Huddersfield Town were sunk by former loan striker Benik Afobe's second-half double as they suffered a first defeat in four Championship games.
Kevin McDonald's classy finish gave Wolves a half-time advantage as the Scotland international bent a right-foot shot past keeper Jed Steer after 22 minutes.
The opener was tough on Town, who had started the Sky-televised game well, but the home side had by far the better of the second half.
Chris Powell kept an unchanged side for the third time, with skipper Mark Hudson back on the bench after an ankle injury.
Wolves had no place in their squad for Conor Coady, even though the former Town midfielder was available after a three-game suspension.
A neat diagonal pass by Emyr Huws set up Mustapha Carayol to cut inside and test Wolves keeper Emiliano Martinez early on.
Harry Bunn fired over when well placed, and Dean Whitehead was denied by Martinez before the home side struck.
McDonald advanced from halfway, played a one-two with James Henry and shot into the right-hand corner from 20 yards out.
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Ishmael Miller and Huws both had shots saved as Town tried unsuccessfully to get back on level terms before the break.
Wolves began the second half the stronger of the two sides and Henry headed across the face of goal and just wide before Steer made a fine save from Afobe.
But there was little the keeper could do to prevent the former Arsenal striker converting Adam Le Fondre's cross from close range after 65 minutes.
Le Fondre was then controversially yellow carded after going down under Steer's sliding challenge inside the penalty area.
Town's substitute Nahki Wells (on for Carayol) tested Martinez just after Powell brought on Jamie Paterson and Jonathan Hogg for Bunn and Huws.
Defender Joel Lynch also had a low drive saved by Martinez before Afobe latched onto McDonald's pass and stroked home his second after 87 minutes.
