Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother
Chapter 59

59 – Sleeping and shrieking

“So Bellamy was telling me about some of the things Shifter men do to court women. Food and clothesand stuff. You had to have known this whole time!” I complain. Megan smirks.

“I figured if it was meant to be you would already know and if it wasn’t… Then why force him to gothrough the rejection? Besides, I only knew about him buying you a dress, Darrien has been filling mein about your meals together though. Did you really throw money at him?” She asks. I frown.

“Darrien wasn’t even there for that part. He left when we went to dinner.” I point out. Megan

shrugs.

“Just assume all the guards gossip. Except maybe Aaron. He barely even talks. I think I’ve mentionedbefore that Shaun is a gossip. He told Darrien and Darrien told me.” I groan. So much for privacy. Ithink Aaron might be my new favourite purely for his apparently unique. skill of keeping his mouth shut.

“I get the feeling I’m going to end up being embarrassed by all you guys a lot in the future. Well sinceI’m already bright red I might as well just blurt out whatever. How am I meant to respond to Bellamy?” Iask. Megan tilts her head to the side.

“Respond?” She questions.

“Yeah like if the guys have their three main courting things what do female Shifters do? The whole thingseems important to him so I’d like to know. At very least I don’t want to be unaware of my actions,regardless of what I choose to do.” Megan nods at me.

“That’s a smart attitude and yeah it would be important to him, particularly with how much attention hisrelationships receive. I never bothered with… my ex. Bellamy always did grumble about that. So thewomen have three traditions also, aside from accepting the man’s courting stuff. First one is to give the

man a gift. Something that he can keep to remind him of your affection. Second one is to show that youcare for his family, it’s a lot like the one men have expect more about caring than protecting andproviding. Last tradition is a public act of some kind to demonstrate your commitment and acceptanceof their courting.” We both eat another brownie before continuing.

59 – Sleeping and shrieking

“So… the whole public demonstration thing, I’m not so sure I can do that just yet.” I start. Meganshrugs.

“There’s no rush or time frame, Bels has only managed two of the three for you right now anyway.You’ve already well and truly taken care of the whole caring for his family one, literally just makingbrownies with me today would have counted, not to mention everything else we’ve done together. Sohey you’re already a third of the way there.” She concludes.

“Huh, that hadn’t occurred to me. That’s… good I guess, although it would have been nice to knowbefore I somehow unwittingly reciprocated.” Megan shrugs and settles down lower into her pillows,yawning.

“So that just leaves, a gift right? What kinds of gifts do people usually give?” I ask.

“There’s no specific thing really, it’s pretty personal to each couple. Something that the woman feelsrepresents them maybe, a reminder of a date they’ve been on, a personal item of their own, somethingthey know the man has been wanting for a while. Handmade gifts are

fairly common.” She suggests. I consider.

“What about something the guy can wear? Wouldn’t it be best if it was something he could keep withhim all the time?” Megan scrunches up her face.

“Doesn’t work, gifts like that tend to get ruined when we shift. There’s a reason most Shifters don’tbother with jewellery except for special occasions. Even wedding rings and stuff are usually only wornon special days.” Megan is sounding increasingly tired and yawns again. We discuss a few ideas forgifts but nothing sticks out at me. We fall silent for a bit as I continue thinking about it. I’m about to askher about spelled gifts when I realise she has fallen asleep. I grab the plate of brownies off her lap andcarefully place it on her bedside table. I don’t want to wake her. She definitely needs the rest. I settleback and check my phone. I have a message from Darrien than I didn’t notice.

Darrien- I’m going to bed now but my phone is turned up. Please tell me if she needs anything. I can bethere in less than ten minutes. Is she okay?

Ryann- She is doing alright. She’s just fallen asleep now. I don’t want to risk waking her. Please getsome rest. I promise I’ll call if we need you.

59 Sleeping and shrieking

Darrien responds immediately.

Darrien- Thankyou

Ryann- Sorry, did I wake you?

Darrien- nah, couldn’t sleep. Too worried.

Ryann- Well she’s fine. There’s nothing you can do right now. Rest and take care of yourself.

I’ll see you later.

come

Darren doesn’t answer. Hopefully he’s getting some rest. I begin aimlessly scrolling on my phone, Islept plenty earlier and I haven’t been awake nearly long enough to get back to sleep now. I begingoogling gift ideas for Bellamy when I hear a muffled yelling coming from downstairs. I glance at Meganbut she doesn’t stir. I try and tune it out but my curiosity takes over and I replace myself carefully climbingout of Megan’s bed. As I open her door I can hear the muffled yelling is actually more of a piercingshriek. I step into the hall and quickly close the door behind me before Megan wakes. I feel a little guiltyas I creep down the stairs, but

1. on. If you shriek people are going to hear it. I justify my nosiness by telling myself that I’m justworried that whoever this is will wake Megan. The voice has to be a woman. I know Bellamy had ameeting with Tristain’s mother. It’s been a while though, surely she’s not still here? I’m frozen in thehallway trying to decide if I should listen at the door or just head into the kitchen. Bellamy’s officedoor swings open with a bang and an older woman backs into the hallway. She has bleach blondehair pinned up in a French twist but the hair is frazzled and there are flyaways all over falling out ofthe hairstyle. She is wearing a black dress and heels and looks almost too skinny to be healthy.She is fairly tall but that might just be her heels. She continues screeching at Bellamy.

“I don’t CARE who killed him, this is YOUR fault. NONE of this would have happened if YOU didn’tORDER your sister to break up with MY son. She NEVER would have left him. He was PERFECT!”Bellamy looks flustered. I can’t imagine this has been an easy discussion for him. Telling a woman thather son has been killed because he attempted to murder his fiancé probably won’t come across well.Although I replace it strange that this woman wasn’t at the wedding. Was she planning to miss her ownson’s wedding? Or maybe I just didn’t see her in all the chaos. Either way I can’t watch this anymore. Iinterrupt.

“Excuse me, but you’re wrong. Bellamy never ordered Megan to break up with Tristan, he

59 – Sleeping and shrieking

never said a single negative thing to her. I was the one who told Megan that Tristan was already in arelationship with another woman, Megan chose to call off the wedding as she was not able to acceptbeing cheated on. I am so sorry for your loss, but it was your son who made the decision to attackinnocent people and it was the result of his own actions that he ended up being killed. Bellamy wasn’teven there. Now, I’m sure that if you need to discuss the matter further Bellamy would be happy tomake another appointment with you, but right now you are clearly emotional and I think it is time thatyou leave.” I work to keep my. expression and tone calm.

The woman turns on me, her face red, her eyes teary.

“Who are YOU to tell me to leave?” She demands. I hesitate a moment before answering.

“I’m someone who was actually there when your son died. And I am someone who is here to take careof my friends. You are clearly in pain, I suggest you go replace someone to talk to and that you come backanother time when you are in control of yourself. Right now you need to leave.” She meets my gazeand I hold it. She manages only a few seconds before her eyes drop

in submission.

“Fine. But I’ll be back.” She shoves me with her shoulder as she passes and lets herself out. the frontdoor, slamming it behind her. I race behind her and lock it.