Shirley
All at once, my dirty thoughts from the afternoon seem to trickle back into my mind, and I find myself squirming again, pressing my thighs together. But I realize my reaction is a mistake as it catches Keith’s attention, drawing his stare to my exposed skin that only makes me hotter.
And then his eyes begin to slowly raise back up, and I watch as his lips begin to part. However, it’s not his voice that soon meets the room, but the distant sound of a phone ringing. My phone.
Jean. She’s calling.
Stumbling over myself, I stand from the chair, clearing my throat.
“I should go take that,” I tell him, and he watches me as I adjust my nightgown. His stare is still heated, but thankfully it has become a little tamer.
Without another word, Keith hands me back my book and I leave the room, trying not to focus on
ShirleyHe couldn’t be…could he?My head is still reeling with the thought, feeling dizzied by the possibility as Keith and I finally sit in the car and buckle our seatbelts.I’m questioning it, trying to make myself believe that I’m mistaken and something else must have set Keith off. But it’s becoming harder to ignore my suspicions as he aggressively throws the car in drive and speeds away from the estate.There’s a buzzing silence between us that’s not even filled by the ambient sound of the radio as Keith has already turned it off. I assume that every mile we put between us and the party that his mood would get better, but it doesn’t. He only grips the steering wheel harder, keeps his angry stare on the road.Finally, I can’t hold my tongue any longer.“What’s wrong?” I ask,
ShirleyI wait. I wait for Keith to cross that last inch, to bring his lips to mine. I feel like his prey, but for some reason I’m willingly defenseless and ready for him to take control.His hand on my cheek tilts my chin a little and then I know his lips are almost again mine. I feel that flutter in my lashes as they long to close, to submit so Keith can take over.But they never fully close. Instead, they remain open as I hear his voice.“Go inside,” he states.It’s laced with lust, mirroring whatever desire I’m feeling. And yet his words were a perfect contradiction to the emotion, causing me to draw back an inch as Keith does the same. I’m left looking up into his golden eyes, my throat growing tight and dry as I see the intensity behind them.“Go inside,” he repeats.
ShirleyThe next two days seem to fly by as the team is busy working on their own necessary tasks. Even I barely remember to take a moment to eat as I stay glued to my computer, typing away furiously to do my part.And I hardly see Keith. In fact, I only really saw him once and it was from behind as his back had been turned to me and he’d been on the phone. I’d made sure to soundlessly move into the next room so I wouldn’t disturb him.When the morning of Thanksgiving arrives, I find myself waking up early and almost immediately leaving the house. I have a few errands to run for the day, including trying to see if the post office is open so I can redirect a few of Jean’s old packages that were apparently being held.Warren doesn’t seem too bothered to be working on the holiday as he drives me anywhere I need to go. However, I also try to sweeten him up more when
ShirleyThere’s no way this is happening. I’m dumbfounded as I stare at Keith’s mother, seeing she has the same golden gaze that is currently widened with bewilderment as she blinks at Keith and me.I know how this looks to her - it looks bad. Well, actually it isn't necessarily bad, but she’s probably getting the wrong idea from this scene. Keith and I both dressed up, sharing Thanksgiving alone? Again, it looks intimate and there’s probably a million thoughts swirling around in her head.“What are you doing here?” Keith finally asks calmly, getting up from the table. He goes to his mother, giving her a simple hug as she begins to bounce back a little. She embraces her son, giving him her attention as I also stand.“We were trying to surprise you,” his mother confesses. “We didn’t want you to be alone for Thanksgiving, but it seems that’s not an issue.”She looks at me again, but her gaze isn’t cruel and neither was her tone. It’s clear that she isn’t bothered by my being there, maki
ShirleyI’m not sure what to do with myself. I woke up this morning, overwhelmingly aware of Keith’s parents being here as the house sounded more lively than usual. It’s not that I don’t want to see them - I actually think they’re lovely people. However, I’m not sure how to face them.They think Keith and I are together. I don’t know how to proceed, how to navigate this whole thing. Part of me wishes I could talk to Keith about everything, but I didn’t have the chance last night and I haven’t heard his voice from beyond the door this morning.So I’ve kept myself cooped up in here for hours, working away on my computer as I try to keep myself at ease. Only, I find myself losing focus any time I hear any noise or my mind slips back to the previous night. I wonder what Keith said to them when I’d left…whether he admitted the truth or just pushed it off. Maybe he didn’t have the heart to tell them they were wrong - I don’t think I would.It all has me in quite a daze, leaving me to try an
