Chapter 7

Shirley

She didn’t say it - not fully. Jean began to utter my real name, but only managed the beginning before the rest got caught in her throat. It’s as if she had an epiphany midway through, realizing who had been the one to call her and likely still stood off camera.

Shir. That’s all she’d said. Not Shirley. Shir could easily be mistaken for “sure.” And I want to think that’s exactly how Keith has interpreted the sound as I sneak a glance over at him, meeting his calm expression. Nothing in his eyes suggests that he knows the clipped word she’d breathed is actually my nickname.

So I shift my eyes back to Jean, keeping my shoulders relaxed as I hold her gaze. Everything in me tries to communicate with her through our simple stares, praying that years of friendship can make her hear the thoughts I can’t say aloud.

Jean remains silent as I watch her study me. Slowly, I notice some of the surprise wear off of her face as she attempts to digest why my face is on Keith’s phone. Although I know she doesn’t hear the exact words I try to offer telepathically, I can tell she still received some sort of message.

“Oh, hi,” she finally says, her voice lighthearted and kind. “Are you Keith’s new girlfriend or something?” She then forces out a laugh that almost seems real. “Nice one, Keith,” she begins again, talking louder as if to gain his attention. “Making me meet your new girl through FaceTime.”

I’m floored, admittedly impressed. Jean’s performance is admirable and all I want is to teleport through the phone and give her a massive hug. But unfortunately, teleportation is not a power that I possess, so I offer her a charming smile instead. Goddess, my best friend is something else.

“What?” Keith cuts in then. “No, of course not.”

Of course not? Whatever, jerk. It’s not like I want you either!

He’s shifting then, his brow furrowed with annoyance as he turns the phone toward himself. “She had nothing to do with me,” he states then. “She has something to do with you.”

“What?” Jean asks then, faking confusion. “You mean, she knows me?”

Her voice trembles on the last part. It’s slight, but it’s there. Considering she’s just been blindsided, it’s not surprising that she’d grow nervous at being put on the spot. Especially if she’s beginning to think my real identity is being exposed.

Breathe, Jean. Breathe, I call in my mind, praying for the universe to carry my words to her.

“Not yet,” Keith begins again. “But you should. The last two times I’ve run into Ralph, I’ve caught him with this girl.”

This girl? Really? I have a name, asshole.

“Including yesterday when you asked me where he was,” Keith continues before he shakes his head. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

His eyes then turn to me, all of his sympathy melting away as he nearly scowls.

“And I want to remind this girl that what she’s doing is very immoral in our werewolf community,” he presses.

“This girl” again.

Before I can give him a glare, Keith is turning his head again, directing his attention back to Jean. “She says they’re just friends, but I figured you still deserved a right to know what was going on.”

Little does he know that Jean is perfectly aware of what’s going on. Every single detail.

“And I want her to know,” Keith continues, his eyes back to me once more. “That I’m not lying. I’m not trying to break up her and Ralph’s villainy.”

He calls this not breaking up Ralph and I’s relationship!? Or, I mean, our “villainy” - as he put it? Sure, he may not be ordering Ralph to stay away from me, but dragging Jean into the picture definitely didn’t help matters. Whether or not he wanted to see it, he was still a meddlesome Alphahole.

Again, I try to say something. To likely tell him where he can shove his phone and stupid, little FaceTime call. However, my impulses are intercepted by Jean’s voice.

“Thank you, Keith,” she says sweetly…calmer. Now she has all the pieces of the puzzle, allowing her to gain a little confidence, it seems. “I appreciate your kindness.”

“What are you going to do?” Keith asks her, completely focusing on his phone as he grips it tightly.

But Jean seems to shock him as I watch his expression fall - as if she gave him a shrug.

“Nothing,” she finally states simply.

“Nothing?” he questions. “I thought you two were on good terms.”

“W-we are,” Jean says, her tone beginning to waver again. The sound makes me want to snatch the phone out of his hand and hang up before he can upset her further. But Jean only continues. “Yeah,” she says, pushing a smile into her voice. “We’re really good.”

