Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate Cam 13- Dinner and delight Not long later, | am invited to a big dinner party at the Alpha’s hwith all their friends and | couldn’t be more thrilled. | don’t think | have ever been invited to a dinner party before. | end up a little nervous, so when | ask Cora if she wants to swap shifts withso that | can go, | ask for her advice.

“Is there anything special | need to do for the party?” | ask. Cora smiles.

“Most people bring a dish or a desert to share. Or an alcoholic drink so | would advise you to go down that route.

Do you know what they like?” She asks. | nod eagerly.

“I think so! And | have a few ideas for special drinks for them too.” | run to my workroom to mix up the special drinks. | create more of the catnip infused booze | fed to Bellamy last time, but | halve the strength. He should at least be able to finish a full drink before becoming so relaxed that he starts groping his girlfriend in front of all their guests. | also include a drink that | designed for Harrison. I've noticed that he doesn’t get drunk easily so I've designed a stronger drink for him. Actually, | made it weeks ago but | wasn’t willing to give it to him in my bar since public intoxication is frowned on and kind of dangerous. But in a private hsurrounded by friends? This might be the perfect chance to test out my creation.

The evening is going really well and all the guests seem really nice. Even Harrison has been on his best behaviour. After dinner though we notice that sof the Shifters are acting strange and Ryann realises that they must have found the drinks | bought, although I hadn't intended to give them out until after dinner when | could be sure that no one was drinking. on an empty stomach. Oops. Even more concerning is when we realise that Harrison is nowhere to be seen and neither is the bottle of booze | designed especially for him. Shoot. After a brief search, Ryann finds him and from the raised voices | am fairly certain that he drank the alcohol I left out. | make my way towards the noise..

“Hey, did the drink work? Is he drunk? | am sorry about it but | still should take notes.” | comment cheerfully. | don’t really feel all that bad about it. | mean, he’s drunk and having fun at a party with his best friends. He didn’t drink an entire bottle of alcohol with the intention of staying sober. He might have gotten drunk faster than planned but | doubt he minds. He seems to be enjoying himself as he hangs off of Ayann who | can see is doing her best not to crumble under his weight.

1/4 Cam 13- Dinner and delight “Yep. Seems like he’s a happy drunk.” she agrees.

“I'm NOT drunk!” Harry objects, a slight slur in his voice. | can’t help but laugh at his response.

“Of course you are. Cam made a special drink for you to make sure of it.” Ryann tells him Shoot, he wasn’t meant to know that. Ill never hear the end of it. Harrison’s face lights up.

“A special drink? For me? She DOES like the.” He grims, elated. Oh alright. Maybe it isat so bad if he knows since it makes him so happy. In a clumsy motion, very different to his usual calculated approach. Harrison releases Ryann and throws himself atin a tight hug. | st awkwardly with my hands outstretched and hovering. | can barely see a thing with my face crushed into his chest. | wait a moment but be shows no sign of letting go. | could hex him or something, but it seems unfair when he’s drunk om alcohol | made for him. Plus all he’s doing is hugging me.

“Uh... a little help?” | ask. Bellamy is the one to answer and he sounds entirely too smug “I don’t know, you're the one who gave him the boose.” He jokes. Ryann bursts out laughing and if | could actually see her | work gure. | try to shove Harrison away.

“Harry, get off.of me!” He doesn’t budge. Is this the first tI've ever called him Harry? ! always call him Harrison but all His friends seem to call bin Harry and it’s rubbing off om “I don’t wanna! You smelll nice. | be you” He declares loudly, Well this is embarrassing. How is it that HE'S the drunk one and | Membarrassed? | thash red. Hopefully mo one can tell. | can’t see their faces but | have no idea how much they can see of mine. Okay, I'm over this. need him to let go..

| can feel his magic stronger than ever and I'm starting to go weak at the knees. My heart is racing and it is talking every bit of will power that | have not to pull hi closer and to have my way with him. I've felt his magic before but this is stronger and more intense than it has been in the past. | want him more than I've ever wanted appone. suppose he must usually be bolding back a little. | focus on the fact that he is drunk and as such even more off limits than the usually is. | should have brought a potion to sober him up but I didn’t think | would meet me.

“Get off ofvou damn Incubus!” | tell him, raising mice in frustration. Finally FINALLY Ramm takes pity onand helps out by distracting Harry Cam 13- Dinner and delight “Harry, you're missing out on your show.” She tells him in a tone | would expect to hear from .can she? a mother manipulating a toddler. She can’t seriously think that is going to work, | stand corrected. Or rather sit. Harry DID let go ofa little so that he could see the television, but when he moved to sit down on the couch he draggedwith him. | object but it’s half-hearted. | need to sit because my knees feel weak and honestly I'm reluctant to let go of him. It’s ridiculous. | don’t WANT to like him or be attracted to b It’s his damn Incubus magic. This is so unfair. | don’t understand how the other women here aren't suffering the sway | am. I'm prepared to settle in for a while to watch skids show but it ends not. long after we find our seats.

“So, we've watched cartoons. You know what that means...” Harry trails off, pure delight on his face. Oh | am not sure | want to hear the answer to this. He makes eye contact withbriefly and | am all but certain he is about to spout out scon or innuendo and embarrassfurther.

“What?” | ask warily.

“It's tto build a FORT!” He declares, jumping to his feet and letting go ofat last. | feel suddenly cold without him beside me. Wait, did he say build a fort? “I don’t know about that Harry...” Ryann starts, but quickly changes her tune when Harry teams up with Kiara and begs. | have to admit that | would have trouble denying the pair of them too. The next hour or so is a chaotic mess. Everyone works together to build an enormous blanket fort and it is really very fun. I help build the sides, but when it comes tto build the tops | take a break. I'm too short to reach it properly anyway, | notice that one of Ryann’s guests, Marie, is looking kind of exhausted. I’m not surprised considering she has a very young child with her. She escapes into the kitchen and | follow her. We both have a glass. of water and chat, “You know, this isn’t really what | expected from such a powerful group of people. There are four Alphas in this room and svery dominant. Shifters and here they are building at blanket fort and having fun like a group of rowdy children. It’s... more fun than | anticipated.” | comment. Marie laughs, “Yes, they are an unusual group aren’t they? Not all Shifters are like this, particularly not the dominant ones. But | think this gathering is a chance for them to let loose a bit. Your drinks 3/4 Cam 13- Dinner and delight are probably helping that along too. My own husband hasn’t been able to relax like this in ages, at least not around anyone other than me. It’s good for them I think. To have friends and just simple fun. | was surprised to receive the invitation from Ryann as gatherings like this aren't usually something multiple Alphas attend. But | can see what she was trying to accomplish and | agree with her. It's good for them. They're all busy trying to be in charge and put together all the time. They need a chance to be childish occasionally. Your Incubus ist also a good friend for them I think. He knows how to bring out the fun side of people.” She smiles happily. | flush red.

“He’s not MY Incubus. | don’t even know why Harry hangs aroundso much. He's a shameless flirt. He has even admitted it himself.” | object. Marie raises an eyebrow.

“Are you sure? Because I've been here all night and while he’s interacted with all the women here, you're the only one he’s shown any interest in.” She insists. | shake my head.

“I'm the only one not here with a partner who would end him for trying anything. I'm just the easiest target.

That's all.” | disagree. It's clear that Marie doesn’t agree with my assessment but she drops the matter. She tilts her head slightly, as if listening to something.

“Ah, they're just now realising how dark their fort is going to be. | wonder if we can find a torch or something for them?” She starts opening random drawers in the kitchen. | check the pantry and an idea strikes. Maybe it's t| bring a little magic into this fort.