Chapter 62

Keith

Keith had left at dawn that morning and been out ever since. Thankfully, he’d been able to get some sleep after he’d hardly rested the night before. Even despite the fact that he’d been exhausted after the news of the missing she-wolf report, he was unable to fully drift off.

One would think that was due to his worry regarding the disappearing women and his pack overall - which it partly was. However, it was undeniable that his lack of sleep had mainly been caused by one woman in particular.

Following his encounter with Shirley in the snow, his mind had been restless. Even a few days after, he still felt stuck and haunted by her question.

“What do you want from me?”

But what haunted him more was the fact that when he posed the same question back, she hadn’t replied.

He figured that was warranted considering he hadn’t given her an answer either, but still. It bothered him that he didn’t know what was going on in that mind of hers, what had caused her to ask her question in the first place. Usually, people were so easy to read, but Shirley had now left him confused and unsettled.

The situation was still taking up way too much of his mind as he walked through the forest that day. His team and him were making more rounds to search for any clues or leads on the kidnappers who’d been causing trouble in the town, but they hadn’t come up with anything other than finding a few strange markings left behind.

What only complicated matters more was Chaos’ own restlessness inside of him. Whatever sadness the wolf had possessed had turned into desperation as he kept insisting his mate was somewhere around, but she still wouldn’t reveal herself. He was frustrated, which only put Keith more on edge.

It left his features tense as he roamed the forest floor, his harsh gaze scanning the area around them. However, he soon realized that he wasn’t the only one in a foul mood.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Lily appeared at his side, determined to walk with him as they reached another cluster of trees. When Keith noticed she didn’t offer a pleasant greeting and instead released an exasperated sigh, it caused his gaze to slide over to her.

“Everything okay?” he asked purely out of courtesy. Lily was always agitated about something so he should have probably saved his breath. But if he didn’t ask then she would only huff and puff more.

Sure enough, Lily gave a grunt that wasn’t very intimating due to her high voice. But she still wore a scowl as she looked forward.

“I had lunch with your mother today,” she finally admitted tightly.

That had Keith raising a brow. Lily was upset after having lunch with his mother? That seemed odd as she usually rejoiced after spending time with the woman. He couldn’t imagine what could have occurred to make her so pent up.

“Did something happen?” Keith asked, curiosity dancing under his skin. Knowing Lily, it could have been something as simple as a waiter messing up her order that set her off.

“No,” Lily clipped back, still not looking at him. Her features only tensed more, her sneer pinching and wrinkling her nose. Obviously something had happened, but Keith didn’t have the patience for her childish reaction.

“Okay then,” he responded, ready to walk away from her. He’d find another route to go.

Only, he never managed to veer off before Lily spoke again.

“Your mother seems very fond of Shirley,” Lily bit out. Her words and worn emotions caused Keith to blink.

“She just talked about her all afternoon and had so many wonderful things to say,” Lily continued, her words dripping with sarcasm and disgust.

In turn, Keith practically grimaced, wishing he’d never asked about her well-being in the first place. Especially as Lily suddenly stepped in front of him, causing them to both stop as she faced him.

“It’s ridiculous!” she practically shouted. “It’s completely foolish for Ruth to have that woman in her home. To spend time with her. Especially for you to spend time with her!”

Keith said nothing as Lily continued to snap and sneer, obviously overcome with some sort of jealousy. However, the more he stood there, the less he became interested in her reaction as he grew more concerned with what his mother had said. Obviously, she must have said some really nice things about Shirley to cause Lily to lash out so aggressively.

But apparently it didn’t just stop at his mother. Lily had also noticed the time he’d been spending with Shirley, which was pushing her over the edge. Even if he didn’t know how he felt about everything, it was clear that Lily knew just how she felt.

“You should be staying clear of her,” Lily insisted. “Especially after everything that happened with Anya!”