Finally, I can’t wait in silence anymore, causing me to absentmindedly step to Keith’s side so Jean can see both of us now - so I can see her.

“He warned me to stay away from your mate,” I say, feeding her more details. I half thought to jab Keith with my elbow but resist the urge.

“Oh,” Jean blows out, putting on a show as she shakes her head. She even smiles at me. “You’ll have to excuse Keith. He’s a very responsible Alpha and loyal friend. But he’s also a little old school.”

“Old school?” Keith mutters beside me and I can’t help but smirk.

“I don’t care who Ralph hangs out with,” Jean continues. “He’s my fated mate. It doesn’t matter what he does or who he’s with - he always comes home to me at the end of the day.”

Take that. Again, I want to give Keith a little nudge. Even if Jean’s words are pure irony.

“Jean…” Keith trails out, frowning. I figure he’s ready to voice his disapproval, but instead he steers the conversation elsewhere. “Ralph also mentioned that you’re pregnant with your second child. That’s true, right?”

What is he trying to do? Guilt-trip me? Ugh, I want to tackle him to the ground for bringing up the subject, especially as I see Jean’s face pale even through the shaky video feed. He had no right bringing that up!

“Oh, we - we lost the baby a few days ago…” she tells him, fighting to speak over a lump in her throat. However, her struggle to talk is warranted this time as her words are the truth. Well…almost. They did lose the baby…but it had been weeks since the “incident.”

And yet, Jean tries to keep her emotions at bay as she gives a weak smile. Goddess, she is so strong. I can’t help but feel my heart swell with pride. I want to give her a sincere smile back, but don’t get the chance as Keith pulls the phone away. He brings it close to his face, obviously beside himself at her news.

“What!?” he barks out. “But he just told me yesterday that the baby is fine. That you don’t need anything.”

“I think he’s just trying to cope with the loss,” Jean responds sadly, seeming a little helpless. “Besides, you know he’s not going to tell you everything.”

At that, I watch as Keith’s jaw tightens, so harshly that I fear he may break a few teeth.

“Well,” he grinds out. “It seems that Ralph and I may need to have a little chat.”

But he doesn’t give Jean a chance to respond to that. Instead, he just hangs up, forcibly stuffing his phone back into his jacket pocket as his gaze burns toward the floor. I know he’s pissed and I shouldn’t press buttons, but a part of me can’t help but be delighted from his obvious turmoil.

“Happy?” I ask him, lifting my chin.

Immediately, his heated stare clips over to me, making him look as if he could bite my head off.

“It’s not in the line of ethics,” he says tightly, referring to whatever is going on with Ralph and me again.

“His mate doesn’t seem to mind,” I reply, waving in the direction of his hidden phone. “And I’m not part of your pack, anyway.”

Again, Keith attempts to set me on fire with his eyes as he scowls. But I’m too delighted to be bothered. I can’t help but feel like the victor of a good boxing match as he didn’t manage to knock me down a peg. Even with his element of surprise, Jean and I still performed beautifully together. We debunked all of Ralph’s lies and now it only left Keith with an egg on his face.

Good, I think. He deserves to be the one left frustrated.

Pleased, I decide it’s time to take my leave. I don’t hide my smirk as I lift a hand, giving Keith a pitiful tap on the chest as a form of goodbye. And then I begin to walk away, adjusting my purse on my shoulder.

However, I feel something suddenly falling out, brushing against my hip before it drops to the floor. Oh well, no matter. I’m too determined to make my swaggering exit to check what I’ve lost.

Only, my steps suddenly come to a halt as I hear his voice behind me.

“Shirley Creed. Senior Auditor,” he states, and immediately I feel my heart throw itself into my throat, hearing its loud beating in my ears.

Stiff as a board and white as a ghost, I gradually turn back to him, completely blind to the rest of the clubgoers as my eyes finally land on him.

And I nearly faint as I see him holding up my work badge, spotting my picture right on the front of it.

Keith is still, looking at me with a hard, questioning gaze as he gives the badge a little flick.

“Is this you?”