The Wolf in Sheep's Skin

Chapter 17

Jay stood in our doorway, with his hand raised like he was about to knock. He dropped his hand and smiled at my mom, giving her a little bow. He wore a casual sage green button-down shirt, blue jeans, and brown work boots. His hair was tamed, and his face was freshly shaven.

“Come in, come in!” She scooted back, giving him room. Dad was next to her, grinning from ear to ear. They both looked like they could jump with excitement. My hands shook as he came inside, and I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t shout at him to leave.

“Thank you for inviting me. I wasn’t sure what to bring but couldn’t come empty-handed. My lemon tree did well this year, so I made lemon bars.” He offered a large tray to my mom, who gasped.

“Oh, that wasn’t necessary! They smell delightful!” She fawned.

“I hope there’s enough. I wasn’t sure how big your family is.” He scanned across the room full of kids. Our eyes locked, and a look of shock came over his face before he smothered it. The corners of his lips tugged up in a sly smile before he returned his focus on my mom.

My cheeks warmed, and I bristled, grinding my teeth together.

“I’m sure there’ll be enough; you’ve brought plenty!”

“I brought this as well.” He held out a bottle of wine, label up. My mom and dad oohed and aahed, and he took it from him.

“That’s a good one! We can’t accept this.” My dad tried handing it back, but Jay put his hands up.

“No, please, I insist. Consider it a token of friendship. I hope we can be good neighbors.” His eyes darted to me, and hot, fiery rage burned in my stomach. I wanted to stomp my feet, to scream, to throw the flowers at him, or even better, to shove him out the door and slam it in his face.

But I stood there, squeezing the flowers so tight their life-giving liquid flowed down my hands.

“Well, I can’t say no to that, now, can I?” Dad laughed and inspected the bottle in his hands. “Why don’t you join me outback; everyone’s dying to meet you!”

Everyone shuffled around in the room, and I stormed out to where the trash can was. It was in our pantry, tucked behind the kitchen. I tossed the now dead wilted flowers and snarled at them. That’s him? Jay is the man from the stories? There’s no way that’s possible!

How could he invite him here? I wanted to shout at my dad, but I knew he couldn’t have done it on purpose. My dad was too kind to have invited Jay if he knew who he was.

Jay is a jerk, but he knows the game well. He’d done everything right so far. Giving gifts, bowing to them, he’d been nothing but be respectful. They’re eating out of the palms of his hands; they don’t even see what a d*ck he is! I growled again and glared at the dead flowers, wishing I could run out and clock him in the head with his st*pid fancy wine.

Ice clinked in a glass next to me, and I jumped. Maeve was leaning in the doorway, with a glass of pink sangria in her hand. A coy, knowing smile was on her face.

“I love family cookouts. Always so much drama.” She flashed a big grin and laughed.

“This isn’t funny, Maeve!” I hissed under my breath.

“It really is, though.”

“I promised myself I wouldn’t talk to him anymore!” That arrogant, good-for-nothing jerk doesn’t deserve anymore of my time!

“That’s gonna be difficult. Mom wants us to go outback and introduce ourselves.”

“What? No!” My heart raced at the thought. What he’d said played through my mind, and my cheeks got red hot.

“Are you going to avoid him forever? Pack events are going to be a challenge.”

“How am I supposed to talk to him after what he said?” I hissed at her. She walked into the room, closer to me, and looked behind her. Kids screamed in the distance, and mom and Bridget were in the kitchen talking.

“If it were me, I’d tell him to get on his knees, but you do you.” She whispered and shrugged.

“Maeve!” I gaped at her, and she laughed.

“Girls! Are you two going to gab in here the entire time?” Mom shouted from the kitchen and stomped towards us, stopping in the doorway. “We have a special guest; go introduce yourselves.” She motioned in the direction of the backyard.

“I have to go get more flowers.” I pointed at the flowers I’d k*lled. Mom waved her hand at me.

“Nonsense; forget about the flowers. Be polite; I’m sure he doesn’t want to be pestered by your father’s questions all day. Or by all the kids.” She laughed at herself, like she’d made a joke. “And he seems like a catch, doesn’t he?” She leaned in and whispered with a big grin on her face.

Maeve giggled and glanced at me, and I frowned at her. Mom moved out of the doorway and motioned for us to follow her. We went past the kitchen, and I quickly washed the green liquid from the flowers off my hands. Everyone was gone from inside the house. The kitchen counters had been cleaned up, except for the basket of carrots by the sink, and trays of desserts mom had spent the night making.

“Hurry, Gwen. Stop dawdling.” Mom said, staring down the hall towards the laundry room. I debated on telling her, but repeating what he’d said to my mother sounded like torture.

