Strings of Fate

154- Rumours and realisations | spend half the morning annoying Bellamy by pacing the house anxiously and staring at the phone waiting for the Magic registration offices to call. They should call today, right? Well, at least | think Bellamy would be annoyed if he was paying any attention to my pacing at all. What is he doing anyway? My nervous anticipation would probably drive him crazy if he weren't busy with something himself. He's been glancing over at the front door every ten seconds since breakfast. At first | assumed it was because my pacing is annoying him, but now I'm thinking he’s waiting for someone. Are we expecting guests that I've forgotten about? Actually, no. He looks far too eager for us to be having guests. Bellamy only ever looks that eager when... well when | arrive if I'm totally honest. But I'm already here so | know he isn’t waiting for me. My question is answered when Aaron, Darrien and a woman I've never met before turn up at the door with a few boxes. Oh, my stuff. | was so eager for the phone call | actually totally forgot that I'm moving in completely today. So | guess in a way, Bellamy was waiting for me. It’s actually adorable how excited he is. I'm not as enthusiastic, not because | don’t want to be here, but mostly because | already collected all the things | care about the most. What's left is mostly old trinkets and stuff | hoard as keepsakes.

Bellamy introduces the woman who is with them as Rio.

“Hey, | work security jobs with the guys sometimes.” She holds out a hand to shake. She looks. like a super athletic barbie doll. Tanned skin, curves and blonde hair. She's gorgeous and smiles brightly.

“Hello, I'm Ryann.” | say, shaking her hand lightly before releasing it. Who is she and why is she here exactly? “Oh, did Alpha Kane not tell you that | would be coming? He asked the security team to collect your stuff from your apartment but he suggested it might be useful for a woman to go along too. | usually get jobs where | need to blend in more, this was a nice relaxing way to spend the morning. Oh, | was the one to pack up the contents of your bedroom. | let the guys. take care of the living area and all the heavy lifting. We have your TV and all your kitchen stuff. We did leave your furniture, but we can go back for it if you need any of it?” She continues talking without so much as taking a breath.

“I have been wondering who you are by the way, a lot of us have. | asked Alex but he won't tellanything.

Darrien and Shaun just tell| should keep my nose out of other people’s 1/3 154- Rumours and realisations business. Aaron won't even answer when | ask. It’s so annoying. At first | thought you were just friends with Megan, but then Alpha Kane called and arranged all this so | was thinking maybe you're close to him too. Then | found a bunch of his clothes in one of the drawers in your room. Sorry if | wasn’t meant to find that but | WAS packing up your stuff. Figured the guys shouldn't have access to your underwear drawer and all that.” She notices my dumbstruck expression and finally, the talking stops.

“Uh.” That's about all | can get out. What just happened? She went through so much so fast. | guess that she is one of the female security guards that Bellamy toldabout. | can see why he wouldn't assign her to jobs where he wants to scare people off because she isn’t even remotely intimidating. I'd say she doesn’t blend in either, but to be honest | can’t imagine that anyone suspects her of being security of any kind. She might draw attention, but | doubt she draws suspicion. And apparently Bellamy called her to help pack up my stuff, he must have remembered how unenthusiastic | was at the idea of having any of the guys packing up my stuff. That's really sweet of him. Although it may have backfired a little because finding Bellamy’s clothes in my dresser was more than a little bit of a hint as to our relationship.

“Rio. You've said too much.” Bellamy’s tone is a dark warning and his brow is furrowed. He makes eye contact with her and her gaze hits the floor fast.

“I apologise, Alpha Kane. | didn’t mean to overstep. | just thought...” keeps her head lowered and trails off.

Bellamy looks annoyed, but | suspect he is more annoyed at himself. | pat his arm and take a step in front of him.

“What did you think, Rio? I'd like to know.” | tell her, trying to keep my tone friendly. She glances up through her eyelashes and my expression must be at least a little bit reassuring, which is my goal because she lifts her head to look up at me.

“I thought you and Alpha Kane might be a couple. And | thought that if I'm having those thoughts | should tell you outright rather than pretend I don’t know. | thought it might be useful for you to know that... if this is skind of secret, I'll keep it to myself. But if you need anything... well | already know and | am always happy to help.” She sounds very uncomfortable. | glance back at Bellamy and | can see his expression has softened. He was just worried, not angry.

“Thank you Rio. Uhm... 1, well. You're... not exactly wrong. But | would rather not go telling everyone just yet. So | would appreciate it if you kept it to yourself. At least for now.” | tell her. She raises an eyebrow.

2/3 154- Rumours and realisations “You're asking me. Not telling me.” She clarifies, she seems confused. | shrug.

“Secrets shouldn't be demanded. If you keep a secret for me, it's a favour. Not something | can demand. Not to mention I'm not exactly in a position to be making demands.” | explain. It’s the truth. | don’t want everyone to know, but I'm not going to ORDER her to keep things to herself. She has the right to honesty if she wants it. She looks up at Bellamy who shrugs.

“Ryann has my support for whatever she chooses to do.” He says firmly. grins.

“Congratulations Alpha Kane.” She turns to me.

“And to you too. It seems you aren't as far from making demands as you think you are.” She winks atand | shrug awkwardly.

is nice... like... excessively nice, and for the first t| understand what Bellamy means when he says he has problems maintaining friendships with the other Shifters because they're respectful. treatsin a weirdly formal way. | suppose | need to get used to it, but | do hope she lightens up a little. I don’t want things to be like this all the time. She givesher phone number and tellsabout fifty times that she will keep her information about Bellamy and I's relationship to herself. When she leaves, | find | am oddly exhausted. Bellamy carries my boxes upstairs. Aaron stays downstairs and moves the kitchen boxes to.. Well, the kitchen.

Interestingly, Bellamy lets Darrien cupstairs to the ‘family only zone’ to help carry boxes to his... | mean, OUR room. I've only seen Darrien step up for like thirty seconds to call Megan or to help her with something, except for that one the helped Megan with that video project. He's definitely never been allowed in Bellamy’s room. | can confirm this based on how curious he is to look around. Bellamy is definitely trusting Darrien a lot more and I'd say he’s even fond of him now. It'll be good for him to have a brother.

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