Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 22

22- Muffins and mornings 

I turn off the water and hear Bellamy talking to someone. I wrap myself in a fluffy towel and exit the bathroom. Curious, I make sure I’m properly covered with the towel before opening my bedroom door and sticking my head out. 

“Bellamy, is someone here?” I question. He doesn’t get a chance to answer as Maggie peers. around his shoulder. She raises an eyebrow at my appearance. 

“Good morning sweetie. I woke early and made some muffins. I thought I might bring a few up for you. For your… gentleman friend too I suppose.” She says pointedly. I blush as I realise how this looks. I glance at Bellamy who shrugs at me helplessly. I step out from behind the bedroom door, desperate to explain myself to Maggie. Not that I’ve actually done anything wrong. But Maggie is my friend and I don’t want her to misunderstand me. As I emerge, Bellamy’s eyes go wide, then he suddenly finds something terribly interesting to stare at on my ceiling. His response Maggie who gives a short laugh. 

isn’t missed b 

“I should let you two get on with your morning.” She hands Bellamy a plate which has four muffins on it. I guess she thought I would want some for tomorrow. Still, it’s convenient. She turns and leaves, making her way slowly down the stairs as we stare after her. I realise that I never managed to explain Bellamy’s presence here so early in the morning, not to mention my attire. I sigh dramatically. Bellamy closes the front door behind her, at the sound of my sigh, his eyes flick towards me. Then again up to my apparently fascinating ceiling. He stands there awkwardly, shuffling his feet a little before suddenly turning and heading to my kitchen. area where he places the muffins on the bench. His posture is tense. I realise that I am just standing here staring at him. 

“Go ahead and eat, just make sure to leave me one. I’ll be back in a moment.” I’m still not really sure on the protocol for how to treat a guy who just accidentally slept with me all night. It was innocent, but still… I head to my room with one last glance back at Bellamy. He is watching me leave and turns away in a sudden, sharp movement when he realises I’m looking. He actually, finally, looks uncomfortable. I’m not sure if I should be concerned that the only thing I’ve found so far which makes him uncomfortable is me in a towel. It’s not like I’m not covered. A tank top and shorts would cover only just as much. Unless the problem is that he doesn’t like how I look. Which is probably worse. I try not to think about it too much. 

No need to overthink and worry myself. I close the door behind me and relax as I return to the bathroom and quickly rinse some shampoo and conditioner through my hair before I 

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return to my room to find something to wear. Leggings and a t–shirt are my go to and I grab the first ones I find and throw them on. I pull on some grey leggings and pull out a navy blue t–shirt. I stare at it for a moment. Until just now I forgot I even had this shirt. It has a picture on the front of a mischievous looking black cat with bright yellow eyes. It has the words ‘I’m harmless I swear… written below it. I can’t help a burst of laughter. I consider a moment before putting it on. Will Bellamy find it insulting or funny? I think it’s hilarious, but I’m not the one who turns into a giant cat. Screw it, I’m going to wear it. He was worried I would be scared of him, if nothing else I can make a point. I put on the shirt and slip on a pair of black ballet flats. Then I grab a hairbrush from my dresser before I head back to my living where Bellamy is waiting, brushing my damp hair as I go. Bellamy has finished one muffin and started on a second. He raises an eyebrow at me, he looks like he might be about to laugh. 

e area 

“Was that t–shirt–intentional?” He grins at me. I try to keep a straight face and the most innocent tone I can muster. 

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” He stares for a second until my self control finally breaks at his confused expression and I begin to laugh. He can’t help but join in. It takes a minute for me to regain my composure and when I do, Bellamy is still chuckling to himself 

“I wasn’t sure about it, I can change if you don’t like it.” I don’t particularly want to go get changed, but I can sort of see how the image might be a little insulting towards Bellamy, particularly after last night. He shakes his head. 

“Don’t go changing on my account, you look cute.” He seems to regret the words as soon as he says them. At least I think he does, he looks away and seems annoyed at himself. We fall into an awkward silence. I step forward and grab a muffin and eat. He stands up straight from where he had been leaning on my bench. 

“Ready to go?” he asks. Not wanting to prolong the awkwardness any longer I nod eagerly. I run and grab my phone. My card is in the case with it so I’m all set. Bellamy hands me the 

last muffin. 

“Eat.” He orders. I raise an eyebrow but take the muffin. 

“One muffin is not enough food.” He grumbles as we make our way outside. I lock the door 

behind us. The moment we are outside, Bellamy offers me his arm. I guess he is still a bit 

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riled up about the attack last night after all. I take his arm without complaint and we head down the stairs. It’s a tight fit with both of us walking beside each other on the small staircase, but it’s really not worth the effort of complaining about it to Bellamy. It’s not particularly uncomfortable or anything. He opens the car door for me and I thank him as I climb in. I watch through the front window as he jogs around the car to the driver seat. I smile a little when I realise that his hair is still rumpled from bed. This might be the first time that I’m actually more put together than he is, although just barely. Bellamy starts the car and we begin the drive towards the Shifter compound. We pull in and park, but Bellamy makes no move to leave the car. Instead he’s staring at me like he wants to say something. I glance over at him. 

“Something wrong?” I ask. He frowns, then sighs, running a hand through his dark hair, messing it further. 

“I didn’t intend to fall asleep In your bed last night.” He blurts out. I stare at him, confused. 

“I know that. It was an accident, don’t worry about it.” I reassure him. I resist the desire to reach out and touch his arm in some attempt to calm or comfort him. This is awkward enough as it is. Bellamy looks confused. 

“I don’t understand how I fell asleep like that. I should have been more alert, particularly after we were attacked. I don’t usually fall asleep so quickly that I could accidentally fall asleep. It’s like I had no awareness at all.” I’m pretty sure it has something to do with me being his fated mate. He mentioned how much Shifters like to be physically close to those 

they care about. I suppose even if we aren’t actually together yet, part of Bellamy knows to relax around me. It’s strange. This is yet another chance that I could take to tell Bellamy about our red thread. I still can’t do it though so I just shrug in a non–committal way. 

“You were probably just tired or something.” I mutter as a vague kind of excuse. Bellamy looks unconvinced. He does, however, finally get out of the car. I go to open my door but he must have half run around the vehicle because he beats me to it. I climb out and accept his arm to walk the short distance to the home which he and Megan share. Bellamy reaches to open the front door but it bursts open and Megan comes flying out before he gets a chance to. She slams into me and grips me in a tight hug.. 

“Are you okay? I was so worried! Bels told me I wasn’t allowed to come see you in case the Vampires were still hanging around.” Megan blurts out in one go. I mutter something about being fine but it is barely understandable as Megan is taller than me so my face is crushed. 

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into her shoulder. I’m not used to this much hugging and I sort of want to pull away but 

Megan was worried about me. I can deal with a long hug if it makes her feel better. 

“Thanks for the concern Megs…” Bellamy says dryly. Megan finally releases me to face him. 

She rolls her eyes. 

“Oh you’re fine. You’re the big bad Alpha cat. A few Vamps is nothing new for you. You just turn into a cat and hiss at them and-” she cuts herself off and her eyes go wide. She turns. 

back to me. 

“You saw him shift. Are you okay? Do you hate us now?” 

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