Chapter 38 - Shirley

**Shirley's P.O.V.**

Who the hell does Luka think he is rejecting me? It didn't hurt because my bitch of a wolf left a few years ago when I wouldn't stop sleeping around with other men behind Luka's back. Still, he shouldn't have been able to leave me like that. A witch gave me a potion so he wouldn't feel the betrayal when I was with the other men. I'm a woman who does what she wants to get what she wants. I pegged Luka to be a weak, good-for-nothing man whose strings I could pull, and I was right. For a while, anyway.

The witch also gave me a potion to make him think we were fated mates so we could mark each other and I could put my plan into action. Everything was going well after we hired Sheldon to kill Doug and his family. I know the pack hates me, but they're all still my puppets. Luka thinks that just because he tells them he's stepping down and has rejected me, they'll turn on me, but he's wrong.

When I walk outside, I see several people walking toward me angrily. I smirk as I wait for them to get close. They're not going to know what hit them.

"Luka said he's no longer alpha, so you're no longer luna. We're going to appoint someone who deserves to be alpha. Your days of telling us what to do are over." One of the men says. He's one I've slept with on multiple occasions until he met his mate. Even my magic can't get past the damn mate bond of fated mates. I snap my fingers and say the words the witch taught me, and suddenly, they all stop.

"Now this is what you pathetic shit for brains are going to do. You're going to find where Luka went because that is where the keeper is, I'm sure of it. He wouldn't even tell me what pack she was in. That's your job now. Whoever can find me the information first will be my beta." I snap my fingers again, and the men run to do my bidding.

Malcolm, my current lover, puts his arms around me. I lean against him even though I feel like kicking him in the balls. Men find me attractive, and I use it to my advantage, but that's only because I can lead them around by the only thing they think with.

"Now that Luka is gone and you're unmated, why don't you let me mark you?" He asks while kissing my neck. I shiver from disgust, but clearly, he thinks it's from pleasure because he slides his hand under my skirt and strokes my thigh. If he wasn't the lead warrior, I would have already found someone else. I need him because he's big and strong, and he'll be the one I send in to get me what I want.

"We need to wait, or someone will get suspicious." I turn to face him and slide my hand inside his pants to stroke him. "I promise we can be together as much as you want, but we can't mark each other yet."

No one knows I no longer have my wolf. If they did, then my charade would be over. Malcolm closes his eyes as I continue rubbing him, not caring who can see. This is my pack, and I'll do whatever I want. When I start to let go, he holds me tighter and opens his eyes.

"You said we can be together as much as I want, and I want you now." Why did I have to say that? However, I can't turn him down; I need him on my side so he doesn't suspect I'm not telling him the truth. I smile at him, pulling his mouth to mine. As much as it disgusts me, I let my tongue play with his. When I pull back, he's hard as a rock pushing against me.

"Come on, let's go to the alpha bedroom," I say against his lips. He takes my hand, and we go to the bedroom. Luka's things are still here, but I don't care. I just want to get this over with. Luckily, Malcolm isn't a patient man. He raises my skirt, rips my panties off, and bends me over the arm of the couch. He slams into me from behind. At least in this position, he won't try to kiss me, and it's easier to fake an orgasm. When he finishes, I scream his name and clench around him as though we came together. He pulls out and turns me around.

"Just think you can have this every night now." He says as though I just won a prize. I smile at him and kiss him lightly.

"I can't wait. Let's get some work done. Do you think you can find the keeper for me? If you do, I'll let you mark me." I run my finger lightly over his penis, making him hard again.

"Leave it to me. I'll find her and bring her to you on a silver platter." He says as he tries to unbutton my shirt. Once is enough.

"Let's finish this later. We have to find her before someone else does. All of this will be yours once we have her." I slide my hands down my body, and Malcolm licks his lips.

"I'm going to search Luka's office. I'm sure there's something there." Malcolm fixes his pants and runs out of the room while I prepare to take a shower. I need to get him off me.

After I'm done, I head to the forest area behind the packhouse. The witch stays there and only appears when I need something. It's time to prepare for the grand finale, so I want to be sure she's ready. When the witch's hut appears in front of me, I knock on the door.

"Come in, Shirley," Zaleria says from inside. I would never tell her this, but her name reminds me of a contagious disease. She turns from the potion book she's looking through. She's the only woman I'm slightly intimidated by, and it has nothing to do with her magic. She's gorgeous even though she's centuries old and has long blonde hair that goes past her waist and a curvy figure that makes even me jealous.

"Luka has left and rejected me. He thought that would make the pack turn against me, but I just put the spell on them you taught me." I tell her as I walk into the hut. Zaleria smiles and nods.

"Good, then everything is going as planned. Any luck finding the keeper?" She asks as she walks over and sits at her small table. I take the seat across from her.

"Not yet, but I have the entire pack working on it. I believe Luka knows where she is, and I think that's where he went." She reaches over and pats my hand. I try not to recoil. As beautiful as she looks, I know she's black as night on the inside.

"Don't worry, dear, we'll get her." I don't know why that gives me the creeps, but it does. Maybe I shouldn't have put all my faith in a witch. They can't be trusted and will try to trick you every chance they get.

"I better get back and make sure they're doing what they're supposed to. I hope to have the keeper here in a few days. Will you be ready?" I ask Zaleria while moving my hand from under hers. She tilts her head to the side and narrows her eyes.

"You don't need to question me. The question is, will you be ready? I will pull out the legends, but do you think you can handle that much power? You seem to be uneasy around powerful women." She asks, taking my hand again. I know what she wants, but I've refrained because I'm not into women. I'm not into men either; all I care about is power. I would do what she wants if I actually thought it would get me somewhere, but I don't trust her. Once she gets what she wants, she'll try to possess me.

"I can handle anything." I take my hand back again and stand up, walking to the door.

"One of these days, the power you want will be within reach. When that day comes, you'll do what I want so you can have it. Otherwise, you'll live out your pathetic life as a human." I turn to her, and she smiles evilly.

"That was not part of our deal," I tell her. She sits back and crosses her arms.

"I know, but that doesn't mean agreements can't be changed. Let's see how desperate you are to get what you want. I won't force you, but when the time comes, you'll be begging me." I turn and walk out of the hut as her laughter fills the air.

Why are witches so evil? I will never beg her for anything. She will give me the power I deserve. Every black witch I've met has been into women. As I return to the pack house, what Zaleria said weighs on my mind. Why is she so intent on being with me? Did I miss something? The power of the keeper has to be worth more than just a little sex. I need to think about this. What is her ulterior motive?