I was about to release you from her command, but you interrupted me before I got a chance.”

“What’re you talking about?” How could I be so careless?

“She told you to keep your mouth shut. It was an order.”

“No! She, uh… I, uh, it broke when she left the room!”

“That’s a lie.” He squinted and looked me up and down. “Are you pretending to be-“

I slapped my hands over his mouth and shushed him. He tensed and lifted his brows, and I let out a nervous laugh. Glancing around the room, I searched for somewhere quiet where others in the house wouldn’t be able to hear us talk.

A closet door was nearby. I balled up his shirt in my hand, dragged him across the room, opened the door, and shoved him in. He made a ‘oof’ sound and thudded against a wall. I scrambled into the closet with him and shut the door.