Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 222

Strings of Fate

Bellamy 1- Scents and stalking

My sister is getting married. She told me over an hour ago, hugging me and bouncing around in excitement. I did my best to appear supportive but I really didn’t see this coming. Marriage? I don’t have a problem with my sister getting married in theory but I always thought I would at least like the guy. I imagined that we could get drinks sometime or at least have a conversation more than hello and goodbye. But no. I know this is her choice, but Tristain is so… dull. He’s like a fake person. I never imagined them getting married because I assumed she would get bored of him and end it. But maybe he’s different around her? Ugh I need a drink. Megan went up to bed, something about needing plenty of beauty sleep to start

this whole wedding is going to

planning her big engagement party. Why do I get the feelin

be a complete nightmare for me? Actually, a drink is not going to cut it. I need to run. I exit. my study and head for the front door. I don’t bother with shoes, I’ll shift as soon as I’m outside. I’m reaching for the door handle when something makes me pause. What is that scent? It’s subtle, but whatever it is, it smells AMAZING. A quick look around tells me that the smell is coming from Megan’s handbag. Did she get a new perfume or something? I could

ask her tomorrow but… I don’t think I’ll be able to get it out of my mind. I could just check, I

know it’s a jerk move to go through a woman’s bag, but I’m sure she would forgive me.

Probably.

I ignore the nagging guilty feeling I get while rifling through my sister’s bag. I try to avoid touching or moving anything. Luckily, the source of the smell is right at the top of the bag. A folded scrap of paper. Huh, why would that smell so good? Maybe it’s a sample of something? Although I usually dislike perfumes, they’re too strong and tend to smell like chemicals. I

take the paper and after a moment’s hesitation, unfold it.

*You don’t know me, and I’m sorry that I can’t explain this properly in a note. You should know that the man who just proposed to you is not the right man for you and while it may be unpleasant to hear, I thought I should tell you now in an attempt to spare you more pain in the future. One day I hope to explain myself properly but for now this is all I can do.

I am truly sorry.

R.G.”

What the hell? Who is R.G? Whoever they are, I need to speak with them, or her I would guess from the scent of the note. The scent is appealing, and also decidedly feminine, at least

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to me it is. Either way, finally someone else is suspicious of Tristain. More than suspicious, certain that he is not right for my sister. This is the confirmation I needed. Megan should not marry Tristain and I need to tell her. But… she isn’t going to want to hear it. I can’t even tell her WHY I don’t like him. Maybe this R.G. Person knows something or saw something. I mean she seems pretty positive that he isn’t right, she must have a reason for that. Right? I’m up for the rest of the night trying to work out who this R.G. Person is. I doubt it’s anyone I know, I would recognise the scent. Maybe one of Megan’s classmates? The scent on the note isn’t strong enough for me to be sure, but I’m pretty sure the person isn’t a Shifter. I examine the note for the tenth time, hoping some clue to R.G.s identity will magically appear. No such luck, although… Now that I think about it, there is something I didn’t notice before. The note. smells like dinner. I couldn’t say what exactly, but underneath the amazing smell is hints of food. Roasted meat maybe? Oh I’m an idiot. Whoever wrote the note knows that Megan is engaged, she only got engaged last night! It had to be someone at the restaurant. A glance at the window tells me that I’ve been staring at this note all night. No point giving up now. I fetch some shoes and after stealing a look at the receipt hanging from my sister’s bag (she is always the one who pays I’m sure of it) I make my way to the restaurant.

I don’t even need to go inside. Despite all the other scents and sounds of the busy restaurant, I can smell the same scent as what is on the note immediately. It’s almost too easy. I luck out again when I realise that whoever R.G. Is, they did not get in a vehicle, they must have walked home. I eagerly follow the scent, trying not to feel weird about the fact that I’m essentially stalking someone I haven’t even met. But I’m doing this for Megan. Besides, R.G. Wrote in the note that they (she?) wants to explain herself better one day. Doesn’t that suggest that she wants to be contacted? I arrive at an apartment building. It’s not big by anyone’s standards. and it is clearly old, but it looks well cared for. No peeling paint or graffiti. There is no lift and I follow the scent up the stairs until I stop at a door. The scent is so strong here and still just as pleasant. Well, here goes nothing. I knock on the door, then I wait. Aaaaand nothing. Maybe there’s no one home?I could wait, but I really don’t want to have to. I try knocking again. Much louder this time. Just to be sure. I hear muffled footsteps on the other side of the door and a woman’s voice grumbling.

“I’m COMING, chill out already would you.” I stop knocking and wait, admittedly kind of impatiently. The door swings open a few moments later and I am bombarded with the woman’s scent. I cross my arms over my chest to resist the strange impulse to grab the woman and pull her close so I can confirm that scent really is coming from her. The woman is average height, so short by Shifter standards and has long, dark hair hanging messily down her back. She is wearing pyjamas with unicorns on them and fuzzy bunny slippers? I have to suppress a smile. I don’t want her to think I’m laughing at her but she looks so adorable. I

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catch a glance of her eyes and I am stunned by how unusual they are. They’re pale, so pale you can barely see the iris. Odd, but not unappealing. I am immediately attracted to this woman and I have no idea what to do about it. She’s not a Shifter so she probably doesn’t even know who I am. She smells human. Oh shit, how long have I been standing here staring at her? Actually, I’m not the only one staring. The woman is staring at me with wide eyes. You would think she was staring at some strange zoo animal, not an actual person. Great, she’s probably one of those humans who hates Shifters and considers us lesser because we occasionally have fur. Well there goes that attraction. Mostly at least. I mean she still smells amazing. I just need to remind myself that she isn’t a nice person. I will just be Megan’s brother looking for information. I don’t need to be her friend. I’m so caught up in my own thoughts that I almost miss when she speaks.

“Um, good morning?” She greets me. She looks uncomfortable. Good, I shouldn’t be the only one feeling discomfort.

“Are you R.G?” I demand.

“Excuse me?” She asks, she seems a little dazed. I roll my eyes. I think the question was fairly

clear.

“Are you being deliberately stupid or are you really this slow? Are you the R.G who wrote this. note to my twin sister Megan?” I demand again, this time waving the note in front of her. It stop immediately when I see her flinch back as it comes a little too close. Oops. I don’t have to be nice, but I do still need her to talk to me.

“Oh, that. Um… yes? My name is Ryann Gale.” She introduces herself. Ryann. Huh, the name suits her I think. I consider giving her my title, but no. I’m not here as an Alpha, I’m here as Megan’s brother. Besides, if she really does hate Shifters I doubt telling her my title will actually help me learn anything.

“I’m Bellamy Kane. We need to talk.”

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