ShirleyKeith: Well, my bed is more than big enough for two. If you ever change your mind. That’s the last text Keith sent last night. The one I’d missed as I fell asleep, and I’m in shock as I read over the words for the fifth time this morning.Did he actually say that? Had he just been as tired as I was and spewing nonsense? Because that seems very blatantly flirty to me.But maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s all in good fun - just like my messages were - and I need to relax. After all, Keith and both know that nothing would ever happen between us, so this is all just nonsense.That’s what I keep telling myself anyway as I get ready for the day. And I’m still telling it to myself as I leave my room before I head into the kitchen.And then I find the exact wolf who’d just been at the center of my thoughts. However, he’s not the only one sitting at the table with a beautiful breakfast spread laid out. No, there’s at least a dozen other wolves gathered around.I begin to question how I hadn
ShirleyThe sight of Ralph’s smile makes me instantly forget that I have to pee and nearly causes a shiver to slide down my back.It has been over a week since I’ve seen him, which almost made me forget about his disdain for me…for Anya. But based on the look on his face, I can tell that hate hasn’t faded - it may have even grown.“Do you need something?” I finally bring myself to ask, my grip tightening on my phone. It’s still open to my text thread with Keith, oddly making me thankful that I could hit call if necessary. But why do I feel like I may need to?“Just checking on you,” Ralph says, his smug smile growing. “I see you’ve made some friends.”He glances over my shoulder, causing me to turn and do the same as I see the distracted wolves in my party.“If that’s what you want to call it,” I reply as I turn back to him.Ralph hums, the sound only adding to my discomfort as I try not to grimace. But I still grow more rigid as I frown.“Guess it’s nice to have people to keep you co
ShirleyKeith’s tone makes me feel as though I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t have. Like I’m a teenager who just snuck in after fooling around with my boyfriend all night. I pause in the doorway as I stare at him, studying how his solid features are held tight.I can already tell Keith is ready to pick a fight, which causes a sudden annoyance to begin to trickle into my veins.“Why does it matter?” I ask him.“Warren can drive you home,” Keith tosses back.“It’s two in the morning,” I counter. “I didn’t want to bug him.”“That’s what he’s there for,” the Alpha states. “That’s his job.”In turn, I huff. “Well, excuse me for trying to be polite.”But Keith doesn’t care. He’s too wound up as he stands from where he’s seated.“Your ‘politeness’ put you in danger,” he says then. “You were being careless.”“Careless?” I ask with a scoff. “Because I took a ride from someone who offered?”“You hardly know him,” Keith tries. “What if he had brought you back to his place? Or drove o
ShirleyRalph.Ralph did this. He took his own crimes and tried to save himself by making a counter strike and pinning them on Keith.This isn’t over. It’s far from over.And the Alpha King is unable to help me now unless I can provide evidence. Which is exactly what I plan to do. But first, I need to get Keith released.I called the police department following my conversation with the King. He’d been right - Keith’s bail was absurdly high and would need to be paid immediately. Though paying it won’t clear his name completely - it will at least be a first step among plenty.I’ve already talked with Arthur too. Unfortunately, I don’t have the money to pay the bail myself. But Keith's father said they may have the funds to cover his son’s release, but the money may need to be moved around.That’s where my skills come in. I’ve been sitting at Keith's computer all morning, looking at accounts, assets. I’m trying to figure out what can be pulled from where so we can save Keith and also not
ShirleyThe room is silent and the men are gone. Keith is gone.All Arthur, Ruth, and I can do is stand within the room, breathing as we try to soak in everything that has just happened.They took Keith because he’s committed a crime they wouldn’t explain, but I know for certain that they’re wrong. Whatever it is - he’s been wrongly accused.I want to know for what, why, and who made the accusations. But most importantly, I want to get him back - I need to.As my shock disappears, fire begins to course through my veins - determination soon filling me to the brim. Then the wheels in my head begin to spin.“Arthur,” I say, turning to look at him. “We need to contact the Alpha King.”I watch as Arhur turns to me blinking - apparently still stunned.“What?” he asks.“The Alpha King,” I state. “We need his help. We need to clear Keith’s name.”Arthur continues to blink at me, as if he still hasn’t grasped what’s going on. But we need to act fast.“Ruth,” I say next, looking toward the woma
ShirleyKeith holds my hand, keeping me close as we walk through the Lock Heart airport. Looking at our intertwined fingers keeps a smile on my face, which can’t be smoothed even as people stare our way.“Who is that?”“Do you see the Alpha?”They’re whispering, staring wide-eyed. Some people smile, others - mainly women - scowl at me. Apparently Keith notices too because he only squeezes my hand and brings me closer.However, it’s not in a domineering or protective manner. Instead, he holds his head high, seemingly proud and happy to have me at his side.I have to admit I like it - I like this. Finally being able to touch him and look at him however and whenever I want is like a personal gift from the Goddess.It certainly felt like a gift yesterday when we’d made the most of my final moments in my room - we’d locked ourselves in there all day. But eventually, I had to go meet with my counselor, let her know that I wasn’t going to finish the semester and that I’m withdrawing.Since t
