By Hook or by Wolf

“Yep, I’m fine,” she says. “Okay, Mom, you can go with the other parents now. I can do this on my own.” She looks at me and gulps. I know she’s going to feel more confident when she doesn’t feel like I’m lurking nearby to watch her.

She doesn’t need me right now.

She’s got this.

I look at my daughter and all I see is her dad. All I see is her strength and her bravery and the fact that she’s incredible.

“Good luck, kiddo,” I give her a quick hug and then I take off, wandering down the aisles. I’m not offended at all that Rebecca was ready for me to leave. I’m proud of her. She’s been working really, really hard for this day and it’s finally here. She’s finally going to get to show off her incredible skills for the world to see.

I look at the other projects that the kids have made. They’ve worked their tails off to make these incredible projects that their parents will be proud of. I see moms and dads smiling at their kids and I’m filled with a sen

se of satisfaction.

I round the corner and see a display up ahead. It’s by one of the sponsors. The art show that’s being put on today is a way for kids from different schools in the area to come together and show off what they can do. Some of the kids will win prizes for their talent and others will win prizes for their creativity or forward thinking. Others will get notable mentions for being great team members. Everyone is going to walk away feeling proud of what they’ve accomplished and satisfied with what they’ve done.

Moving toward the display, I feel a sense of familiarity.

Why does this section seem familiar?

The table before me has paintings and a small sculpture that’s shaped like a wolf. Realization dawns on me and I tiny placard shows me what I already suspected. These items are part of the Claw family dynasty and were put on display by the Claw brothers themselves.

So they are going to be here today.

Fuck.

I feel a twinge in my core as I think about the three handsome brothers who caught me so off guard last month. Closing my eyes for just a moment, I think about how I felt when I stepped into their presence.

It was unnerving how strangely they affected me.

When I looked at them, my heartrate went through the roof. I felt alive and excited and aroused. Oh, I felt so damn turned on that it’s just wrong. No well-natured, well-rounded, well-groomed person should feel totally and completely horny just from looking at cute guys. The reality is that seeing those men turned my insides into hot, mushy goo. It’s a feeling that’s both exciting and entirely uncomfortable. I don’t know if I’m ready for more of that.

Opening my eyes once more, I look at the display ahead of me. It’s so beautiful. I recognize some of the items from their gallery. There’s a painting that, if I’m not mistaken, I pushed to the floor when I felt angry. There’s another set of sketches that show animals and humans living together. On one part of the table is a portrait of Emily. It’s the one from the jewel room: the picture I left alone.

She really is a lovely woman.

Perhaps I should apologize for my rudeness toward her that day when I returned the small paintings I’d stolen. I was definitely abrupt and over the top in my reaction to her, but I had been so angry to have her push me like that.

What had the point been, anyway?

I’d never found out.

I’d never found out what game she was playing with me or why she wanted me to rob her.

With a sigh, I realize I’ll likely never have answers. I turn around to go back and check on Rebecca when I run into a wall of muscle.

“Excuse me,” I mumble, and I try to move past the person, but he clears his throat and doesn’t move. I look up and see that it’s one of the brothers.

It’s Claw brother number three.

Trevor.

“It’s you,” I say.

“And it’s you,” he cocks his head to the side. “What are you doing here?”

I could ask him the same question, but for a brief minute, my mouth forgets how to work. Trevor seems slightly amused by the fact that my hands are on his chest and I’m just staring up at him.

Gawking.