Strings of Fate

Aaron 6- Plus one and prompting The next few weekends follow a predictable pattern. | would watch all of Penelope’s performances, she would stop by afterwards and say hi toand chat for a few then | would walk her to her car and say goodnight. | spend my whole week looking forward to the weekend and more and more | wish | could spend twith Penelope elsewhere. Maybe get dinner. | was thinking how it would be interesting to see her interact with my sisters and how I'd enjoy showing her around the Shifter compound. | show her the Cock Tales group chat one night and | wonder what it would be like if she was part of the group, what comments she would contribute. The Alpha’s wedding is coming up soon and | imagine. what it would be like having someone to attend it with me.

Penelope is the type of person who gets along with everyone so | can’t imagine that she would have any difficulties fitting in, unlike me. I've never minded being alone, but | enjoy spending twith Penelope and hearing what she has to say, and | want to tell her things too. To share the gossip | hear from the group chats or the observations I'v been making about our various friend's relationships. 1 | want to tell her about the tI had to watch the two Alpha’s avoid each other for months while they figured out their feelings. But | have no idea what she wants from me. | don’t know how to start telling her these things, or how to bring them up. So | just stay quiet, answering when she askssomething and hoping that maybe she will ask something that will allowto express what | actually want. It’s not that | want to change how | am, | just want a chance to share it more.

It's a Saturday evening, although not too late yet. | am out taking Alpha Ryann to meet up with Alpha Kane.

We're walking through a shopping district that is open late for the more nocturnal types of Magics and waiting for him to turn up. I'm hoping it will be soon so that I will have tto go see Penelope's performance. She's probably at the club getting ready now. It’s not too far from here so as long as Alpha Kane doesn’t take too much longer | can probably still make it on time. I'm doing my best to not show my impatience as we walk together, but it might be showing a little because Alpha Ryann has been watchingclosely for a few minutes now and she seems suspicious and distracted. When | go to meet her gaze she looks away and off into the distance, briefly tripping over. She steadies herself with her light grip on my arm and her eyes dart back toagain then away as she focuses on walking safely.

“So Aaron, I've been wondering... Do you have a plus one for my wedding? A girlfriend or a close friend you could ask? | mean Megan and Darrien will be going together. Shaun will be with Amber and I'm sure that Harry will be harassing Cam for the whole day. Alex toldhe 1/3 Aaron 6- Plus one and prompting you to plans to attend alone but | haven't checked with you yet. It would be a shfor spend the whole tby yourself, although you have to promise to savea dance.” She adds casually. Almost too casually actually. | consider how to answer. | DID think of asking Penelope, but we haven't even interacted outside of the club.

Taking her to a huge wedding event might be asking a little much at this point. | haven't even managed to ask her for a drink, and we spend all our tIN A BAR. She did giveher number so | could text her, maybe find a way to casually mention the wedding... But no. It would be completely out of the blue and | don’t want to make things weird. | take too long to answer and Alpha Ryann decides to speak again..

“You know any girl would be lucky to have you.” She prompts. | shrug my shoulders in a noncommittal gesture.

Alpha Ryann rolls her eyes at me, clearly that wasn’t the response she was hoping for, “You know, I've noticed that you've been tried lately, and kind of distracted. Sometimes pretty eager to leave work too. Are you sure there’s no lovely Shifter lady that has caught your eye?” She pushes on. | shake my head quickly. It's not a lie, Penelope isn’t a Shifter. Alpha Ryann isn’t dissuaded.

“No? Well what about a NON Shifter lady?” She continues. | freeze up and tense, She can. obviously feel it with her hand on my arm. Before | can blink she’s stopped walking and has stepped to faceproperly.

“I KNEW it!” She bounces excitedly.

“Who is the girl? What is she? When can | meet her?” She blurts out question after question not leaving tforto answer even if | did know what to say. | stare at her helplessly. She is caught up in her excitement and | doubt she will be satisfied with a shrug or non-answer.

“When are you seeing her next?” She tries again. Almost unconsciously, | look in the general direction of the club where | know Penelope must be. Alpha Ryann follows my gaze and her eyes go out of focus for a moment then narrow thoughtfully.

She is pulled from her thoughts by the arrival of Alpha Kane who immediately pulls her into his arms and tight against his chest. He lets out a deep sigh that almost seems like relief to have her back at his side.

2/3 Aaron 6- Plus one and prompting “Why are you just standing on the street? | thought we were meeting at the restaurant.” He asks curiously.

“I'll explain in a minute.” She responds with a sweet smile before returning her attention to 1. me.

“Aaron you should finish for the night. Actually, take tomorrow off too, You've been working too much lately. | suspect you have better things to do.” She tellswith a cheeky grin. I'm a little embarrassed, but lettingleave now means | can make the performance and I'll have plenty of ttomorrow too. | could even get dinner first, | give a deep nod.

“Thank you Alpha.” | tell her seriously, hoping she can see how much | appreciate the offer, Alpha Ryann shrugs.

“I've told you before to just callRyann! Just for that I'm going to update the group chat on my suspicions. If you want to defend yourself, | suggest you start thinking about your response now. Have a nice evening!” Without waiting for my reaction, she hooks her arm through Alpha Kane's and begins to drag him away. As much as | want to chase after them and demand to know what she’s planning to tell everyone, | want to hear Penelope sing more so | turn on the spot and head in the opposite direction towards the club where | know she will be waiting.

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