13- Gifts and guards
Here.” She hands me a folded square of paper. I unfold it and read.
*Ryann,
Since you will be attending my sister’s engagement party and will be assisting me with the matter we
previously discussed, it is only right that I provide you with the appropriate attire for the asion. As
such, I hope that while you are shopping with Megan today you will choose a dress for yourself which I
will pay for. (Megan has my credit card)
Bemy
I am gaping at the note, totally confused. What the actual hell is this? Is Bemy just super generous all
of a sudden? Or maybe he is trying to bribe me to cooperate more or something. Either way, it is
completely uneptable. He might be my fate but that doesn’t mean I’mfortable going around
spending his money. Particrly since we aren’t actually together yet. I drop the note and turn to
Megan, about to voice my objections when she hands me a phone. My phone which she apparently
took from my bag while I was reading.
“I added my brother’s number. I figure you’re nning to call him now right?” she grins at me as I roll
my eyes but nod. I flick through my contacts and find his name. I hit the call button and wait. It rings
only a few times before he answers.
“Alpha Kane speaking.” he says formally.
“You can’t just buy me a dress.” I state firmly, not bothering to say who is calling or anything. It should
be obvious, well unless he often offers to buy random women dresses which I suppose is technically
possible. But it doesn’t seem likely.
“Good morning Ryann.” he responds, keeping his tone pleasant.
“You can’t just buy me a dress.” I repeat stubbornly.
“Of course I can, I gave Megan my credit card. What’s the problem?” I roll my eyes.
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“I mean that I won’t ept it. There is no reason why you should pay for a dress for me so I
can’t ept it. It feels like you’re trying to bribe me or something.”
“Ryann.” He responds, his tome serious.
“I am not trying to bribe you into cooperating with me. You wouldn’t even need a dress if it weren’t for
my sister and me so it is only right that I provide it for you. Benides that, I want
to pay for you. Think of it as a thank you gift for the assistance you are going to provide and for the
information you have already given me.” I am mott convinced.
“I didn’t do that to help you, it isn’t right. I feel like I ove you and I don’t want that.” I
“How about apromise?” he suggests..
“What did you have in mind?” I ask, curious..
“I’ll pay for your dress and-“I cut him off.
“That’s not apromise, that’s the exact same thing!” object.
“You didn’t let me finish.. I’ll pay for your chess and you help me with somethingter thin
2012 MOOT
“That depends on what you want help with I suppone.”
“You’ll have to wait and see. Text me when you finish shopping and I’lle meet you. I
hear a click and realise that he has hung up on me.
Megan is looking at me expectantly.
“I suppose I can get a dress, but nothing too pricey.” She practically squeals in delight. The car door
swings open. I hadn’t even realised that we had panked. I was too dimacted willing to Bemy. I climb
out. We are at a cute little cafe and I know there is a huge mll only a few sineers away. We pide a table
and sit. Dumien sits with us but angles himmelf away a little aus if trying to give un sore privacy. I
appreciate the effort, even if it gives only the slight illusion that he in ‘t watching on. Aber a quick nce
at the menu, we order hot chocte as well as
13- Gifts and guards
scones with whipped cream and jam.
“We need to stick to a light breakfast if we’re trying on dresses, it’s annoying trying clothes on when
you feel all bloaty, don’t you think.” Meganments. I nod my agreement. I wouldn’t really know, I’ve
never really had the ie required to spend much time trying on dresses. Half the time I order my
clothes online or pick them up from thrift stores. Neither of those options tend to leave much
opportunity for finding a perfect fit. It takes only a minute. for the food to arrive and we dig in. I notice
Darrien eyeing off the scones and I quickly stick one on a te and ce it on the table in front of him.
He gives me a grateful smile before taking a bite. I’ve never been particrly good at making new
friends, but giving them food seems like a good ce to start.
“So, you and I are fated to be friends or something right? I guess that takes the pressure off a little. I
already know that I can trust you. Which is nice.” Meganments. I smile at her.
Yep, you are totally going to be stuck with me.” I inform her. We chat for a little while getting to know
each other. It seems we like all the same shows, although in my opinion she ships all the wrong
couples in everything, which is fine I guess, she is entitled to her own opinions. Even if they are wrong.
I am polishing off my second scone when my phone chimes informing me that I have a text. I nce at
the screen, prepared to ignore it if it’s just the phonepany or something. I only bother checking in
case it’s work. No one else ever messages me. I am surprised to see that it is from Bemy.
Bemy- Hope you’re having a nice time. Don’t forget to ask Megan about the issue fromst
night.
I type out a quick reply.
Ryann- Okay.
Megan leans over to nce at my phone. She seems to be the nosy type.
“Oh yeah, you mentionedst night that Bels said you should ask me some things. So shoot, you said
there was a disagreement or something?” I nod.
“Yeah, he was basically being a bossy, overprotective, jerk. It is incredibly irritating and I’m no good at
taking orders so it was causing some… friction. Bemy said it was a Shifter thing but
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that he was having trouble exining it and that I should ask you. The entire debate was something
about him offering me his arm and needing to protect me from things which is totally ridiculous if you
ask me.” Iin. Megan looks contemtive.
“So I take it you and my brother have been arguing a lot?” she questions. I nod.
“Yeah, definitely. Hey, is it just me or is he really bad at saying sorry?” Meganughs.
“Bemy pretty much never actually apologises. He can be awkward like that. When he feels bad he
just acts repentant and then tries to give you a gift or something. It’s a little annoying, but at least when
he does apologise you know he really means it.” shements. I shrug.
“I guess so. P
anyway, can you exin why he keeps acting all overbearing all of a sudden?” Megan smiles.
“Okay, so basically he is right in saying it’s a Shifter thing. Shifters have really extreme protective
instincts. They’re born that way and the more dominant they are the more
responsible they feel for those in their care. As Alpha, Bels is basically stressed out all the
time with responsibility. But anyway, because of these instincts, Shifter men can get a little
overprotective. If they don’t feel like they are doing everything in their power to protect those in their
care they basically freak out. They get all nervous and paranoid about every single
potential threat and basically drive everyone around them crazy.” She exins. I shake my
head.
“But I don’t actually need protection, there aren’t any threats to me so it’s just too much. Besides, I can
take care of myself.” I point out. Megan shakes her head.
Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.
“That’s not how it works. When they offer you protection, like how Bels offered you his arm, they are
basically promising you can trust them and that they will take care of you so you don’t need to have any
worries while you are with them. If you refuse their care or demand to take care of yourself it is sort of
like a p in the face to them. Like you are telling them that they aren’t good enough to protect you and
that they aren’t worthy of your trust or capable of keeping you safe. They might know rationally that you
don’t mean it that way, but their
instincts, the animal part of them, tells them that you don’t feel safe with them and that they should do
more to ensure that you do. Which basically results in some super overbearing behaviour. The easiest
way for a Shifter male to feel like he is keeping you safe is for him to
feel like he is in control of the situation.”
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“But I don’t want to be controlled!” I object.
“It’s not being controlled. You have the control. You control his over protectiveness by letting him
protect you. It’s kind of doing him a favour.” she seems a little frustrated that I’m not understanding her
point. I nce away and she groans.
“Darrien, help me out here, I’m having trouble thinking of another way to phrase this.” Darrien turns and
angles himself to face me.
“Miss Gale, we don’t take control. You do us a favour by giving it to us.” he states simply.