33- Sharing and staring


    The car has barely stopped moving when I climb out. Bemy follows me but once agam I refuse to


    take his arm. I make my way up the stairs on my own although Bemy still follows* close behind me. I


    ignore him. Waiting by my door is Shaun. My new guard for the evening. I greet him and unlock my


    door. I step inside then turn and stop, standing in the doorway so Bemy can’t follow


    “I’d invite you in but I am apparently not intelligent enough to make decisions about these things. My


    tone is falsely polite but I’m sure Shaum can tell that. Oh well, I fumble with purse and pull out thirty


    dors. I thrust the cash into Bemy’s chest. He catches some of it but a couple notes fall to the


    ground.


    “For my share of dinner.” I then step back and m the door shut in his face, locking it behind me. I


    pause to take a few deep breaths. I can hear Bemy talking through the door, but not to m


    “Unless it is for the sake of her safety, you are not to enter her home, even if she invites you.” He


    orders.


    “As you say Alpha Kane.” Shaun replies formally. I want to scream. How dare he? I throw my stuff onto


    the table and head into the kitchen area where two tes of cookies await me as well as a note.


    Thankyou so much for helping with Logan today, I definitely owe you one. Please pass my thanks on to


    your Shifter friend along with his share of the cookies.


    Thankyou again,


    Maggie.


    Feeling irritated, I grab the te of chocte chip cookies and take it to my room. My bed is freshly


    made and waiting for me. I quickly change into my unicorn pyjamas and climb in under the nkets. I


    settle in to watch Netflix for a bit while I eat my cookies and try and forget the general stupidity of men.


    Or at least of one man in particr. My rxation doesn’tst long because I get a text. It’s from


    Megan.


    1/5


    Megan- Did you and Bels fight? He’s been in a rotten mood since he got home. I know he sIM you, I


    can smell it.


    Ryann- In the nicest way possible I have to tell you that is kinda creepy. But ves we did fight I thought


    you said that letting him protect me would make him LESS bossy


    overbearing??? —


    Megan–Usually it would. There must be something else bothering


    Ryann- I guess so.


    Ryann- What time do you want me toe tomorrow?


    Megan- Come in the morning whenever you’re ready. I’m thinking we should have a girls only spa day.


    We can treat ourselves before we get all doiled up for my party.


    Ryann- Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.


    I chuck the phone to the end of my bed. I nce at the ne off cookies beside me and grimace. I’ve


    eaten way too many. That sort off exins why my stomach feels off and why I’m having trouble


    rxing. Too much sugar probably.. I dug myself out from under my nkets and grab the remaining


    cookies. I take them to the kitchen and put them in a stic container. I’m about to cover it up when I


    remember that Shram is still standing outside. I transfer a couple onto a te before covering the rest. I


    then head to the front door. Whem I open it. Shaun immediately turns to face me.


    “I was going to ask if you were nning on going somewhere but based on your outfit I’m thinking no.”


    He smiles at me and Iug


    “Are you dissing my unicorns.” I demand. The simater his head with a serious expression.


    “Of course not Miss Gale. Just motting yourck off shoes. Obviously.” I all my eyes at him.


    “Oh of course.” I respond sarcastically.


    “Well, I actually came to bring you a smack.” I hold up the te of cookies. His expression


    lights up.


    “Thanks.” He barely manages to get the word out before shoving the first cookie in his mouth. I have to


    try not to giggle.


    “You should juste ins-” Shaun cuts me off.


    “I can’te in, Alpha Kane would kill me.” He gives me an apologetic smile. I cross my arms. across


    my chest, annoyed and re at him.


    “But he’s being ridiculous. It’s my home. I should be able to invite people in if I want to.” Iin. He


    hold his hands up in the universal gesture for ‘hey, chill out,”


    “Look, I can’t say I understand his reasoning, but he’s my Alpha and my boss. I can’t afford to get


    myself in trouble. We can’t all get away with mming the door in his face.” I pout, annoyed. A breeze


    blows past and I shiver slightly. It’s not exactly cold, but my pyjamas aren’t really designed to be worn


    outside either. Shaun notices my difort.


    “You should head back inside.” he suggests. I kinda wanted to take the chance to test my dominance


    or whatever like Bemy mentioned earlier, I didn’t exactly give him a chance to bring it up again. I


    think it would be less awkward without him hovering anyway. I leave the door open as I head back in.


    “Just a sec, I’ll be right back.” I call out as I head to my room. I chuck on my slippers and find my fluffy


    dressing gown and slip it on, tying it loosely around my waist. Now I should be warm enough. Shaun is


    standing in the doorway peering inside curiously. It doesn’t escape me how careful he is not to pass the


    threshold though. Bemy is so annoying. I step outside. with Shaun.


    “You really don’t need to hang around out here Miss Gale, I’m really fine out here by myself.” I shrug.


    “I’m bored. Besides, I was hoping you could help me test something.” Shaun raises an


    eyebrow.


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    “Now I’m curious. As long as it doesn’t interfere with my guard duties I’ll be happy to help.” He


    responds cheerfully. I decide to just go for it.


    “During dinner, Bemy and I ran into another Shifter. The woman was rude and annoyed met


    3/5


    33 Sharing and staring


    and so I basically made her back off. Bemy suspects that because of it I may actually bet quite


    dominant which would exin a bunch of other problems I’ve had throughout my life with people


    struggling to meet my eyes. I wanted to test that theory. He said he doesn’t have an issue with my eyes


    and Megan doesn’t either. But pretty much everyone else I meet seems to.” I exin.


    “So you want to see if I can hold eye contact with you?” he predicts my request. I nod. He shrugs.


    “Sure, why not. I’m not very dominant whenpared to Alpha Kane, but I’m no pushover. Let’s give it


    a go.” He smiles at me. I’m kinda nervous. I hate making eye contact most of the time. I tend to only do


    it when I’m reallyfortable or really annoyed.


    “So what am I meant to do exactly?” Shaunughs.


    “Just pretend it’s a staring contest, although you are allowed to blink I suppose. The first person to look


    away loses.” He exins.


    “Then why look away?” I question.


    “It’s instinctive for Shifters to submit to those who are more dominant. If you are more dominant I’ll look


    away naturally. I’m not sure if it works the same for you but there’s no harm in testing.” I take a deep


    breath.


    “Okay.” I look up at him so I can properly meet his eyes. It feels a little ridiculous, he is much. taller than


    me so I have to adjust my position to be morefortable. The moment our eyes. meet, Shaun’s go


    wide. I try not to look away as I usually do. I know I’m making him. ufortable, great. I only just


    have time to note that Shaun has green eyes with yellow. flecks when he flinches slightly and drops his


    gaze to the floor.


    4/5