“Coming.” I dried my hands and followed her, dragging my feet.

We made it to the laundry room, and she turned to me. “Take off your apron, dear.” She reached for the strings behind my back, and I swatted her hands away.

“I’m leaving it on.” It was stained and had dirt on it from when I’d gone out to the garden.

“What’s gotten into you?” She leaned back with a shocked look on her face. Olivia’s words rang through my mind. Do I tell her what Olivia said? Is it wrong to keep it to myself?

He can’t be going on rampages on k*lling people; how would Alpha Ansel allow that? Plus, I’m here.

Lilith slithered in the back of my mind.

I pulled the apron off, tossed it into a laundry basket, and followed my mom outside.

The air outside was cool, crisp, and refreshing, but the pleasure it brought was short-lived. Dad had a big barbeque, with a smoker and all kinds of fancy add-ons.

Dad, Erik, Bridget, Quinn, and Jay were standing near it. Kids came and went, running around the yard, playing tag.

I dragged my feet as we went into the grass; the lush greenery was soft on my bare feet. Maeve and mom were ahead of me, and I tried my best to keep my face neutral.

D*mn j*rk, coming here, ruining a perfectly good barbeque. I was looking forward to the meat, too.

Dad was behind the barbeque, and Bridget was near Erik, and Erik was next to Jay, animatedly talking, flailing his arms around in the air. Mom and Maeve arranged themselves, making it so the only spot left was next to Jay.

I stopped next to him, and he lifted a glass up to his lips, raising a brow at me. I stifled a growl and watched dad man the barbeque.

“Is it true, though? What they say?” Erik asked, leaning in like some drooling fan.

“People say a lot of things about me. You’re going to have to be more specific.” Jay said in a bored tone.

“You come and go to the Fae’s world as you please?”

“To the Otherworld? Sure, I suppose.” Jay shrugged and sipped his drink.

“How do you do it? They’re dangerous; dad always told us they like to keep people. Like pets.” Erik glanced at dad who was watching Jay with focused determination. Jay paused for a moment and tilted his head. His throat rumbled, an oddly pleasant sound. He stared off into the distance like he was in deep thought.

I tried to scoot away from him but bumped into mom. She smiled at me, nodding at Jay, and elbowed me in the ribs.

Even standing as close to her as possible, Jay was too close for comfort. If his hand wasn’t busy holding up a drink, and my arms weren’t crossed, we would’ve brushed hands.

I scowled at the thought, and clenched my fists, stopping myself from knocking his drink from his hand.

“The Fae are old, older than we can fathom. Generally, they’re bored. All they really want is entertainment.” He shrugged, and Erik’s face twisted.

“But isn’t that why they keep people? For entertainment?” Dad asked.

“You make it more entertaining for them to let you go. Or you make yourself a problem, and they don’t want to keep you anymore.” Jay smiled, like he’d said some kind of inside joke, and sipped his drink.

Everyone glanced at each other, and the stories our old Alpha played through my head again. When I was little, they’d been heroic tales, but as I got older, more adult themed details slipped out.

“I don’t think you’ve been introduced to everyone yet.” Mom said and introduced Jay to everyone else. “And this is Maeve and Gwen.” She motioned to us, smiling at Jay.

“Thank you, I’m Jay.” He nodded, and did a little bow to Maeve, who returned the gesture. He turned to me with a smirk. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Gwendolyn.” His eyes met mine. They sparkled, and his smirk grew.

“The feeling isn’t mutual.” I snapped, turned to my dad, and scowled.

“Don’t be rude, dear. Where are your manners?” My mom gasped and pointed a finger at me. “Apologize, Jay is our guest!”

Me? Apologize? I uncrossed my arms and balled my fists at my side and shot him a hateful look.

His eyes went wide, and he leaned away from me. “That isn’t necessary-“

“Is it true you f*cked a dragon?” I spat out before I could stop myself. His lips parted, and he blinked at me. Everyone gasped around us, and mom swatted my shoulder.

“Gwendolyn Grace O’Neill, that’s highly inappropriate!” My mom shouted at me. Everyone was watching me with looks of shock, but I stared at Jay.

He cleared his throat and stood up straight. “I can’t say I have, and I’m certain I would remember something like that.” He murmured. He was tense, holding his drink up, like he was blocking himself from a blow.

I huffed and turned to my mom. “I’m going to go cut up the carrots.” I snarled. My hands shook, and it took all my willpower not to shout at Jay more.

“Carrots? What carrots?” My mom gave me a befuddled look.

“The carrots you had me pick from the garden!” I stormed off before she could argue, slamming the door behind me.