Strings of Fate

Megan 4- Exploding and explaining The next few weeks are very lonely. Bellamy is quiet and depressed. Ryann answers my calls. and messages and comes to help with wedding stuff when I ask, but she’s withdrawn and doesn’t reach out unless | talk to her first.

Even Darrien, my constant shadow, seems to be more and more unhappy every passing day, although he hasn't said why. Regardless of everyone's mood, tdoes pass and soon enough it’s the night before my wedding. I'm anxious about the ceremony, but more than that, I'm anxious because this is going to be the first tBellamy and Ryann have been in the splace since he found out the truth and then ran off. In all likelihood they will just avoid each other. But | hope they make up. Still, it’s kind of frustrating. This isn’t going to be the fun filled, perfect day I've always dreamed of if my brother and best friend can’t stand to even look at each other. It's like everything is just stagnant. Neither of them is willing to make a move and try to fix things, but neither of them seems to be willing or able to move on either. So they're just stuck how they are, miserable. and making everyone around them miserable too. Bellamy and | are having a very quiet and very late dinner together while | go over the plans for tomorrow and he nods and pretends to care. He got hlate and | waited for him, determined that he would at least hear the plans. before the day. All of a sudden he glances at his phone and tenses up. Before | know it, he is throwing his plate across the room with a viscous growl. What the hell? Bellamy is usually fairly even tempered, what has him throwing his meal? “Bels? What's wrong?” | ask, he doesn’t answer and he doesn’t stop there. My plate quickly follows it along with both of our glasses. Before | know it, he’s lashing out at any item that isn’t stuck down. Even in his rage he’s careful not to letget hurt, but apparently the dishware is fair game. Once the kitchen is sufficiently trashed, he wrenches the door to his study open, steps in and slams it shut behind himself. | hear the lock click into place and then nothing. | have no idea what is going on but my automatic reaction is to call Darrien.

“Miss Kane?” He answers the phone after one ring.

“Something is wrong with Bellamy, he’s freaking out and he just completely trashed the kitchen.” I tell him, my voice is quiet and anxious.

“I'm on my way. Are you safe?” He demands immediately.

“I'm fine, I'm just worried about him. He's locked himself in his office. | don’t know what to do or what's wrong with him. He got a message. Do you know if something happened?” | ask, 1/5 Megan 4- Exploding and explaining a little desperate.

“No, but I can only think of one person that could bother the Alpha so much.” He remarks and | start to panic.

“You think something has happened to Ryann?” | ask in horror.

“No, Aaron is with her right now. If there was danger we would have been called to help. But maybe he heard something else he didn’t like?” he suggests.

“I'm going to call her. Right now.” | insist. | hang up on Darrien before he can say anything. He should be here soon, but I need to know that Ryann is alright.

| wait anxiously as the phone rings, but she doesn’t answer. | immediately call again and still... no answer. It's not until | call for a third tthat she picks up the phone.

‘Megan, what's wrong?” She doesn’t sound like she’s in trouble. In fact she sounds more relaxed than she has in ages.

“My brother is going crazy and nothing makes him as crazy as you do. Where are you right now?” | demand. | know it’s a little rude ofbut | need to know. | mean my brother just trashed the place.

“I'm at home.” Yeah there’s no way that’s the whole story or Belamy wouldn't be freaking out. Plus Ryann sounds like she has more to say.

“And?” | prompt.

“And | have a friend over?” | can’t repress a groan. | think | know what the problem is.

“Is this friend a guy?” | ask.

“Yeah...” She answers awkwardly. | groan even louder. No wonder he’s upset. He's jealous and he has to know that it’s at least partially his own fault.

“That explains a lot. You have a guy over in the middle of the night. Wait, who is it? Is he a Shifter?” Seriously, | didn’t think she even KNEW any other guys except for the Shifters who 2/5 Megan 4- Exploding and explaining have been guarding her, and Bellamy wouldn't be freaking out about them.

“No.” She answers reluctantly. Why doesn’t she want to say who it is? “Someone from your work? A human?” | prompt. | know I said | wouldn't pester her anymore but I need to know.

“No, a childhood friend. He's an Incubus.” She finally admits and | am speechless for a full thirty seconds.This might be the worst possible scenario.

“You invited an Incubus into your home, alone, in the middle of the night?” Does Ryann realise how that must look? Wait, does she care? Maybe she is planning to sleep with the Incubus since my brother hasn't been around.

But that doesn’t sound like her. | know the guy can’t be using magic or taking advantage of her because the guards would have put a stop to that before they made it into her home.

“Yes, | did. He’s my friend.” She responds defensively. She sounds a little angry and | realise this Incubus must be a legitimate friend. If | voice my thoughts right now I'm only going to piss her off.

“Oh, I get it, and it’s fine, great even. But Ryann, you can’t have thought Bellamy would react well to this.” | overdo it with the reassurances but | don’t want her to be angry. Still, I can’t help but point out the obvious.

“I can’t live my life around what makes Bellamy most comfortable. Besides, he met Harry briefly once before.

We've already had this argument.” I sigh.

“I get it Ry, but seriously. You're driving him crazy.” “| seriously doubt that’s the problem. He's probably just annoyed that I'm making it difficult for my guards again since he has deemed himself personally responsible for my safety.” | roll my eyes tically. How can she not realise that he’s obsessed with her? He’s paying for a full tsecurity detail for her. He wouldn't do that for just anyone. But she hasn't listened toso far, why would she believenow.

“And are you safe Ry?” | have to make sure before | hang up. A smooth male voice answers and | can’t help a shiver of pleasure at the sound of his voice. Woah. Incubi really are 3/5 Megan 4- Exploding and explaining something else.

“Hey there, friend of Ryann. | can assure you that Ryann has absolutely nothing to fear from me. You can tell the Alpha kitty cat to stand down. | think we were probably only seven years old when she toldin no uncertain terms that | would never have a chance with her because fate said so. Can't argue with that, now can 1?” He sounds amused, but not offended. | doubt he’s trying to get into her pants. | mean, | doubt he would reject her if she offered, what Incubi would? But he seems okay.

“That does sound like her.” | agree.

“I know, always unavailable.” He sighs then when he speaks again his voice is seductive.

“What about you then? Are you available?” | hear a thud that | suspect is Ryann hitting him.

“She isn’t for you Harry. Keep your charm to yourself.” She tells him off and I laugh.

“Had to try Ry, backing off now.” He answers cheerfully.

“Sorry about him. Everything is fine here as you can tell. We built a blanket fort and now. we're watching cartoons. I'll see you tomorrow for hair and makeup alright?” Okay, so she’s okay. | have to go tidy the kitchen anyway so | let her go.

“Yes definitely! 7:00 am sharp. | can’t believe tomorrow is my wedding!” | say with an enthusiasm I'm not sure | feel.

“Um, yeah. It's definitely cquick. Ill talk to you tomorrow. Bye.” “Seeya!”