Chapter 18

Shirley

I would love more than anything to leave Ralph to rot in his cell, but I know that I can’t. Not only because I need to continue impressing him, but also because I need to see if the conditions of my charm were met.

Sneaking in was easy as I stayed within the shadows and waited until the guards were in the middle of a shift change before I slipped by. Ralph’s eyes had lit up when he saw me appear at his cell door, showing him that I brought plenty of food and water for him to enjoy.

But now we’re standing within the dark together - both of us tucked into his cell as I was able to get in with the key I’d swiped from the guard. I was surprised Ralph didn’t suggest we just escape together, but I think we’re both aware that the consequences are too great.

So instead, we’re just staring at each other and Ralph’s eyes still shine with adoration. I know that’s my cue, my sign that it’s time to initiate the next phase of my plan, so I take a breath…and I remove my glasses.

Immediately, Ralph only melts further.

“I hate seeing you like this,” I tell him. “Keith only put you in here because he’s trying to keep us away from each other.”

“I know…” Ralph says, shaking his head. “But even confinement can’t keep us apart.”

Despite his lingering frustration, Ralph still tries to throw in a sweet comment. Good, let him believe we’re both head over heels in love with each other. Maybe it’ll help my next statements.

“Honestly, I’m tired of him butting in, intruding on us,” I continue. “I love spending time with you, but he’s making it more and more difficult for us to be together.”

Ralph nods as he gives a small frown, showing signs that he also doesn’t agree with Keith’s behavior and doesn’t like seeing me upset.

“But I…I want to be with you,” I say tentatively. “And I’m starting to think that the only way for us to be together is…is…” I take a tactical pause as if I’m struggling. “Is if you reject your mate.”

Immediately, I see Ralph’s eyes flash with surprise as his arms slacken at his sides.

“Then we can be together rightfully,” I continue. “It’s the only way to make Keith and everyone stand down.”

I hold my breath as I finish, waiting for Ralph to say something, anything. His response will be the final determination whether or not he has accepted the charm, and right now…his expression is unreadable.

So I wait, the cell quiet around us aside from Ralph’s shallow breaths. Part of me wants to say more, but I’ve already laid everything out on the table. As always, the ball is in his court.

And finally, Ralph nods.

“I’ll do it,” he says, nodding again. “I’ll do it for us.”

It takes everything in me not to gasp.

He’s accepted.

Following his words, Ralph takes in a sharp breath, leaning forward as if he’s suddenly in pain. I can only stare at him as he grunts, his teeth pressing firmly together. For a moment, he’s not meeting my gaze as he begins to shake violently, but then he looks up.

His stare lands on me, but then his body follows. He takes rushed steps toward me and I feel every urge to back away, to slip out of the cell. But I can’t move, I just stay in place as he grows closer. It’s clear from his sinister gaze that he’s coming straight for me, and soon he reaches me as he puts his hands on either side of my face.

Warning bells ring throughout my mind as I realize what he’s doing. Because of my words and his confirmation to reject the bond, he now wants to seal the deal with a kiss. His face is moving toward mine, his lips perfectly aligned with my own.

I want to duck, knowing that kissing Ralph is the last thing I want to do. But I know that I need to bear it. For Jean’s sake, I have to let him kiss me and allow him to believe this is real. I try to prepare myself as he’s only inches away now, his breath brushing against my lips. As he’s seconds away from reaching me, I try to empty my mind.

But it’s difficult as my brain seems to have plans of its own. And it seems to be fond of one specific thought. I can’t explain why, but feeling Ralph so close…it suddenly makes me think of Keith.

Maybe it’s because I’m remembering the Alpha’s warmth as he held me that night after he’d saved me, or how his arms had felt when he protected me again during the fire. But regardless of the reason, Keith is right there in the center of mind.

Ralph is about to kiss me any second, I know it. But as my mind continues to picture those golden eyes, I feel Ralph freeze. And soon I realize why.

Cicy has taken over. As she noticed Ralph about to kiss us, she stepped in and stopped him completely. She did not accept his needs, but instead shifted my hand against his chest and firmly pressed against him.

With her paw.

She gave him a firm and unshakable paw to stop him. And now…now the charm is no longer a success.

Cicy…I breathe, but she does not respond. We’re both focused on the way that Ralph is now sneering right into my face, officially proving our plan has backfired.

“You want to be my mate?” Ralph says coldly, barking out a cruel laugh. “You don’t know the first thing about a mate relationship. You haven’t given me anything, and yet you want too much.”

Given him anything…meaning I haven’t reciprocated any of his physical advances, and it’s driving him wild. I can tell by the unspeakable desire behind his eyes as he stares at me, even despite his anger.

I’m at a loss. Ralph is tougher than a thought, no longer swayed by words and unspoken promises that I haven’t delivered on. He wants me, and yet Cicy rejected the first opportunity we had to show him that he can have me - even a little.

I need to fix this. Immediately.

“It’s - it’s not what you think,” I try. “I want you, but my wolf can smell Jean all over you and she’s jealous. Crazy with jealousy. She doesn’t know how to react.”

Ralph blinks at me, that same lust pooled in his eyes. He’s considering my words, trying to swallow the reasoning. And apparently he manages to stomach it as he nods. He even smiles as he eats up my words more and more - interpreting them to his liking. As his eyes gleam, I know he thinks he’s facing a woman who is utterly obsessed with him and just wanted him to be completely hers.

“Fine,” he says, taking a step back as he releases me. I’m finally able to sigh, mentally scolding my heart to stop its painful and rapid beating. “I forgive you, but I won’t be so patient next time.”

Trying not to focus too much on the meaning of his words, I give him a wide-eyed nod and thank him. Ralph then dismisses me, allowing me to take wobbling steps as I leave the cell and lock up behind me. As I make my way down the hall, I grunt at Cicy.

What the hell were you doing? I ask her. Why did you suddenly take over my body?

Cicy sighs at my questions, already bored of them as she rolls her eyes next. That man is not our mate. I hate him and will not let him kiss us. Only our mate gets to do that.

My annoyance grows as I give her a harsh glare. I don’t appreciate how quickly and impulsively she reacted to Ralph only trying to kiss me. She’s never done that before and it absolutely confuses me.

But what I really don’t understand is…

Why was it only when I had thought of Keith that Cicy had decided to take over my body?