Chapter 19

Shirley

Things with Ralph have progressed to a whole new level. Sure, there have been a few complications, but I’ve still managed to get him in a good place to deliver the final blows. However, the end of my plan admittedly will require more information.

Ralph likes me - or rather, Anya. He’s made that perfectly clear. But apparently, dizzying his head with surface level conversations and adoring looks won’t cut it. I don’t know Ralph well enough for the charm to fully work because I’m uncertain what he fully wants or needs. Hence why his sudden need for affection threw Cicy and me off.

In order for this to really work, I need to know more about Ralph. I need to dig a little deeper.

I decide to start my research by turning to Jean, but she - surprisingly - doesn’t have much to offer.

“Ralph and I have been together for three years, but most of our time has been spent in bed together, exploring physical pleasures,” she tells me as we both sit at the Fleetwood cafe, sipping coffee. “I don’t feel like I truly know what kind of person Ralph is. He's fairly guarded and hides a lot of things from me…but I know he secretly meets people all the time.”

I nod at her, tucking away anything she says in case it might be helpful.

“Even money is a mystery in our relationship,” she explains. “Our finances have always been separate. I receive living expenses from Ralph, but I don’t know the source and total income that he pulls in.”

That seems a little odd to me. I know I’m likely just a naive, unmated wolf - but I figured a married couple should share all those details with each other.

“We’re wolves, after all,” Jean tells me with a wry smile, as if reading my thoughts. “I always figured that all that other stuff didn’t matter because a werewolf mating bond would solve everything….Maybe the passion of everything got ahead of me.”

I can’t help but give Jean a sorrowful look as I study her. Yes, maybe it was the passion that made her so willing to accept Ralph’s secrecy and abuse. I hate how much she’s had to pay just because she put her faith in him, in the bond.

“By the way, you need to be more careful,” Jean says suddenly, catching me off guard.

“With Ralph?” I ask, raising a brow. I know there have been a few hiccups, but I didn’t know there was any major cause for concern.

“No…well, maybe,” Jean replies. “But that’s not what I was talking about.”

“What’s going on?” I ask, reading between the lines. It appears there’s something else hanging over our heads, and it might be something big based on Jean’s urgency to warn me.

“There have been quite a few, sporadic disappearances of female wolves lately. Not just in our pack, but a lot of packs,” she tells me, causing my eyes to widen. “I don’t know who’s responsible, but it’s just horrible.”

“What?” I offer back, breathlessly. “There’s no leads?”

Jean shakes her head. “None,” she states. “I don’t think a lot of people even know what’s going on. I only found out because I overheard Keith and Ralph discussing everything the other night. Apparently, there hasn’t been an official public report because no one wants to raise alarm.”

Seriously? Didn’t the fellow members of the pack deserve to know about something so serious? So they could protect themselves? The only reason I can think of why they wouldn’t tell people is because Keith and the other Alphas want to try and nip the whole thing in the bud before it gets too out of hand.

“Thank you, Jean,” I say, noticing that my hands are clenched into tight fists within my lap. “I’ll try and be more careful.”

~

I need more information on Ralph. My conversation with Jean was a little helpful, but not enough. It’s as if she’s given me vague pieces to a puzzle and now I need someone to provide more clarity. But who knows Ralph enough to help me uncover more truths?

The answer hits me harshly, making me stop on the sidewalk as I spot the key to all my problems exiting a shop.

Ron.

I waste no time as I head directly for him, only stopping when I’m able to give him a tap on his shoulder.

“Ron,” I say as he turns, leaving me to stare up at the face I had only previously seen in the photos Jean shared. She’d told me that Ron was a high member in Lock Heart’s circle and was also close friends with Ralph. He should be able to give me more intel.

“Hey,” Ron says once he’s facing me. “You’re Anya, right? I’ve heard about you.”

“That’s me,” I reply, giving a smile which he soon mirrors.

He has Lily’s eyes, which makes sense considering they’re siblings. However, I have to admit I enjoy the pools of blue on his kind face more.

“What can I do for you?” he asks, completely open.

“Actually, I was hoping you’d be able to answer some questions about Ralph,” I reply, tucking some hair behind my ear. “You might have heard we’ve been spending a little time together and I just wanted to hear more about him from his friends.”

As I say Ralph’s name and even use the word “friends,” I see Ron’s expression gradually change. Even his feet begin to shuffle and he clears his throat.

“I’m not sure how much help I can be,” he admits. “Ralph and I used to be good friends, but we’ve drifted apart over the years.”

I hum, taking in his words. Estranged relationships seemed to be a pattern in Ralph’s life.

“Why is that?” I finally ask, again ready to pick apart any of his words for something noteable.

But Ron doesn’t give me much…or really anything to work with as he shrugs. “Oh, you know. This and that,” he finally offers. “Just life.”

I want to push him further, to have him explain what he means so I can learn something. But I’m incapable of offering other questions as someone is abruptly sliding between us.

I have to lean my head back to see who it is, my eyes soon landing on a face that I’ve become all too familiar with interrupting me. And currently, that face is completely blank, emotionless.

“You know,” Keith draws out, his eyes piercing into mine. “If you want to gain information about Ralph then there’s no one better to ask than me.”

A prickle instantly meets my skin.

What? He’d heard all that? How long had he been hanging around?

And how had I not noticed him?

“Yeah,” Ron speaks up then, though neither of us glanced in his direction. “You’re probably way better off with Keith than me.”

I wish I could say I find that hard to believe, and send Keith packing. But deep down I know they’re both right. If I want all the dirty details about Ralph, then his best friend should be able to give me everything I need.

“So…” Keith says then, his eyes still locked on mine. “Interested?”