Chapter 79

Shirley

The room is silent and the men are gone. Keith is gone.

All Arthur, Ruth, and I can do is stand within the room, breathing as we try to soak in everything that has just happened.

They took Keith because he’s committed a crime they wouldn’t explain, but I know for certain that they’re wrong. Whatever it is - he’s been wrongly accused.

I want to know for what, why, and who made the accusations. But most importantly, I want to get him back - I need to.

As my shock disappears, fire begins to course through my veins - determination soon filling me to the brim. Then the wheels in my head begin to spin.

“Arthur,” I say, turning to look at him. “We need to contact the Alpha King.”

I watch as Arhur turns to me blinking - apparently still stunned.

“What?” he asks.

“The Alpha King,” I state. “We need his help. We need to clear Keith’s name.”

Arthur continues to blink at me, as if he still hasn’t grasped what’s going on. But we need to act fast.

“Ruth,” I say next, looking toward the woman. “Is there any way we can contact him? Does Keith have anything?”

I have to assume most Alpha’s have some connection to the King - some way of reaching him. Maybe there’s something hidden away in Keith’s office. In a contact book.

Considering this, I already begin to take steps toward the hall - seeing as Ruth also doesn’t reply. However, I only manage to cross a small distance before Arthur’s voice stops me.

“I have it,” he says quietly, causing me to look back. I watch as the man slowly pulls out his phone. Already, I move to him.

“He’s not…” Ruth finally speaks as I reach Arthur. Her eyes are still wide, her lips trembling as I glance over. “He can’t be guilty. Of anything …can he?”

“No,” I respond immediately, absolute certainty in my tone. I can’t think of a single crime Keith could have committed. He may be cold and intense when necessary, but underneath that hard exterior there’s still a kind and caring Alpha. Keith would never do something to hurt the innocent.

“He’s been wrongly accused,” I state. “That’s the only thing I can think of.”

Gradually, Ruth begins to nod at me, not questioning my claim. Maybe she notices the confidence behind my words.

“It’s here,” Arthur says, pulling my attention. I look over, seeing that he has the King’s number pulled up. “This connects to his office.”

“Call it,” I say, desperation coating my tone. “Please, Arthur. We need him.”

The break in my voice finally seems to shake away the last of Arthur’s disbelief, his own determination filling his eyes. Without another word, he clicks the number, raises the phone to his ear.

“Hello. I need a word with the Alpha King. It’s urgent.”

~

The three of us have been on the edge of our seats as we wait near the phone. It has been hours since Arthur called the King’s office and presented his concerns. Now, we’re waiting for someone to call us back - though we have no idea when exactly that will be.

Already, we have cleared breakfast from the table and obsessively tidied up the kitchen in order to keep our minds busy. However, it’s no secret that we’ve all been glancing toward the phone, praying that it rings.

“Goddess,” Ruth breathes as Arthur begins to pace. “I can’t take this. I need to bake or do something.”

I nod at her as I stand by the counter, understanding her restlessness. Ruth finally caves, opening drawers and cabinets as she begins to pull out supplies. Only, as she places a large bowl on the counter, the phone suddenly begins to ring.

We all move toward the sound, but it’s Arthur who grabs it and immediately answers. He does us all a favor by putting it on speaker phone.

“Yes? Hello?” Arthur says swiftly as Ruth links her arm through mine, squeezing me. I put my hand on her arm to offer reassurance.

“Hello, Arthur,” a deep voice says. “I received your message.”

The King. It’s actually the Alpha King. My back straightens as I register his powerful tone.

“Hello, Xavier,” Arhur says, shocking me as he greets the King by first name. “We need your help.”

“Evidently,” the King replies. “My assistant caught me up to speed on what’s happening. And I have to admit - I’m not pleased.”

His response has the hair on the back of my neck standing up, anticipating what he might say next.

“Your son, Keith, has proven to be quite the impressive Alpha and I’m well versed in his accomplishments and ability to lead.”

My heart swells as he compliments my mate. But I need more.

“Yes,” Arthur says then. “Keith is well-loved by the pack, an ideal Alpha. That’s why none of us can understand what’s going on.”

“Neither can I,” the King says. “And that’s why I’m going to help you.”

My eyes grow wide at his words, my arm feeling detached from my body as Ruth hugs me tighter.

Oh thank Goddess.

“I know this is all very upsetting and confusing - even I am furious how the police would just take Keith,” the King throws out. “But leave it with me. I will investigate the case and do what I can.”

“Thank you,” I say, before I can stop myself. But I’m bursting with gratitude, nearly ready to fall to my knees. I know my voice carries every emotion in those two words.

“Is that…Keith’s mate?” the King asks, causing me to swallow. Arthur looks toward me, and I decide to let him reply this time - not wanting to get anyone in trouble if I speak out of turn again.

“It is,” Arthur says finally.

But the King replies to me.

“Don’t sorry, dear girl,” he says.

“I’ll help get your mate back.”

~

I’m grateful that the King has agreed to help us - beyond grateful. Only, his involvement has left us all in the dark, waiting in more silence as we can’t track the progress.

It continues like that for a day, which causes me to pace endlessly through Keith’s office as I try to find ease in his lingering scent. I need to hear something, growing wild as there’s no news.

Only, as I turn to walk to the other side of the room again, I’m stopped as Arhur is breathlessly running in.

“Shirley,” he pants, holding his phone to his chest as if muting his words to whoever sits on the other end. “It’s the Alpha King.”

My brows raise, my feet unmoving as I wait for Arthur to give me an update on what has happened. But he doesn’t. Instead, he nods toward the phone.

“He wants to talk to you.”

Ice meets my veins, making me want to shiver as I realize what he’s saying. The Alpha King wants to talk directly to me.

I’m hesitant for a moment, but ultimately I’m hungry for whatever news the King has. That makes me finally go to Arhur, taking the phone before I place it to my ear.

“Hello?” I breathe.

“Shirley,” the King says back, rattling me as he addresses me by name. “I have an update.”

I wait in silence, unable to utter a word as I hold my breath. On the King’s end, I can hear him shuffling around some pages.

“After reaching out to the authorities and demanding details, they have informed me that Keith was turned in by a man who provided them with concerning accusations.”

The King pauses, allowing me to take in this info before he continues. And his next declaration immediately causes bile to race up my throat.

“The man reported that Keith has recently been involved with kidnapping and selling surrogate wolves to another pack,” the King states.

“No,” I reply, no longer holding my tongue. “No. Keith had no involvement in that case - other than putting an end to it all!”

“Well,” the King replies. “The man who stepped forward seems to have very strong evidence against Keith.”

Who? The word echoes in my mind.

“I have to admit, Shirley,” he states next. “It doesn’t look good for Keith. If I’m going to do anything, I need proof that Keith is innocent. And a generous bail needs to be paid to at least release him. The man’s story was locked tight.”

The man. The man. The man.

“Who?” I bite out, unable to stop myself anymore. “Who is the man?”

There’s a few moments of silence, the only sound I can make out is my own heartbeat in my ears. But then my heart seems to stop completely as the Alpha King finally replies.

“Ralph,” he says. “Ralph Morrison.”