Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother
Chapter 174

Strings of Fate

174- Striking and starving

Despite what I said about needing to avoid the kitchen, that’s actually my first stop when leaving theoffice. Bellamy got me a little well… hot. I desperately need a glass of water. Or one of those coldshowers that Bellamy is so “fond‘ of taking lately. Bellamy trails behind me, apparently not willing toleave my side just yet. I freeze momentarily when I walk in and replace Megan sitting in the same bar stoolat the bench that I vacated earlier. I force myself to keep moving. Darrien is on the other side of thebench. He’s apparently in a great mood and is humming along to a playlist that they have playing whilehe assembles what looks like the sandwich to end all sandwiches. Seriously, it’s already way too big foranyone to actually bite into and he is still adding stuff to it. Megan is watching on in awe.

“Hi guys.” I drop into the second stool beside Megan while Bellamy gets me a cold drink. As he passesit to me, his phone vibrates. He checks it quickly and frowns.

“I need to ch*ck in with Alex. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” He leans in over my shoulder andk*sses me on the cheek. He speaks quietly in my car before pulling away.

“Love you.”

I immediately flush red and of course, before I can even process Bellamy leaving, Megan squeals inexcitement. Damn. I sometimes forget how good the Shifter’s hearing is. A glance at Darrien shows amischievous, dare I say it, evil, grin plastered to his face.

“That was SO cute. I mean, I’m reluctant to call my brother adorable but seriously. So sweet!” Megan isspeaking so fast that she’s practically stumbling over her own words. I nod along with her, letting herexpress her excitement. But I keep my eyes on Darrien. I don’t trust that expression. Sure enough, assoon as Megan pauses to breathe, he strikes.

“So, Ryann. When are you going to put our Alpha out of his misery?” He asks slyly. Huh? What doesthat even mean? I don’t think anyone could look at Bellamy right now and say that he looks miserable.Thrilled, elated, excited… aroused, sure. But miserable?

“I have literally no idea what you mean by that.” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest, Darrien justsmirks at me like I’ve said something cute, like his meaning should be obvious. Megan is the one whoanswers.

“Oh, I got this one! He’s asking when you’re going to tell Bels that you love him back!” she says, waytoo loudly if you ask me. I frown. Why are they so convinced that I haven’t? Also I’m kind of insultedthat they assume he said it first. I mean I know that he and I were both shocked that I did, but still. Notcool.

“Who says I’m the one who needed to say it back.” I complain. Darrien and Megan both freeze in placeand stare at me, Darrien looks almost comical. He’s so shocked.

“You, YOU said it first?” He demands, disbelief in his tone. Megan just holds her arm up for a high five.I slap her hand as she clearly wants.

“Way to go Ryann! How did this happen? When did it happen? I want to hear everything!” She insists. Iglance up at Darrien, expecting him to put an end to the ‘girl–talk‘ but nope. If anything he looks evenmore interested than Megan, although his eyebrows might be permanently stuck in his hairline due toshock at this point.

Somehow, the three of us end up in the living room. I’m in the middle of the couch with Darrien andMegan on either side of me. Why does this feel like an interrogation? I give them a quick rundown ofhow it basically slipped out while

174–Striking and starving

I was telling Alpha Kohen about or relationship.

“You told the Alphas?!” Darrien demands. He still looks shocked. In fact he looks awed.

“Not quite. I told AN Alpha. Just Kohen. Baby steps and all that.

“I’d hardly call that a baby step.” Megan comments and I shrug. Without warning, Megan throws herarms around me, squeezing me tightly.

“Megan. Can’t. Breathe.” I manage to choke out. She loosens her grip so I can get some air but doesn’tlet go.

“I’m so proud of you.” She finally releases me and relaxes back into the couch, sighing dreamily.Darrien doesn’t say anything, honestly I think I broke him. Should I be insulted? Still, he pats me on theshoulder approvingly before turning

is gaze back to Megan where, as always, it lingers.

Eventually I manage to extricate myself from Megan and Darrien. I love spending time with them, reallyI do. But with Megan all dreamily sighing at me and Darrien mooning over her… I’m just feeling a littleawkward. I excuse myself by claiming I have work to do then escape upstairs to the bedroom so that Ican… well… hide. Now in the running away type way, more in the, I need a moment to take a breathand process things, way. I sit there a while until I start feeling guilty for wasting time and honestly, I’mkind of bored. In an attempt to be productive, I decide to take another attempt at meditating and maybecommunicating with Kiara. I succeed in making a connection at least. I can see Kiara. I can’t hear herbut at least I can see how she’s doing. She is eating. Or at least kind of eating. She has a plastic platein front of her with what looks like take out on it. Nuggets, chips. That kind of thing. But she’s just

picking at it. I doubt she’s even taken a single full bite. That won’t do. She’s already so thin she lookslike she might break. She’s clearly lost weight during her captivity. I make it my new goal. I am going toget that girl the biggest meal. Anything she wants, everything, I don’t care what, hell I’ll get her twelveflavours of ice–cream if that’s what she needs. Still, watching her poke at her meal is just painful. Sheneeds to keep her strength up. She needs to stay alive and be ready when we come to rescue her. I’mdetermined to tell her. I’ve spoken to her twice now. It’s difficult, but I did it then so I can do it now. Ifocus and force a word through our connection.

“Eat.” It must work because Kiara jumps. This time she doesn’t bother looking around. She just closesher eyes and takes a couple deep breaths. When she opens them again, that look of determination sheused to wear is back on her face. With shaky movements, she reaches forward and grabs a nugget. Iwatch as she takes a bite and slowly chews. Actually, I sit and watch as she finishes the entire meal,although I have to admit towards the end she looks a little nauseous. It might have been a bit much forher to finish her meal, 1 can tell she hasn’t been eating much. Her stomach has probably shrunk a little.Poor darling. I don’t think I have the energy to speak to Kiara again, but I do my best to connect to herand send her my approval. I think it works because as soon as I do, a wave of dizziness washes overme and I lose the connection.

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