Chapter 17

Shirley

I no longer hear approaching steps and I know we’re safe. Especially as I feel a body peel away from mine, allowing me to open my eyes as I see we’re no longer in the midst of the crowd as the other wolves are still fleeing twenty feet away.

I don’t focus on them for long, though. No, I’m too busy glancing toward my side in search of who had just saved me from being stomped to death.

And as I find them, my lips fall open.

“Keith.”

He’d saved me - us. I’m reminded of the mother and child’s presence as the woman begins to cry out “thank yous” while Keith helps us to our feet. I’m barely able to offer her a goodbye as she rushes off as I’m still too busy staring at the Alpha.

He can teleport. Keith can teleport. And he’d used it to get us out. I’m just about to offer my gratitude, but I’m hindered as there are new screams filling the air. The fire is only growing, blocking off previous exits as wolves cower away. At this rate, we could all be trapped.

“Everyone, do not panic.” Keith’s leveled voice entering my thoughts nearly dizzies my head. “I need you all to stop and remain still so we can avoid a stampede.”

And then he’s gone. He disappears in thin air, causing my head to whip around as I search for him. When I finally see him, my heart slams into my chest as I watch him mere feet in front of the fire. He’s trying to contain the flames, working with such vigor and control that I feel like I’m watching him in the boxing ring again.

But then he disappears and I scan the crowd again before I see him at another end of the room, ripping away materials from a blocked exit so everyone has another place to escape.

“Line yourselves up and exit peacefully. Women, children, and elderly first,” he tells us all. However, he’s teleporting again.

He’s all over the place. Jumping from one spot to another - again and again. One moment he’s helping a woman find her place in line, the next he’s stopping a piece of metal from dropping on a child, and then he’s back to warding off the wild flames.

I can’t stop watching him. I know I should be leaving, especially because I was advised to be in the first group to exit, but I can’t move. He’s like a werewolf Superman, working fearlessly to protect his people.

Finally snapping into motion, I do my best to help corral the other people, putting them ahead of me as I make my way toward the door. Still, I’m acutely aware of Keith, only able to calm down once I see the firefighters running through the doors.

By the time I get outside, news spreads that the fire has been put out, causing those who wait to cheer and cry. I watch the doors as the firemen come back out - they’re dutiful Alpha walking right behind them. His shoulders are back, his head held high. Even as people applaud him and voice their thanks, he does not falter. It causes me to take a slow breath.

Keith may be an old school, meddling asshole. But after witnessing his amazing skills at handling a crisis…I have to admit that he’s a better Alpha than I thought.

~

At some point, Ralph finds me in the crowd. He asks if I’m alright, but I’m barely able to answer him. All I can think about is how he’d shoved that mother and child - it makes me want to claw his eyes out.

But I try to remain calm as we stand together, watching people out while others also linger to watch their Alpha being interviewed by the news crew.

“We don’t know what caused the fire yet, but we’ll soon find out,” I hear him say. “I’m just glad everyone is safe. It’s my job as the Alpha to protect our pack and I’m thankful to report there were no casualties.”

Thank the Goddess for that. Though some people may have rolled their ankles or taken a few elbows to the ribs, no one had lost their lives tonight. And I can’t help but feel Keith is the reason why.

Finally, the news team seems satisfied with their report and let Keith go. I observe him from afar, figuring he has more business to attend. However, I see him searching the crowd instead.

His eyes are wild and livid as they land on Ralph and me - his body quickly drawing closer. And when he reaches us, he’s already unleashing himself on the man beside me.

“Ralph, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Keith bites out, his harsh tone causing me to swallow. “Do you really think you should be pulling that shit as a pack Beta?”

“What are you talking about?” Ralph asks, playing dumb. I swear that Keith and I are both seconds from choking him out.

“You not only nearly killed that mother and child you so graciously shoved to the ground,” Keith threw at him. “But also the girl who loves you.”

Loves him!?

“She protected them and was almost trampled while you only cared about yourself,” he continued. “You don’t deserve her - at all.”

I can’t help but blink, shocked that Keith actually said something nice about me. I’m especially thrown when Keith looks toward me, his expression softening only a touch.

“Thank you, by the way,” he offered. “Your bravery did not go unnoticed.”

At his words, I feel my stomach roll, my cheeks threatening to blush. If I didn’t know better…I would say I’m hit with a sense of shyness as I nod to him. Hearing Keith praise me rather than scold me is practically sweeter than honey, but I don’t show my excitement. I know I can’t when Ralph still stands at my side.

“Thank you too,” I eventually say. “For saving us.”

Keith merely shakes his head back. “I was just doing my duty. Responsibility is everything. I’ve repeatedly rehearsed incidents like this so we know how to conduct the crisis.”

I nod back to him, unsure what to say. I know it’s his duty, his responsibility. But some Alpha’s didn’t always prioritize those things like Keith did. Or Betas, apparently - considering Ralph’s actions.

“It was cowardly what you did tonight,” Keith says to Ralph, as if sharing my thoughts. “You completely abandoned your commitments to this pack and put your needs first. You put our family in danger.”

Ralph doesn’t say anything in reply, he doesn’t even really look at Keith.

“I’m disappointed at how selfishly you acted,” Keith keeps on him. “You should be ashamed for what you did to that mother and child. And you should be punished.”

“Punished?” Ralph finally dares to speak.

“Yes,” Keith nearly growls out. “You will accept your punishment and be put in confinement until I say you’re clear. Effective immediately.”

Without another word, Keith turns from us, walking off and not looking back once. However, this time I don’t stare after him as I notice the pure anger across Ralph’s features, his hands balled into fists. If looks could kill, he’d likely be knocking Keith dead right now.

It’s a little amusing to see Ralph this way, to know he’s going to be locked up - right where he belongs. However, having him behind bars also puts a wrinkle in my plan.

“Don’t worry,” I tell Ralph, quickly trying to do damage control. “The confinement is awful and unfair, but I’ll come visit you tomorrow and keep you company. Okay?”

At my words, I see some of Ralph’s annoyance slip away, his brows no longer bunched.

“Wow,” he finally pops out. “You really are amazing.”

I force my lips into a smile, hating that I have to fake flattery and high spirits. However, what I hate more is when I glance to the side and see Keith standing only a few feet away.

He must have turned back at some point, and now he’s staring at both of us with a hard expression. My heart squeezes and stalls.

Did he just hear that whole thing?