Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother
Chapter 45

45- Tears and truth

Next time I check my phone it’s basically flat so I plug it in to Megan’s charger. It’s after six in theevening.

“I should probably get going soon.” I inform her with a frown. I’m enjoying myself, I don’t particularlywant to go home and sit around by myself. It leaves too much time for thinking. Megan grins at me.

“You look like you’d rather stay.”

“I would.” I admit. She shrugs.

“So stay then. We can have a sleepover.” She is suddenly excited, her excitement is

contagious.

“I’d love to!” I bounce back onto her bed and she laughs as I almost fall off again. It takes a few minutesfor her to calm down enough to be able to speak again.

“So, I was wondering something…” I start. She nods for me to continue.

“Tristan, I don’t know a lot about him, and you don’t really talk about him all that much. What’s he like?”I am actually curious what he seems like to her, because to me he just seems creepy. Megan smiles.

“He’s perfect. He always says the right thing and we never fight or disagree about anything.” sheanswers with a sappy sigh at the end. I resist the desire to frown. Never disagree? Everyone disagreesabout things sometimes? Life would be a bit boring if we didn’t. I guess Tristan is telling Meganeverything she wants to hear.

“Huh, that’s nice I guess.” I tell her casually, hoping she can’t sense my insincerity.

‘So, now it’s my turn to ask a question. How’s the hunt for Bellamy’s future mate going?” she askscasually. I have to fight not to react. Why is she asking about that NOW? I shrug.

“Nothing has changed.” I answer vaguely. Megan raises an eyebrow.

45- Tears and truth

“Really? Are you sure? You haven’t found her yet?” I shake

my head.

“I haven’t found her.” I try not to cringe. I was hoping to avoid outright lying to Megan, but it’s hard to dowhen she’s being so direct.

“You really haven’t found her? Practically every female feline Shifter in town was at my engagementparty. So it’s odd that you didn’t pick up anything.” She continues. I shrug.

“It’s very weird, maybe you need to look harder? Or maybe we should invite over some Shifters fromother cities?” She suggests. I’ve been trying to stay calm but I lose control.

“Would you just STOP! I haven’t found her. I don’t know if I’ll ever replace her. But there’s no need to rushfate!” By the end of my sentence I’m almost yelling. Megan crosses her arms over her chest.

“You don’t know if you’ll ever replace her? That seems like a lie to me Ry because as far as I can tell youalready have!” She snaps back. I stare at her in shock.

“I… what do you mean?” I ask nervously. She can’t have figured it out. Please don’t let her have figuredit out. Megan rolls her eyes.

“I’m not blind Ry, nor am I stupid. I can see the signs as well as anyone else. What I want to know iswhy you’re denying it.” I sigh, okay so she figured it out. I guess I’m going to have to

have this conversation.

“I’m not refusing anything. Your signs are unreliable. We barely even get along most of the

time, we fight constantly.” I argue. Megan waves a hand dismissing my argument.

“You get along fine, you argue because my brother isn’t used to being around people who actuallystand up to him and you aren’t used to having people care what you’re doing. Not to mention neither ofyou are used to being so open.” Her voice is firm and leaves no space for

debate.

“But 1-” I start but Megan doesn’t let me finish.

“Ryann Gale, stop lying to me. Am I your friend or not?” she demands.

45- Tears and truth

“Of course you’re my friend.” I assure her. She nods, pleased.

“Good, so tell me the truth. Are yo

my brother’s mate?” I can feel her eyes on me, but I keep staring at my own hands. I can’t bring myselfto look up as I respond. I can’t lie to her anymore. Not without losing her. Or at the very least losing hertrust.

“Yes, we’re fated.” I whisper. Megan and I both jump as her bedroom swings open with a bang as it hitsthe wall. I whirl around to see Bellamy. He is standing in the doorway and his expression is hard andunreadable. Did he just hear that? His expression, along with the fact that it isn’t common practice toslam doors for no reason, tells me he must have. This is so very, very bad. He wasn’t supposed to replaceout like this. I search his face, he does not look impressed. In fact he seems horrified. I can’t seem tomove. I can’t even breathe. Bellamy just continues to stare at me. Then, without saying a word, heturns and slams the door behind. him. I can hear his steps as he heads downstairs. I stare at the door.Megan recovers from the shock before I do.

“What are you doing? Go after him!” She pushes me slightly, encouraging me to get off the bed. Ishake my head.

“I can’t.” I whisper. I’m shaking from head to toe. I can’t possibly face him now. That wasn’t the look ofsomeone who was happy to hear I’m his soulmate. In fact if I had to guess I would put his expressioncloser towards hatred than anything else. He hates me. I know we’re fated to be together, but I can’tface him like this. The sound of a car outside tells me that Bellamy has left the building. It’s too late forme to follow now anyway. I still can’t seem to move.

“Oh Ryann, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was there. I swear.” Megan moves to wipe tears. away frommy face. I’m crying? I didn’t notice.

“How did you know? What gave it away?” I ask her. It’s too late now to hide anything, but I need toknow what gave me away. Megan gives me a sad smile.

“I’ve known the whole time. It’s partly why I started treating you as a sister. No one else. fights with himlike you do. He’s always happier when you’re around and he’s incredibly worried about you when youaren’t nearby. What really confirmed it for me though is that he’s stopped sleeping. He spent a coupleevenings with you and now he can’t seem to sleep without you. He’s never had that problem before.

You’re the same, although you seem to be getting on a little better. Probably because you aren’t aShifter.” I choke back a sob.

45- Tears and truth

“He was a jerk to me at first, so I didn’t say anything. Then it was too late. I couldn’t say. anything. Ididn’t want to ruin everything by trying to rush fate. What if he was horrified? Or worse, went along withit because he needs a mate to make the Alphas happy or because he feels obligated to me somehow.And I don’t even know how I feel. It’s all just happened too fast.” I’m completely bawling at this point.Megan has her arms around me as I hide. my

face

in her shoulder.

“Oh sweetie, he would never.” I cry even harder.

“How can you say that? You saw what just happened. He hates me.” Megan falls silent. She doesn’tknow what to say to that. I take a deep breath and pull away.

“I should head home.” I hold up a hand when she tries to object.

“He lives here, I’m not going to chase him away from his own home. I’ll ask Darrien to take me.” Meganlooks unhappy but agrees. I dial Darrien’s phone. He answers almost immediately.

“Darrien?” I sniffle.

“I’m in Megan’s room right now. Can you take me home? I need to leave right now.” I can feel the tearscoming again.

“I’ll be there in two minutes. Come downstairs.” He hangs up. I grab my stuff and make my way downthe stairs. Megan follows behind me, worried. The front door swings open and Darrien takes one lookat me before stepping forward and pulling me into a tight hug. It’s sweet of him, especially consideringhow he usually avoids them.

“What happened?” He asks. I’m already crying again.

“Bellamy found out.”

“I made her admit it to me. I didn’t know he was listening.” Megan sounds guilty. I can’t bring myself toreassure her right now. Part of me blames her still. Darrien strokes my hair gently.

“Wait… you knew?” Megan seems impressed. I can feel Darrien shrug.

45- Tears and truth

“The signs were there.” Is all he says. I pull myself away from him.

“Can we go please?” I half beg. He nods and leads me out to his car. Megan hugs me tightly. before Iclimb into the passenger seat. As Darrien starts the car, I wind down the window.

“Call Bellamy and tell him I’ve gone home.” I mumble. Megan nods her agreement and we drive awayinto the night.