Chapter 66

Shirley

Gwen. They took Gwen. It’s hard for me to believe that such a smart and cunning woman could be taken by the abductors, but it appears that it can happen to anyone. It could have even happened to me if I’d taken the wrong route because…

“I was just with Gwen,” I murmur.

All at once, I feel all eyes in the room turn in my direction, the conversations ending as the ringing in my ear subsides. And yet, I can’t bring myself to raise my head as I think of Gwen, imagining someone grabbing her around a corner when she’d had her guard down. I nearly shiver at the thought.

However, I’m met with a warmth instead as a hand falls on my shoulder. I don’t even have to look over to know it’s Keith who is now at my side.

“What happened?” he asks softly, as if I’m fragile. And maybe I am. I feel like any moment I may collapse.

But instead, I shake my head slowly. “Nothing,” I admit. “We were shopping at the mall and everything was normal. And then we went our separate ways...that was only an hour ago.”

“And she wasn’t acting weird or anything?” Kai jumps in then, obviously desperate for more answers. “Or you didn’t notice anyone following you?”

Finally, I glance at the wolf, already beginning to shake my head. “No,” I answer him quietly. “Like I said…everything was normal.”

“We need to look for clues in the area,” Keith jumps in then, seeming to notice Kai is about to hit me with more questions.

“We’ll start at the mall - see if there’s anything. And then we’ll move around the area,” the Alpha advises next.

And then Keith surprises me further as he turns to me, nodding as he begins to speak. “We’ll need you too. In case you can provide any other insight,” he tells me.

My lips part as I almost stare at him in wonder. But then I’m nodding, knowing I’ll do anything to help.

From there, we all file out of the room, soon exiting the house before we get into our respective cars. I ride with Keith, but the car is silent as we drive, both of us seeming to feel the heaviness of the situation we’ve found ourselves in.

When we get to the mall, I show them the last place I’d seen Gwen, pointing in the direction I saw her headed. As Keith mentioned, we all search the parking lot, looking for something that could be useful. I’m almost deflated with defeat before Kai calls from the edge of the parking lot that meets the trees.

“Keith!” Kai yells, frantically waving the man over. I follow the Alpha, needing to know what Kai has found. As we reach him, Kai holds out his hand, showing a small item that makes a gasp catch in my throat.

“Gwen’s earring,” Kai informs Keith, tears sitting at the edge of his eyes as his face is pale. “She always wears these.”

“Then we check the forest,” Keith states, remaining collected as he addresses the team. “Look for any signs of struggle.”

I can see Kai tense at the man’s words, but still he begins to remove his jacket, reaching for his shirt next. I blink at him before I begin to look around at the other men, realizing they're doing the same - including Keith.

“We’re shifting,” Keith informs me when our eyes meet. “We can cover more ground that way. Use our senses better.”

He’s right, and I’m surprised I hadn’t considered the idea before. In our wolf forms we can smell and see better than when we’re “human.” So I follow suit, already pulling off my jacket despite my company. Nakedness isn’t a problem among wolves as we usually need to remove all clothing when we shift.

Only, it’s hard not to react when I hear Keith undoing his belt, imagining his thighs as the material is being pulled to the ground. It makes my efforts slow as I reach for the buttons of my own jeans, my cheeks warming as I hear Keith’s voice.

“I’ll meet you in the trees,” he tells me, and I can only nod. I figure he’s giving me privacy considering I’m the only female of the group.

Finally, when I’m done undressing, I roll out my shoulders before I sigh. I take a few steps and then I feel my body coming into a familiar heat, shifting inch by inch until I’m only on all fours - my wolf officially out to play.

It’s so strange. It has been months since I last allowed myself to shift and I have to relish in the feeling for a moment. It’s like coming home after being gone for years.

As agreed, I meet Keith a few yards within the trees, knowing immediately which wolf form is his due his superior size and the night-black hair. And then there’s also his golden eyes that peer back at me, drinking in my wolf form for the first time.

But what hits me the hardest is his scent that fills my nose as I take another step. However, I instantly freeze just as I feel Cicy trying to force a moan up my throat.

What are you doing!? I ask her, feeling my wolf beginning to quiver, feeling the urge to practically jerk my entire body.

