Strings of Fate

65- Cameras and chocolate | have to rinse out my conditioner bottle to get the last bit out but | manage to wash my hair, | drop the empty bottle in the bin as | exit the shower. | dress and towel dry my hair then drop the towel in my hamper. | head out to the living room and glance around.

“Okay step one is shopping, step two is laundry, step three general cleaning.” Aaron gets to his feet. | usually walk to do my shopping, when | suggest this Aaron just shrugs and gestures forto lead the way. | link my arm with his and we get on with it. The shopping doesn’t ke too long and the walk hgoes much faster than usual as Aaron insists on carrying my bags for me. (Or at least he just took them fromand never really gavea choice and who am i to argue if he wants to carry stuff?) which is why I'm shocked when | get hand find Shaun and another guy | don’t know are using a drill to remove my front door. Shaun waves cheerfully.

“Morning miss Gale.” | smile awkwardly.

“I locked that... | respond mildly. He nods enthusiastically.

“I know. It only took a moment to kick in. Clearly it’s not strong enough. We're replacing it, I've also got sstuff to reinforce your windows and Alex here is our camera guy, he’s gonna wire your place up with cameras and alarms.” He gestures to a friendly looking redhead. Like all Shifters he seems ridiculously huge next to me, although he is definitely the most lanky Shifter i've met. For once, this guy doesn’t look like he spends all day in the gym. | wonder what he shifts into. Even more interesting, there is a blue thread linking Shaun and Alex. So these guys must be friends. Should make for an entertaining pair. | pause and think. about what he actually said and my eyes widen in alarm.

“Cameras?” Shaun nods, yeah but just covering the front door and car park. Don’t worry it's not to spy on you, Miss Gale.” He assures me. | take a deep breath. Wait, did they just start? 1 haven't spoken to Maggie yet! I'm about to ask when I notice her climbing up the stairs slowly, clutching a plate of brownies.

“Hello dear, these boys stopped by and said they wanted to update your security, your friend calledand said it was a gift for you. He even offered to get my place set up too so they're heading there next.” She leans intoand whispers in my ear.

1/4 65- Cameras and chocolate “He must be a confident man to send all this eye candy to your front door.” She leans back and fans herself with her free hand. I'm speechless but all the guys start to laugh, even Aaron cracks a smile.

“Oh dear, | forgot these big strong shifter men can hear when | whisper things like that.” She winks atand it’s fairly clear that she didn’t forget, she just dn’t care. She then moves around and starts giving out brownies to all the men, Alex has his hands full and declines. | take one too as well as a spare to give Alex when his hands are free. | take a bite and can’t help but let out a sigh as | have the first taste of chocolatey goodness.

Once Maggie makes her way downstairs, escorted by the ever so chivalrous Shaun, we head inside, stepping carefully over the pieces of splintered door and begin putting my groceries. away. Shaun bounces up the stairs energetically and Alex pokes him in the ribs.

“Flirting with the old lady huh? Is there something you want to tell us man?” he laughs. Shaun raises an eyebrow.

“Dude, if you tried that old lady’s baking you would be hitting on her too. I'm hoping for more treats, and maybe for a few of her recipes...” he trails off thoughtfully. Alex looks. disappointed.

“They're that good? | would taken one if | had known they're worth seducing an old lady! Why didn’t anyone tell me?” he demands. All the guys laugh and | clear my throat loudly. All the men instantly fall silent and turn to me. Woah, | didn’t expect that to be so effective.

“Uh, | grabbed a spare for you Alex. Didn't seem fair for you to miss out because you were busy working.” Shaun makes an ‘awwww’ sound and shoves Alex towards us. | laugh and gesture for him to take the remaining brownie. He takes a small nibble at the edge before taking a large bite and groaning in pleasure.

“Oh wow. You weren't kidding. Someone call the old lady back up here, | think I'm in love.” he declares tically. | can’t help but grin.

“She really is gifted, and spends a lot of tpractising. I'm the guinea pig for most of her recipes, | think she’s enjoying having sother taste testers around. She’s been bringing the guards here treats for months now.” Shaun nods enthusiastically.

2/4 65- Cameras and chocolate “No kidding, that woman is an angel. | volunteered for extra shifts on more than one occasion just to have her cooking. Even Aaron here is a sucker for them.” | turn to face Aaron who gives a single nod and a slight smirk. A thought occurs to me.

“Aaron, did you volunteer to be my guard for the treats?” | ask suspiciously.

“It didn’t hurt.” he responds quietly. | roll my eyes. Shaun gasps.

“Does that mean | won't get to see Maggie regularly anymore? This is awful. | might have to move in. What do you think miss Gale? I could sleep on your couch.” At that Aaron responds.

“Our Alpha might have something to say about that.” He mutters, a completely blank expression on his face. | pout at him. Sure he knows there’s something between Bellamy and I, but | really thought he was the one person | wouldn't have to hear anything from. Mostly because getting him to speak is like ripping teeth. Shaun smirks in response and opens his mouth to speak.

“Not a word.” | glare at him. He looks away immediately before responding.

“Of course, miss Gale.” but he looks entirely too happy with himself. Alex is looking curiously between the group of us, obviously a bit lost.

“Why would Alpha Kane care if-” he freezes mid sentence and looksover curiously.

“Actually, never mind.” I don’t think | want to know what conclusions he’s cto. | can’t help but sigh.

Embarrassed, | silently put away the last of my groceries and begin organising my cleaning supplies. | find the new laundry detergent and set that aside to take to the communal laundry room that the building shares. | almost jump out of my skin when Shaun calls out.

“Oh SHIT! | totally forgot.” he pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket.

“Alpha Kane askedto give this to you.” | take the note and thank him. Bellamy writing notes like this is kind of adorable. Like he could just textbut instead he writes out notes and leaves them foror has people deliver them. Maybe | should write him a note sometime? | unfold the paper.

3/4 65- Cameras and chocolate *Ryann, | hope your day is going well so far. As you will have noticed by now | made the promised arrangements for your security. | am also operating from the assumption that you will accept Aaron as your permanent guard (he askedthis morning, please letknow ASAP if you have sissue with this, | want you to be as comfortable with the arrangement as possible.) The setup is intended to be something like what Megs has. Aaron will arrive at your hat 7am each day from now on and stay until you are settled in at hfor the night. As you work evening shifts a lot and like to sleep in you may want to change this start twith him to something later. Make sure to get his phone number as well, you will need it if you decide to go out in the evening or something. His contract includes staying on call and if he is not available or wants toff he will arrange it with you or find his own replacement and inform you. a reasonable plan to give him sdecent free time.

nsure you will work out He doesn’t have to stay when you're staying home, when you're here or when you're with me.

| know this whole situation makes you feel awkward and | really want to thank you again for tolerating it. | know | don’t make things easy, my life seems to cwith a lot of strings. If there’s anything | can do to make this better for you please letknow.

Missing you already, Bellamy