Shirley I’m certain Ralph has seen the paper by now, and there’s no way he missed our story - it’s on the front page for Goddess’ sake. However, I have yet to hear from him and I know I can’t risk the chance of reaching out myself. So I have to take another route. It’s lunchtime and I’ve “coincidentally” decided to catch a meal at the Root - Ralph’s tried and true lunch spot. Seeing as he hasn’t come to me, I’m taking it upon myself to ensure that we “bump” into one another so he has no choice but to face me. I’m assuming the only reason he hasn’t rushed to my side is because he’s trying not to seem too eager with the information at his fingertips. Either that, or he’s still trying to process everything. After all, suddenly discovering that the girl you’ve been seeing is secretly the Alpha King’s niece isn’t an easy pill to swallow. Making my way down the street, I can see the restaurant in the distance, watching as people come and go out the front door. I don’t spot Ralph among

Shirley As I watch Ralph tearing down the street, getting farther and farther away from us, I begin to feel panic rise up from my toes. Ralph is leaving. And his urgency suggests that he’s on his way to somewhere specific, or rather - someone specific. Jean. He’s going to reject her. Right now. And everything in me can’t help but feel things might go south. “I have to go,” I say aloud suddenly, taking myself by surprise. But I soon realize that maybe the words aren’t necessarily for me, but for the Alpha still standing at my side. Simultaneously, we both look over at each other. The furrow over his brow causes me to swallow as I begin to back away. “I’m sorry, Keith,” I start. “I have to go take care of something urgent.” I then try to swivel away, but I’m stopped as I feel his hand wrap around my arm. “Wait,” he says, leaving me to look back at him as I can’t move my arm even a centimeter within his grasp. But I can’t wait. I need to go. So I tell him. “I need to

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

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 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