Strings of Fate

36- Caffeine and contests

Now that we are under a proper light rather than the shadowy front hall, Darrien notices how tired I am.

“You look dead on your feet. Did you sleep at all last night?” he questions. I shrug.

“I slept a little, but I don’t really feel like I did. My head is killing me.” I groan. He turns and rummages through a cupboard that is high enough that I would have to climb on a bench to reach it. He then grabe

a bottle of coke from the

fridge and pours a large glass. He places the

glass and a little box in front of me.

“Take two of these and finish the drink. Painkillers and caffeine. You should feel a bit better once they kick in.” I gratefully down the pills and start on the drink.

“Thanks, I definitely need it.” We sit in silence for a minute or two as I finish up the coke. I can already feel the sugar and caffeine perking me up a little.

“So, what’s the meeting for? Megan told me to come this morning, she didn’t mention any meeting.” Hopefully this isn’t some super secret Shifter thing that I’m nosing into. I hate. when people tell me to butt out.

“You, sort of. Alpha Kane has been tracking down the Shifters who were hovering about your place last night. He’s called a meeting with the other Alpha’s to discuss it. He believes it may be the Canine Alpha who sent the Vampires and that it may be his men who are hovering.”

“Oh, how did Bellamy find out? And when? The day is barely started.” Darrien shrugs.

“I’m not sure how he found out. But he was out and about all night looking into it. He hasn’t actually slept yet. Hopefully he will find time to catch a nap before the… party tonight.” Darrien looks irritated at the mention of Megan’s engagement party, which is fair enough I

suppose. So Bellamy has been up all night trying to find out who ordered the attack on us? Any remaining irritation or frustration at him that might have been lingering from last night fades away. My headache is fading and I feel far more lively than I did ten minutes ago. Darrien must have decided that he is no longer at risk of being killed due to my grumpiness because he decides now is the time to pry.

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36- Caffeine and contests

last night?” he asks, his tone is teasing

wasn’t a date.” I

Alpha Kane

evening ended with me yelling at Bellamy and slamming the door in his face. So you can take from

Kane end in you fighting. So I don’t place a lot of weight on it. But I’m still going to ask, what were you arguing

my home. Well, to be more accurate, whether he should be allowed to tell

He manages to get out between bursts

argument was resolved so it doesn’t

caved.” he states.

cave. We compromised.”

around. Alpha or not.” I shrug. I remember our discussions about dominance. I relay it to Darrien and tell him about my experiment

see much point. I already know that you

eyes. Darrien holds. my gaze and unlike when I tested this with Shaun, I feel pressured to look away, but not enough to force me to give in. Just enough to make this actually feel like a competition.. Darrien lasts about ten seconds before he drops his

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36- Caffeine and contests

as I do right now. When he looks back up he gives me a wry

He declares,

not convinced that it’s not just my freaky eyes making people uncomfortable though.” Darrien shakes

submit, and only because you

clear in

that we

but he gives me a fond smile. Darrien is much

too, just in a different way to the men. But I’m not a Shifter, so it’s not like that for me. Or is it? It’s not like I actually know what I am, I could have protective instincts that I’m not aware of. I certainly feel protective of Maggie and Logan. Not to mention how I got involved in all this drama because I wanted to protect Megan. I could argue that I’m protecting Bellamy by not telling him about our thread. But I might also be protecting me. Or maybe both of us? Discussing everything with Darrien has left me so confused. What I really want to do is talk to Megan about it, but I don’t know if she