Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 174

Strings of Fate

174- Striking and starving

Despite what I said about needing to avoid the kitchen, that’s actually my first stop when leaving the office. Bellamy got me a little well… hot. I desperately need a glass of water. Or one of those cold showers that Bellamy is so “fond‘ of taking lately. Bellamy trails behind me, apparently not willing to leave my side just yet. I freeze momentarily when I walk in and replace Megan sitting in the same bar stool at the bench that I vacated earlier. I force myself to keep moving. Darrien is on the other side of the bench. He’s apparently in a great mood and is humming along to a playlist that they have playing while he assembles what looks like the sandwich to end all sandwiches. Seriously, it’s already way too big for anyone to actually bite into and he is still adding stuff to it. Megan is watching on in awe.

“Hi guys.” I drop into the second stool beside Megan while Bellamy gets me a cold drink. As he passes it to me, his phone vibrates. He checks it quickly and frowns.

“I need to check in with Alex. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” He leans in over my shoulder and kisses me on the cheek. He speaks quietly in my car before pulling away.

“Love you.”

I immediately flush red and of course, before I can even process Bellamy leaving, Megan squeals in excitement. Damn. I sometimes forget how good the Shifter’s hearing is. A glance at Darrien shows a mischievous, dare I say it, evil, grin plastered to his face.

“That was SO cute. I mean, I’m reluctant to call my brother adorable but seriously. So sweet!” Megan is speaking so fast that she’s practically stumbling over her own words. I nod along with her, letting her express her excitement. But I keep my eyes on Darrien. I don’t trust that expression. Sure enough, as soon as Megan pauses to breathe, he strikes.

“So, Ryann. When are you going to put our Alpha out of his misery?” He asks slyly. Huh? What does that even mean? I don’t think anyone could look at Bellamy right now and say that he looks miserable. Thrilled, elated, excited… aroused, sure. But miserable?

“I have literally no idea what you mean by that.” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest, Darrien just smirks at me like I’ve said something cute, like his meaning should be obvious. Megan is the one who answers.

“Oh, I got this one! He’s asking when you’re going to tell Bels that you love him back!” she says, way too loudly if you ask me. I frown. Why are they so convinced that I haven’t? Also I’m kind of insulted that they assume he said it first. I mean I know that he and I were both shocked that I did, but still. Not cool.

“Who says I’m the one who needed to say it back.” I complain. Darrien and Megan both freeze in place and stare at me, Darrien looks almost comical. He’s so shocked.

“You, YOU said it first?” He demands, disbelief in his tone. Megan just holds her arm up for a high five. I slap her hand as she clearly wants.

“Way to go Ryann! How did this happen? When did it happen? I want to hear everything!” She insists. I glance up at Darrien, expecting him to put an end to the ‘girl–talk‘ but nope. If anything he looks even more interested than Megan, although his eyebrows might be permanently stuck in his hairline due to shock at this point.

Somehow, the three of us end up in the living room. I’m in the middle of the couch with Darrien and Megan on either side of me. Why does this feel like an interrogation? I give them a quick rundown of how it basically slipped out while

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174–Striking and starving

I was telling Alpha Kohen about or relationship.

“You told the Alphas?!” Darrien demands. He still looks shocked. In fact he looks awed.

“Not quite. I told AN Alpha. Just Kohen. Baby steps and all that.

“I’d hardly call that a baby step.” Megan comments and I shrug. Without warning, Megan throws her arms around me, squeezing me tightly.

“Megan. Can’t. Breathe.” I manage to choke out. She loosens her grip so I can get some air but doesn’t let go.

“I’m so proud of you.” She finally releases me and relaxes back into the couch, sighing dreamily. Darrien doesn’t say anything, honestly I think I broke him. Should I be insulted? Still, he pats me on the shoulder approvingly before turning

is gaze back to Megan where, as always, it lingers.

Eventually I manage to extricate myself from Megan and Darrien. I love spending time with them, really I do. But with Megan all dreamily sighing at me and Darrien mooning over her… I’m just feeling a little awkward. I excuse myself by claiming I have work to do then escape upstairs to the bedroom so that I can… well… hide. Now in the running away type way, more in the, I need a moment to take a breath and process things, way. I sit there a while until I start feeling guilty for wasting time and honestly, I’m kind of bored. In an attempt to be productive, I decide to take another attempt at meditating and maybe communicating with Kiara. I succeed in making a connection at least. I can see Kiara. I can’t hear her but at least I can see how she’s doing. She is eating. Or at least kind of eating. She has a plastic plate in front of her with what looks like take out on it. Nuggets, chips. That kind of thing. But she’s just picking at it. I doubt she’s even taken a single full bite. That won’t do. She’s already so thin she looks like she might break. She’s clearly lost weight during her captivity. I make it my new goal. I am going to get that girl the biggest meal. Anything she wants, everything, I don’t care what, hell I’ll get her twelve flavours of ice–cream if that’s what she needs. Still, watching her poke at her meal is just painful. She needs to keep her strength up. She needs to stay alive and be ready when we come to rescue her. I’m determined to tell her. I’ve spoken to her twice now. It’s difficult, but I did it then so I can do it now. I focus and force a word through our connection.

“Eat.” It must work because Kiara jumps. This time she doesn’t bother looking around. She just closes her eyes and takes a couple deep breaths. When she opens them again, that look of determination she used to wear is back on her face. With shaky movements, she reaches forward and grabs a nugget. I watch as she takes a bite and slowly chews. Actually, I sit and watch as she finishes the entire meal, although I have to admit towards the end she looks a little nauseous. It might have been a bit much for her to finish her meal, 1 can tell she hasn’t been eating much. Her stomach has probably shrunk a little. Poor darling. I don’t think I have the energy to speak to Kiara again, but I do my best to connect to her and send her my approval. I think it works because as soon as I do, a wave of dizziness washes over me and I lose the connection.

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