Chapter 75

Keith

Keith’s head hurt like hell when he woke up the next morning, groggy as he tried to blink away the pain also sitting within his eyes. It caused him to reach his hands in his hair, groaning as he felt a strain in each of his muscles.

Holy fuck - he felt like shit. It was as if he was hung over, the pounding in his head only becoming worse. However, as he ran another hand through his hair, alarms began to ring within his head.

He hadn’t been drunk - he’d been drugged.

Eyes snapping open, Keith bared the pain as memories began to dance within his mind. Sitting at home, Lily coming over, realizing she’d put something in his drink, kicking her out. He could remember it all, but it’s what came after that was foggy.

Keith continued to stir then, unsettled by the holes in his own story. Only, as his limbs brushed the bedding around him, he came to a new discovery.

This was not his bed.

Startled again, Keith sat up, fighting through discomfort as he stared down at the sheets and then up to the room around him.

Shirley - this was Shirley’s room.

Keith panted, but on his inhale…a scent met his nose, causing his whole body to shudder. And then his memory became very clear.

In last night’s frantic state, Shirley had found him. And since he’d been incapable of controlling himself - he’d immediately thrown himself at her. However…she hadn’t shaken him off.

No, instead, it was as if both of them had been under the drug’s spell as she’d accepted his advances. Which had inevitably led them to her bed.

Sex. They’d had sex last night. And from what Keith could recall, it was the best sex of his life.

But that wasn’t the end of it. In the midst of it all, he’d remembered the way he’d held her hands, stared into her eyes. And then it was like another spell was broken, soon releasing a scent into the air.

Then he’d felt that spark, an electricity rush through him that had his heart nearly leaping in his chest. But instead, he had just smiled, relieved as he stared down at Shirley and murmured three words.

“There you are.”

Mate, Chaos chimed in them, confirming what the scent had meant. That woman is our mate.

Keith ignored the wolf’s comment, but still couldn’t deny that Chaos was right. The scent that appeared last night, that still lingered around him now - belonged to his mate. And he could officially confirm it had come from Shirley.

He didn’t know how that was possible - confused how she could have been hiding her scent the entire time. But he also didn’t care. He was too focused on the fact that Shirley didn’t lay next to him then.

I’m certain, Chaos’ voiced wildly as the Alpha jumped up from the bed. One-hundred percent she’s our mate.

Quiet, Keith snapped, practically stumbling to grab his pants from the floor. He quickly tugged them on before he swiftly went to the bathroom, sliding into the doorway to see if Shirley was inside.

I told you she was hiding, Chaos still tried.

Quiet, Keith repeated, then storming out of the room. He went out into the living room, the kitchen, even in his own personal rooms to find the woman - but she wasn’t in any of them.

Where is she? Keith thought as he still tore through the house. And where the hell was his phone? If she wasn’t here then he needed to try to text or call her.

She’s not hiding anymore, Chaos said. We found her.

That question wasn’t for you, Keith scolded, finally going back into Shirley’s room to search for his phone. However, as soon as he walked through the door, he paused - noticing something that he’d somehow previously missed.

The bed was disshelved, clearly messed up after the night’s events. But the rest of the room…

Keith swallowed, further realizations hitting him as he scanned the floor, the open wardrobe. He then went back to the bathroom, checking the counters and cabinets.

All of Shirley’s things…were gone.

No, no.

Darting out again, Keith went back into his office, tearing his desk apart as he desperately searched for his phone. However, he finally stopped when he spotted it sitting on a side table, snatching it before he dialed Shirley’s number.

It rang…and rang, causing Keith to curse as he hung up and tried again. Still, it rang and eventually went to her voicemail.

“Come on, Shirley,” he gritted out, trying once more. Only, he was met with the same result.

Where was she!? And why wasn’t she answering him? Keith tightened his hand on the phone, squeezing his eyes shut tightly as his mind was dizzied by thoughts and his unforgivable headache. He needed to get ahold of Shirley somehow.

And then it hit him, causing his eyes to fly back open before he addressed his phone again. Swiftly, he found another number, trying that one instead.

“Hello?” a woman answered by the third ring.

“Elana,” Keith threw out, incapable of fully containing himself. “It’s Keith.”

“Oh! How are you? I heard everything -“

“I need your help,” Keith cut her off, losing her patience. “Shirley is gone. Do you know anything?”

“Well, yeah. Today was her last day with the company, remember?” Elana asked.

Last day!? Keith looked back toward his desk, tempted to rip it apart again to find Shirley’s contract.

“Since the company is pretty much all sorted - she’s no longer needed,” Elana said then. “She contacted me this morning saying she was leaving.”

“What!?” Keith snapped out, beyond himself. Shirley had just left? She had snuck out while he’d been out cold…and didn’t even say goodbye?

“I know,” Elana said with a sigh then. “It’s so strange. She even informed me that she was quitting the company - effective immediately. I can’t believe it.”

Neither could Keith. He couldn’t believe any of this. He’d finally found his true mate and she’d just left.

She’d left just like Anya had, disappearing like she’d never been there in the first place. But Keith knew this time was different. He could still feel her somehow, smell her scent even on his own skin. She had been here.

And now she was gone, leaving only traces of herself behind to pierce straight through his heart. Keith began to shake then, unable to utter another word to Elana as he hung up the phone.

Why? Why had she left? The questions had Keith growing more rabid by the second, shaking him to his core.

Especially as more realizations hit him. He’d called Shirley…and she hadn’t answered. He knew that the woman always had her phone on her and she was quick to shoot out replies.

But now she wasn’t. She had gone silent, not even offering a word as he sent multiple text.

Swallowing, Keith dialed her number once more, raising the phone to his ear as he felt his hammering in his chest. Only… that time it did not ring.

“We’re sorry. You’ve reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you -“

Keith dropped his phone to the ground then, hearing it shatter as it met the harsh wood. However, he didn't care for the mess, or the state of his phone. Bile only run up his throat as he faced the truth.

His mate was hiding again.