Shirley After finishing the errands, I return to Jean’s to find that she has finished packing up the rest of her things. Thankfully, we were able to pull some strings for a moving company to pick up everything within the hour and booked a flight for this evening. Even if we had to pay a ridiculous amount, we figured it’s worth it just in case Ralph changes his mind and returns - though I doubt that will happen. He thinks he’s about to have the Alpha King’s blessing - he’ll never turn back. Once the movers arrive, they’re quick to load all of Jean and Eliot’s belongings into the truck. However, that’s likely because Jean and I both seem a little frantic and they can sense our desperation. I swear everything gets packed and strapped down within the blink of an eye. Now it’s just Jean, little Eliot, and me standing in front of her house, holding each other's hands as we stare at the flourishing rose bushes and forest green shutters. As Jean inhales slowly, her hard stare sweeping
Keith The sun had gone down hours ago and Keith kept finding himself glancing outside to see the black silhouetted trees just beyond the window. It was as if someone was standing out there, wildly trying to get his attention - but he knew there was no one. And yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something might be wrong. “Do you need help with anything?” a purring voice called from his doorway then, drawing his eyes over. Sure enough, there stood Lily, her eyelashes fluttering as she gave him a coy smile. “No,” he rumbled out, his brows bunching. “How did you get in?” “The key you gave me. Duh,” Lily said with a scoff as she leaned away from the doorframe. However, she didn’t decide to leave upon hearing he didn’t need help. Instead, she welcomed herself in, even making herself at home as she swayed over to his desk and took a seat on the edge. “What’s the matter?” she asked, still smirking as she seemed to notice his irritated gaze. “You seem a little pent up.” “I have a
Shirley Moving Jean’s belongings into my spare bedroom was more exhausting than I’d imagined, but I have to admit that the physical labor was rewarding. Plus, seeing Eliot’s smiling face as he ran around my apartment and pressed his face against the tall windows to look out at the city made me forget about most of my aches and pains. My own unpacking was a lot simpler as I just put away my toiletries and threw all my clothes in the wash. It almost felt too easy - returning to everything and settling in like I’d never left. That thought causes unwanted feelings to press up from my heart, heading straight to my head as I gaze around at my bedroom. Wanting to stop them, I abruptly head for my bedroom door, crossing the narrow hallway so I can poke my head into Jean’s new room. “Hey,” I say as I give a small knock on the doorframe. “Can I borrow your phone?” Jean swivels to look at me, stopping mid step as she balances a few books in her hand. “You threw it away in the airplane b
Shirley “Shirley? Shirley? Is everything okay?” I blink as I finally acknowledge Alana calling out to me, my vision clearing as I register her concerned features. “Are you alright?” she tries again. Am I alright!? I just discovered that the job I was practically lusting after is located in the town I just saved my best friend from. A job that is led by a man I’d swore I’d never see again and was trying to distract myself from. I don’t even know what I am. “Y- yes,” I manage to say despite the sourness swirling around in my stomach. I know my words are not the least bit convincing as I watch Alana eye me, most likely noticing the lack of color in my cheeks. “Is there something wrong with the job?” she asks, lifting a brow. “No, no,” I toss out quickly. “Of course not.” But it’s a lie. Everything is wrong with this job. Well, besides the amazing payout and provisions - but somehow that almost makes matters worse. “Well, good…” Alana trails out, still looking skeptical.
Shirley Jean doesn’t shy away from voicing her disapproval the whole time I pack up my things. The words “bad idea” are repeated so many times that they practically don't sound real anymore. However, when she finally manages to take a breath, I make sure to grip her by the shoulders and hit her with a lifetime supply of reassurance, repeating a line of my own to really strike home. “One sign of danger and I’m gone.” I can tell that she still isn’t pleased as she watches me walk out of the door with my suitcase in tow, but she still lets me leave. Probably because I told her I would call at least two times a day and keep my location on at all times so she wouldn’t fret over my whereabouts. I even send her a few texts while I’m on my way to the airport, trying to keep things light as I promise I’m still alive. However, Jean doesn’t seem to think it was very funny. Going back toward the east, the flight feels a lot shorter than when I’d gone home, but I make sure to use my time
Shirley I hadn’t expected what it would be like seeing Keith again, nor had I anticipated that I’d run into him so soon. However, my body seems to have a mind of its own as our gazes remain locked. My heart races, my cheeks tingle with nerves, and I feel my knees locking as I’m reluctant to move. But I have to. Keith is waiting for me and I have nowhere to go - unless I want to go sprinting into the trees. I can’t really say that I do. Besides, even if I didn’t think our paths would be crossing this fast, I’d known that seeing him at some point would be inevitable. Still though, I have little time to prepare myself as Keith waits for me, clearly not willing to come down the steps and cross the twenty feet between us. He wants me to come to him, and all I can do is try and quickly put a brave face on as I do. After all, Shirley doesn’t know Keith - she’s never met him. In fact, she shouldn’t be aware that this man standing on the porch even is Lockheart’s Alpha. I need to spin
Shirley Once I officially see Keith disappear, I look down at the key in my hand - the metal feeling strangely heavy within my fingers. I then turn to glance at the door, unable to help the slow breath that leaves me as I walk to it. Now that I’m able to let down my guard, I feel a little exhausted and just want to get inside. Doing just that, I put the key in the lock and let myself inside before I shut the door behind me. I’m unable to manage more than a few steps before I stop again, my mouth falling open as I study the room around me. Even despite it being only the entryway, the home is breathtaking. From the specific decorations to the delicious smell of vanilla that reaches my nose, I’m immediately obsessed with it. Abandoning my suitcase by the door, I begin to walk through the house, going from room to room. There’s a modest dining room just right of the entry and a cozy living room to the left. As I walk into the second space, I already know I’ll be spending a lot of
Shirley So I smile, a real smile as I feel warmth dance through my middle. And then I nod. “Of course.” I’ve come to Keith’s for a meeting and now find myself right in the midst of his inner circle as I stand just inside the doorway as I’ve just arrived. There’s at least ten other wolves filling the room - all of them men aside from Lily. I see her standing off to the side, unaware of my presence as she talks to a wolf I don’t recognize. In fact, there’s few faces I have seen before besides one man’s whose name I don’t know and Ron. Thankfully, Ralph doesn’t seem to be here, which saves me some face. However, as I continue to quietly scan the room, Ralph isn’t really my concern, especially as my gaze eventually lands on a particular man. Keith stands beside his desk, not saying anything as he wears a slight smile in response to the man talking his ear off. He looks so different from the way I’d seen him the day before and it makes me incapable of looking away. But after a fe