ShirleyA silent breath brushes through my lips, making my shoulders fall an inch as I swallow Keith’s declaration.I just want you. Four simple words and yet it feels like my world has been shaken. Deep down, maybe I already knew, but it’s different hearing him say it aloud.“Want me…” is the only thing I can murmur once my lips choose to move. And in turn, Keith silently nods, waiting for me to say more.But I’m not sure what to say - just like I haven’t known what to think for the last week. Maybe even since the day I met Keith...I’ve never known what to think.Keith is my mate, and when I look back at everything that has happened…I’m still so drawn in. But that doesn’t mean I’m not afraid. And because I only want the truth to be spoken between Keith and me, I tell him.“I’m afraid,” I say aloud, quietly.Again, Keith nods.“I know,” he says.He knows - because he always knows. But why else would I have run away if I wasn’t afraid? The only thing is…he may not know what exactly I
ShirleyI want to say that I’m happy I’m gone - that I’m relieved. But I can’t.I don’t know what to feel. I know I’m the one who decided to leave without saying a word to Keith…or anyone really. However, that hasn’t left me rejoicing in my seat as I sit on the plane - heading to my next destination.Keith doesn’t know where I’ve gone - no one does, really. I’d sent Jean a message right before I’d disconnected my phone, letting her know I needed to get away. Only, not even she knows where “away” is.Sitting on this plane, I’ve already watched miles fly by as we coast through the air. I watched the sun go down, leaving my eyes to only scan flickering lights of the cities below. And now the plane’s cabin is quiet as most passengers have fallen asleep.But I’m awake - I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep again with all the thoughts going through my head or the heaviness in my heart. The ache in my chest is horrible and I wish I could just make it go away. But it only becomes worse each time
KeithKeith’s head hurt like hell when he woke up the next morning, groggy as he tried to blink away the pain also sitting within his eyes. It caused him to reach his hands in his hair, groaning as he felt a strain in each of his muscles.Holy fuck - he felt like shit. It was as if he was hung over, the pounding in his head only becoming worse. However, as he ran another hand through his hair, alarms began to ring within his head.He hadn’t been drunk - he’d been drugged.Eyes snapping open, Keith bared the pain as memories began to dance within his mind. Sitting at home, Lily coming over, realizing she’d put something in his drink, kicking her out. He could remember it all, but it’s what came after that was foggy.Keith continued to stir then, unsettled by the holes in his own story. Only, as his limbs brushed the bedding around him, he came to a new discovery.This was not his bed.Startled again, Keith sat up, fighting through discomfort as he stared down at the sheets and then up
ShirleyKeith wants me. I heard it from his very lips, felt it rumble through every inch of me being. It’s not a conclusion I made based on a look he gave or from reading between his words. He actually said it.And following his words, his teeth scrape against my neck, gently biting me. It makes me completely lose all sense, my mouth acting before my brain as I jerk and give a muffle cry.“Yes,” the word falls out of my mouth, my approval feeling as though it could shake the earth beneath my feet. But it also has Keith growing more wild.“Do you want me to fuck you here? Or the bed?” Keith asks next, sending sparks into my stomach.Yes. Neither. Both. All answers fly into my head, but only one leaves my mouth.“Bed.”Keith peels his body from mine, and I instantly miss him. But then he’s picking me up, carrying me through the office.My lips are on his neck now, burning him with kisses that make his steps stagger as he moves into my bedroom. He groans from deep in his throat, causing
ShirleyI’ve returned home after being out all day. I’ve been trying to come to terms with what happened last night, but I know it was just a moment of weakness caused by Cicy’s influence. However, that doesn’t explain why my powers are weakened, why my scent slipped.I wish there was a way to gain answers to what’s happening, but there’s no one I can turn to. Not even Jean as I know she’s currently busy with her new mate. For now, I have to cope as best as I can.Still feeling defeated, I walk up the front door of Keith’s home. I brace myself with every step I take, knowing that the Alpha must be home as I can see his car in the driveway. All I can hope is that our paths don’t cross again tonight.Reaching the top step, I go to slid my key in the lock, but I pause as I notice the door is already unlocked. That’s strange…normally whoever comes and goes makes sure it’s secure each time, not wanting anyone to somehow sneak in.Still puzzled, I let myself inside, making sure to lock the
KeithThe house was quiet as Keith sat in his office, drinking from a glass filled with the last of his scotch. Usually, he wouldn’t make a habit of drinking alone, but tonight the alcohol felt necessary.He felt run down in every sense of the word - though, he’d never admit it. So much had occurred over the previous weeks and it was moments like these where everything caught up to him.Only, he couldn’t ignore what captured his thoughts tonight, had his vision glazing over as he looked at nothing in particular. Instead, he was met with images of Shirley as the woman’s face took up every inch of his mind.“Stop!”The way she’d thrown out the word the previous night had struck him straight to his chest. Her voice had been so raw, anguished. And he still didn’t know what he’d done to cause it.However, that wasn’t even the oddest thing about the whole occurrence. No - Keith was still left in confusion as he remembered what else had happened during Shirley’s struggles. As she stood withi