Strings of Fate (Ryann and Bellamy) novel Chapter 7

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

I want to yank 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.

Additionally, Shifter blood and bones are apparently quite useful in potions and as magical tools for Witches and Sorcerers. I find it all rather creepy. Why would you want to drink a potion with blood in it? Maybe if you were a Vampire I guess.

But I'm getting distracted. I notice my blue and red threads are visible again, so Bellamy and Megan must both be relatively nearby.

I peer out the window to see what I can of the feline Shifter's home. They have a huge amount of land and there are trees everywhere. I suppose so they can run and hunt naturally as cats.

We drive past the 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 quite large and would cost a fortune, apparently Shifters make a lot more money than I had previously assumed. Not that I spend a lot of time considering Shifter finances, I have my own to worry about after all, but I guess it makes sense considering how much land they own.

As I predicted, we stop at the largest house at the very end of the street. Shaun climbs out the car and offers me an arm to help me out. I feel a little spiteful considering that they have basically kidnapped me, so I ignore his arm and get out on my own.

I wonder when Bellamy is going to show up. He has obviously got to be the one who started whatever drama I am caught up in. It isn't fair if he gets to avoid everything. Aaron steps around the car to join us and once again Shaun takes my hand and places it over his arm to lead me along.

I roll my eyes and allow it. It's just not worth the effort to argue. I try and think about what I know of the feline Shifter's Alpha. I think he is an older gentleman. He is pretty well known and I have never heard any crazy stories about him going on rampages or anything like I have for the canine Alpha. Hopefully, he won't be too bad.

Suddenly, I recall another story from the news a few months ago. A Shifter Alpha and his wife were both killed in an awful car accident.

Was that the feline Alpha?

I'm not sure. We walk through the house, we pass a door where my blue thread leads through. Megan must be through there somewhere. Shaun leads me to an ornate looking wooden door at the end of a ridiculously long hallway.

I 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 apologises to the person on the other end and hangs up. He stands to greet us.

“Alpha Kane. We have bought Ryann Gale here, as you requested.”

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