Anya. Keith hadn’t thought about Anya in a long time. Even when Shirley had mentioned her sister a week ago, he had hardly paid it any mind.

“You shouldn’t be wasting your time with such things - especially with Shirley,” Lily said, throwing out the woman’s name like it’s trash. “Instead, you should be focused on settling down with someone.”

Keith wanted to scoff, to shake his head and put Lily in her place. However, he knew that those reactions would only cause Lily to put up more of a fight and he really didn’t have time for this. He had bigger things to worry about than Lily’s jealousy.

“Noted,” he said as he tried to sidestep her, planning on continuing his walk so he could cover more area for the afternoon. He had fully intended to brush her aside, blow her off - but Lily pounced as soon as he turned his head away, taking a single step. She grabbed hold of his arm, making him stop once more.

“I want to be with you,” Lily blurted the moment his eyes came back to her. It took everything in him not to let his eyes widen at her abrupt admittance, especially as she clung onto him and stared at him with desperation.

“We would be perfect together,” Lily claimed then, taking a step closer. “Our families may be close, but you need to stop treating me like some little sister and be with me! I deserve to be your chosen mate.”

He’d known. Keith had known for years that Lily had been impatiently waiting on the sidelines for him to eventually “be sensible” and choose her. It was evident in the way she looked at him, always making him the center of attention whenever they were in each others’ company. Or how she’d bad mouth any female who remotely came near him - just as she’d done with Shirley. In her eyes, no one else was worthy of him but her.

But what rubbed Keith wrong the most was that Lily had claimed she deserved to be his chosen mate - as if he owed it to her. Did she think just because she’d been devoted to him and the pack for years that she should take the place as his mate? Did she really think she was the right woman to help lead Lock Heart?

Keith stared down at where the woman held his arm, his teeth painfully pressed together. And then his eyes flicked up to hers, his gaze hard and direct.

“Lily,” he drew out her name as if in warning. Still, she wasn’t moved to release him.

“I’m perfectly capable of making decisions for myself,” he continued then. “And despite what you’ve led yourself to believe, I don’t owe you anything.”

Keith watched as Lily’s cheeks began to pink, how she practically held her breath as she took in his words. He was sure what he said next would send her into a full tantrum.

“I don’t see a world where you and I would be perfect together,” he said with ease, his other hand coming up to gently pry her fingers from his arm. Once she released him, he dusted off his jacket. “The fact that you think you deserve to be my mate is enough of a reason alone. I don’t want a mate who is so entitled.”

“You’re wrong,” Lily said finally, her hands balling up at her sides. “We do belong together.”

“I’m not,” Keith stated, not showing a bit of remorse. “And we don’t. You’ll find your mate eventually, but it’s not me.”

Lily was quiet at his words, practically shaking. It was enough to cause Keith’s feet to move again, ready to get out of there before she blew a fuse. He turned his back on her, and finally began to walk away. However, he paused for a moment as Lily spoke one last time.

“You’re making a mistake, Keith,” she called from behind him. “What if you never find your mate!? What if you just blew your only opportunity and now you’ll be alone!?”

Keith took a breath, still staring forward as he swallowed down her words. She may be right, but it wasn’t a good enough reason for him to choose her.

“Then I guess I’ll be alone,” he answered, saying the words over his shoulder though he didn’t look back. And once the words met the air and he heard Lily begin to grunt, he started walking again. He kept moving despite her yelling his name, despite her growls and anger.

Instead, he looked forward, gaining more speed as he left the topic of mates and love behind. Only one thought stayed with him while the others peeled away.

It brought him to pull out his phone, hitting a number before he brought it to his ear. There, it rang once before someone gave him a swift hello.

“I need you to gather more information,” Keith stated. “Anything you can find.”

He’d almost forgotten about his questions and concerns, about his wavering trust. That is, until Lily brought the subject back into his sights.

“I need you to look for Anya Creed,” Keith stated.

“I need to figure out where she’s gone.”