Strings of Fate

7- Demands and denials

“Or maybe 1 can just tell my shift manager that I have to leave…” Shaun grabs my hand and places it on his arm.

I want to.

it away but I feel like I probably shouldn’t antagonise this guy, at least not

until I’m sure he’s not a threat.

Seeing no real option but to go along with it, I leave my arm there and allow him to lead me from the restaurant. There is a black car parked out front. Shaun opens the door for me to get

in and climbs in beside me. Aaron makes his way to the drivers seat.

I rack my mind to consider why a Shifter Alpha would want to see me. Something to do with. Bellamy of course, but what?

Had he made some complaint about me? Or had he somehow figured out that I was his soul mate and planned to drag me kicking and screaming to the Shifter compound?

The fact that he has involved his Alpha is hardly promising. I don’t know a lot about Shifter politics and rules, but I do know that, to a Shifter, their Alpha is the highest authority that

they answer to.

If I am going to be dragged in front of the feline Alpha, I really would have appreciated some warning, maybe a chance to change into something other than my awful work uniform.

The car ride is awkward, but thankfully short. We pull into the feline Shifter compound. I’ve

never been here before, not that I have ever actually wanted to visit or anything. But even if I

did, Shifters are rather private and it is rare for them to invite non–Shifters into their gates. I wonder if it’s because they have some huge dramatic secret they’re keeping from the rest of the world. Or maybe they just don’t like random people wandering onto their land and trying to snap photos of them in their animal forms.

I know that a few years ago there were a bunch of humans who were arrested for poaching Shifters. They claimed that the fur and scales gathered from Shifters were of higher quality

than a normal animal.

1/5

Additionally, Shifter blood and bones are apparemniy qutte unetful in potions and as magical tools for Witches and Sorcerers. I find it all matther creepy. Why would you want to drink a portion with blood in it? Maybe if you were a Vampire quem.

i

getting distracted. I notice my blue and weed heads are visible

the window to see what cam off the Helline Sher’s home. They have a huge amount of land and there are tees everywhere. I suppose so they can run and

trees and come to what is basically a single long street full of houses which I suppose is where all the Shifters live. At the very end of the street is the biggest house of them all and it’s very clearly where we are headed. The houses on this street are all

the largest house at the

spiteful comidening that they have basically kidnapped me, so I ignore his arm and

am

going to show up. He has obviously got to be the one who started whatever drama Il a cught up in. It in fair if he

again Shuun takes my hand

lend me along

not worth the effort to argue. I try and think about

think he is an

rampages on anything like I

excall another vatory from the news a few months ago. A Shifter Alpim

both killed in a avfall car

What the tellime Alpha?

7- Demands and denials

where my blue thread leads through. Megan must be through there somewhere. Shaun leads me to an ornate looking wooden door at the

hear a familiar voice from behind the door and my red thread leads straight to it. So apparently Bellamy is here. I knew whatever this is was his fault. Shaun opens the door and enters without knocking. I expect to see at least two people in the room and I am surprised to find only Bellamy. He is on the phone but as we enter he

We have bought Ryann

and utter shock and horror

BELLAMY is the Alpha?

Of COURSE he is.

with the most complicated guy in the immediate area doesn’t it? I sigh internally. I probably need to pay better attention to Shifter politics, I get the feeling I am going to be mixed up in them plenty sometime

Alpha. Does this mean I should be treating him with more respect or something?

deep nod before turning and leaving the room. It occurs to me that Aaron literally didn’t speak to me at all. He must be a very quiet person, or maybe

see what Bellamy wants before I chew him

face as blank as possible. Bellamy gestures for me

to get out without

3/5

Emergency calls only!

7- Demands and denials

I think. Bellamy moves to sit on the comer of

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