Strings of Fate

Megan 2- Pushing and prodding After my failed attempt during lunch tto get Bellamy and Ryann to talk out their argument from last night, | spend the afternoon with p looking at wedding stuff. | take care to make a separate note of anything that she particularly likes. | mean, | want to plan her wedding one day, even if it isn’t with my idiot brother, although I suspect it will be. It's a nice afternoon even if Ryann is clearly a little distracted at times. It's just getting dark when Ryann comments that she should head hand | convince her to stay over. | know Bellamy won't mind. Things might be awkward right now but | know he likes having her nearby.

“So, | was wondering something...” Ryann comments. She looks nervous but I’m not sure why.

| thought she had gotten over her shyness with me.

“Tristan, | don’t know a lot about him, and you don't really talk about him all that much. What's he like?” She asks. Oh, that's not what | was expecting. | smile and quickly answer her the sway | did everyone at my engagement party. | feel like | I've given this sspeech. a dozen times by now.

“He’s perfect. He always says the right thing and we never fight or disagree about anything.” He really is good to me. The whole relationship has just been so easy.

“Huh, that’s nice | guess.” Ryann answers. She doesn’t sound convinced. But then again, she hasn't spent much twith him so she wouldn't know. Besides, her sort-of relationship is way more chaotic than mine! It's probably a little mean ofbut | can’t resist a subtle jab at her.

“So, now it’s my turn to ask a question. How's the hunt for Bellamy’s future mate going?” | ask casually. Ryann keeps her face neutral but | can see the flush around her cheeks. She just shrugs at me.

“Nothing has changed.” She answers mildly. | raise an eyebrow. Is she really still trying to deny it after last night? “Really? Are you sure? You haven't found her yet?” | push and she shakes ger head i denial.

“I haven't found her.” She insists, but she looks guilty. There is no way she isn’t lying to me.

1/4 Megan 2- Pushing and prodding “You really haven't found her? Practically every female feline Shifter in town was at my engagement party. So it's odd that you didn’t pick up anything.” | really want her to admit it. | think it would be good for her to talk about it. Maybe | can help. So | continue to put the pressure on.

“It's very weird, maybe you need to look harder? Or maybe we should invite over some. Shifters from other cities?” Finally Ryann’s control snaps as | knew it would.

“Would you just STOP! | haven't found her. | don’t know if I'll ever find her. But there's no need to rush fate!” | cross my arms over my chest. Seriously? Why won't she just TELL me!? That's it, I'm done being subtle.

“You don’t know if you'll ever find her? That seems like a lie toRy because as far as | can. tell you already have!” | snap at her, daring her to lie toagain. Ryann stares back atwith wide eyes. She tries to deny it a little longer but I'm not having any of it. Finally | give her one last chance to be honest with me.

Ryann Gale, stop lying to me. Am | your friend or not?” | demand.

“Of course you're my friend.” She rushes to reassure me. | nod, happy that she can be honest about THAT at least.

“Good, so tellthe truth. Are you my brother's mate?” 1 stare at her and she studies her own hands before whispering her answer.

“Yes, we're fated.” My bedroom door swings open with a bang as it hits the wall. My brother is staring at us and he looks hurt and sort of pissed off. Damn. He turns and leaves and it jolts into action.

“What are you doing? Go after him!” | try to push Ryann to go after him but she refuses. She is shaking heavily like she’s the one who just had a big shock.

“I can’t.” She really does seem frozen in place. | think | messed up. | should have made sure we had privacy before making her admit anything.

“Oh Ryann, I'm so sorry. | didn’t know he was there. | swear.” | wipe tears off of my friend's cheek.

2/4 Megan 2- Pushing and prodding “How did you know? What gave it away?” She asks. Is it wrong to answer that | got jealous of how close they're becoming? | give a slightly different response, although it’s still true.

“I've known the whole time. It’s partly why | started treating you as a sister. No one else fights with him like you do. He's always happier when you're around and he’s incredibly worried about you when you aren't nearby. What really confirmed it forthough is that he’s stopped sleeping. He spent a couple evenings with you and now he can’t seem to sleep without you. He's never had that problem before. You're the same, although you seem to be getting on a little better. Probably because you aren't a Shifter.” Ryann is still crying and I just don’t know what to do. Why did he have to run off like that?! “He was a jerk toat first, so | didn’t say anything. Then it was too late. | couldn't say anything. I didn’t want to ruin everything by trying to rush fate. What if he was horrified? Or worse, went along with it because he needs a mate to make the Alphas happy or because he feels obligated tosomehow. And | don’t even know how | feel. It's all just happened too fast.” | hug her tight to my chest. Oh the poor thing. She is barely keeping up with her own emotions and she’s trying to be considerate of his too. She doesn’t know how to trust anyone. so she is just carrying on as best as she can while burdened with knowledge that most people don’t have. | thought knowing that kind of thing would make life easier but | can see that it's not always the case.

“Oh sweetie, he would never.” | promise her. | know my brother and he would never use someone like that, no matter how grumpy he is.

“How can you say that? You saw what just happened. He hates me.” He doesn’t hate her. I'm sure of it, but | don’t think she will believe me. Bellamy needs to be the one who tells her, not me.

Ryann insists on heading home, once again trying to be considerate of Bellamy by leaving his space. She might be too good for him. She calls Darrien to take her home. When did they get so close? It feels like | blinked and they were best friends all of a sudden. What do they even have in common? We meet him downstairs and | watch as he comforts my friend.

“What happened?” He asks as Ryann sobs.

“Bellamy found out.” 3/4 Megan 2- Pushing and prodding “I made her admit it to me. | didn’t know he was listening.” | admit guiltily. Darrien continues. trying to soothe Ryann when | realise something.

“Wait... you knew?” Damn, | thought | was the only one who noticed. Is he had all the sinformation as me.

“The signs were there.” Is all he says. Before she leaves, Ryann tellsto call Bellamy and tell him it’s safe to chome. | don’t think that he or | are going to.enjoy that particular conversation.

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