Page 39 of Wolf.e

“You’re either misunderstanding me, or not answering honestly,” Wolfe says with an all-knowing smirk as he pulls a bottle of whiskey over from the center of the table and pours some into my glass, then his own.

“How so?” I take a sip, needing something—anything—to take the edge off.

“When people who are important to you—your parents, your friends, a boyfriend perhaps, maybe a coworker—if they asked you to do something, something you don’t necessarily want to do. Something that would make them feel happy or more comfortable, but compromises what you want, would you say no? Or would you say yes, only because you think you should do what you’re told?”

I look up in his hypnotizing eyes, the candlelight reflecting off their silver flecks, and for some reason, I answer honestly.

“I would probably do it so I didn't disappoint them, but…” I start to defend myself. “That's what you should do for people you care about.”

“Maybe,” Wolfe says, picking up my unused knife and toying with the sharp tip against the table.

“Sometimes you can say yes to help out, I suppose. But if you always do it, you start to lose the person you are and you start living for them. You aren’t your true self anymore, you’re who they want you to be.”

“And your point is? I like being nice,” I retort, my glass of wine and half a glass of whiskey giving me a little fuel.

I lean back in my chair, cross my ankles and fold my hands in my lap. I watch his eyes follow my actions.

“When you knew I wanted you to come and sit here, you didn’t hesitate to deny me,” Wolfe says, angling the point of the knife against the rustic wood table, the light glints off the blade as he speaks. “You said no right away, even though I’m sure you understood that I wanted you to sit with me.” He sets the knife down and waits for me to answer.

I gulp and think for a moment, trying to grasp at what he’s getting at so I can get ahead of it.

“I don’t know you, I guess I don’t feel like I owe you anything,” I say boldly. Looking up from the discarded knife, I lift my chin.

Wolfe smirks, and his eyes never leave mine as he grips the bottom of my chair with both hands and pulls me to him in one swift motion. My breath hitches when our knees touch.

He leans forward and places his broad hands into my lap over both of mine, without looking away from my gaze he separates them, leaving them to rest against each thigh all on their own. Without thought I take a deeper breath.

“Or… maybe with me, you simply aren’t afraid to be yourself, even if that looks a little different than everyone else expects.”

I look down feeling flustered, then back up at him.

“Okay… so? Even if you’re right, what's in it for you if I am different from what people expect? Why do you care?” I ask, looking up at him then letting out what I really want to know.

“Why me?”

He smiles like he knows a secret I don’t. It seems he’s just about to say something as Jake taps him on the shoulder, muttering something low in his ear.

Wolfe nods at Jake but says nothing. I watch as Jake stands and nods to the door at Kai and Robby.

Wolfe looks back at me as if he’s thinking through his next words carefully then leans in. My heart beats thunderously and I wonder if that will ever not happen when he’s this close. He replaces his hands over mine and my stomach drops.

“I want to find out who Brinley Rose Beaumont is when, for once, she chooses herself. I want to be there when she finally lets herself be as wicked as she craves.”

I blink and my mouth falls open, registering how he knows my full name, not that I should be surprised. He said he knows everything about everyone, obviously that includes me. Wolfe lets go of my hands and stands as the crowd's chatter grows louder with the end of dinner. He looks down at me before leaving the room with most of his men.

Sean whispers something to Layla as the DJ starts some music up.

“He’ll be right back,” she says to me in explanation.

I nod, still processing that entire conversation.

Is he right? Am I not myself because I aim to make everyone else happy first?

Layla moves to pull me up to the dance floor, and instead of questioning my life’s existence, I pour myself another shot of whiskey from the bottle still in front of Wolfe’s seat, knock it back, and go with her. I wonder for a brief moment where half the club went in such a hurry. But just as quickly, I remind myself it’s not my business, this isn’t my world, I’m just visiting.

In order to force myself to forget how much I liked the thought of being called wicked, I start to dance with Layla and her girls and that’s how we spend the next two hours. The crowd is thick and Sean is in and out periodically to check on Layla and talk to guests. Dell even joins us as we dance to all our favorites.

I don’t see Wolfe or any of his men again aside from Sean, and by midnight I’m ready for some fresh air and some water. I grab a bottle from the bar and tell Layla I’ll be right back, just needing the cool breeze.

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