The scent. I want it, she tells me, my body growing warmer as my head tries to violently shake.

It’s nothing, I tell her. It’s just Keith.

Keith, Cicy practically moans, and I feel my stomach heating. I’m unable to stop it as Cicy has most of the control now, quickly trying to overpower me.

Calm down! I tell her, thankful that Keith and the others aren’t looking at me as they all address each other. Whines empty out of me as I take steps backward even as Cicy desperately tries to force me forward.

Still, Keith’s scent is strong as it catches on the gusts of wind filling the forest. It’s dizzying my head, making it difficult for me to focus on anything.

I can’t help like this. I’m useless in this state and know Cicy will only be focused on Keith’s scent for the entire hunt. That or she’ll quickly gain all control and do something unforgivable.

“Are you okay?” I hear Keith’s voice in my head now and it takes everything in me not to tremble at the sound as Cicy whines again. But still, I keep her on a leash as I dare to glance up to Keith.

He’s still feet ahead of me, but he’s alone now, causing my stomach to jolt. His own body seems tense as he stares at me, but I’m thankful he doesn’t come closer.

“I’m not feeling well,” I tell him. “I need to head back.”

It’s a lame excuse, but I know it’s the right thing to do - even if Cicy angerly disagrees as she tries to snap and howl.

“Okay,” Keith replies. “I’ll meet back up with you at the house.”

From there, Keith waits as I force myself to retreat, knowing he won’t leave until he knows I’m safely out. I try to appear as collected as possible as I take slow and painful steps away from him - Cicy fighting me through every action.

But eventually, I’m out of the forest, panting and sweating as I shift back into my human state. And then I sit for a moment, trying to catch my breath as I notice Keith’s scent still in my nose.

And the wetness that sits between my legs.

~

When I return back to Keith’s, I’m completely dejected, frustrated with Cicy’s outburst as I know she’s kept me from helping with the search. However, she won’t reply to my scolding, pretending to take a nap and ignoring me.

So I go to my room, giving up on my wolf as I decide to take a shower to remove the lingering sweat from my skin. Only, I’m not able to even start the water when my phone begins to ring.

“Hello?” I answer cautiously as I notice the unsaved number.

“Shirley?” a woman’s voice replies. “It’s Emma - Jean’s old nanny.”

My eyebrows raise as I register her voice.

“Oh hi,” I say. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure,” she admits. “But I was sitting here and realized there was something I forgot to share the other night in regards to Ralph. I’m not sure if it’s relevant to Jean…but with all the weird things happening in town lately…I felt it might be worth sharing.”

“What is it?” I ask, my curiosity heightened as I take a seat at the edge of my bed.

“When I was…seeing Ralph… I noticed he was meeting with a strange man behind Jean’s back. It could be nothing, but…”

“Anything helps,” I tell her. “Do you know what the man looked like?”

“Yes,” she replies quietly, and I can then hear the front door opening from down the hall. It causes me to look toward my open doorway, my skin prickling as I hear footsteps approaching.

And then I watch as Keith appears, now fully dressed again but looking just as delicious. The sight of him causes me to clear my throat, but I keep myself at bay as Emma’s voice still meets my ear.

Figuring Keith should hear this, I put a finger to my lips to indicate for him to be quiet before I put on speakerphone.

“The man Ralph was meeting with had black hair, a scar on his face…and he’s decently tall,” Emma stated as Keith draws closer. “And he also had a strange tattoo on his arm - some kind of symbol.”

My skin prickles as I listen to her information, my eyes widening as I realize she’s just exactly described the man I'd seen Ralph with previously.

“I managed to sneak a picture of the tattoo. I don’t know why…but I thought it was important,” Emma says. “I’ll send it to you now.”

Sure enough, my phone soon dings from a text message, allowing me to open it up. And I instantly release a soft gasp as I see the tattoo.

It’s the same one - the same one I’d seen on the man with Ralph. And I’m just about to tell both Emma and Keith this information, but I don’t quite form the words before Keith snatches the phone out of my hand.

I look up at him, studying his expression that is a mixture of anger and panic. And then I notice as his hand tightens on my phone.

“I know this symbol,” he says aloud, biting out each word.

“It’s the same marking that’s been left behind at each kidnapping site.”