Fated Forgiveness [Kindred of Arkadia 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (20 page)

between his two mates, looking pale. Heaving a sigh of his own, he nodded.

“Fine, but if I kill someone, one of y’all will have to deal with the body,” he grumbled, walking over to

the body, kicking it so that it lay flat. Ma rolled her eyes.

“Liam, let’s get you boys inside. I have some hot soup that will be just the thing to set you to rights.”

She herded everyone inside.

Hours later, most of the pride had shown up and stayed close to their Alpha and their Alpha’s mates.

“Are you sure he’s dead?” Rian asked for the tenth time. Finally, Ma’s patience snapped.

“Did you want to help Aleks with clean up? Why do you keep asking?” She demanded. Rian gave a

catlike half shrug.

“I wanted to maul him a little. But it’s no good now the bastard is dead and wouldn’t feel it,” Rian

explained.

“He’s in a body bag at the station’s morgue if you want to have a go,” Aleks offered. Rian shook his

head.

“I have a question, why didn’t we feel anything through our bonds? I should have felt something since

we’re bonded. Liam too,” Rebecca asked the group.

“I think it’s because we were hit from behind. There was no chance to get scared or generate panic. Just

a tiny second of pain and then blackness. I bet he was planning on taking our bodies outside of the

perimeter to kill us so that he wouldn’t lose Arkadian protection,” Kent explained.

“He was a cruel old bastard. I’m glad he’s gone,” Liam said, still looking a bit pale from almost losing

both of his mates.

“Now we really won’t have any chocolate,” Kate said, and everyone turned to look at her.

“What?” she asked.

“You just saw a man get gutted and you’re worried about chocolate?” Kent asked. Kate looked at him,

confused. Rebecca, seeing the dilemma, spoke up.

“He thinks because we’re women that we’re emotional. Personally, I’m glad that hateful bigot is dead.

He meant to kill two people close to me, so he deserved to die. I hope he is rotting in hell…” Her attention

wavered as her eyes drifted over the menu.

“Yes! You made lasagna for dinner. I love you, Ma,” Rebecca said. Her words so contradicted her voice

and small stature that Liam wasn’t the only one staring at their Alpha Mother.

“Rebecca, sweetheart, can I ask you a question?” Lachlan asked, having heard the entire conversation.

Liam watched Rebecca’s head pop up.

“Sure, Lachlan,” she said, smiling. Liam knew that smile. That was Rebecca’s I-did-something-clever-

and-I-got-caught smile.

“What did you whisper to Gilberton right before he tried to go after Sebastian and Kent again?” Lachlan

asked. Liam leaned forward. He was dying to know, too.

“Oh that,” she said.

“I simply advised him that it was poetic justice that he would be going to jail to enjoy lots of butt sex

considering how much he hated homosexuals.”

“You twisted little genius,” Liam said. In that instant he knew that he would do anything for the pint-

sized human who had taken steps to ensure his mate’s safety. Aleks buried his face in his hands. Lachlan’s

mouth opened, then closed. The corner of his mouth twitched before he began to laugh. It was contagious,

because soon everyone was laughing.

“Rebecca, you really do have a violent streak,” he said, wiping his eyes. In a rare serious moment, she

looked up at Lachlan.

“I will do anything in my power to keep my family safe,” she said, looking at Liam, then Kate and then

Aleks.

“Try not to break any laws,” Lachlan said, shaking his head. Her face brightened into the sunny smile

that Liam was familiar with.

“I have memorized all the laws now,” she said. Liam could just hear the unfinished sentence.

So I know how to work around them.

“I need a drink,” Lachlan announced, and stood. “You are the most dangerous person in this damn

town, human or not,” Lachlan said and walked out of the diner.

“Duh!” Rian drew out, rolling his eyes.

“Damn right! That’s why she’s our Alpha Mother,” Kate said.

Liam smiled at the sound of Sebastian’s giggle. His eyes met Kent’s. When Kent’s eyes darted down to

Sebastian’s stomach, he felt ice cold.

“Kitten, how do you feel?” Liam asked. Sebastian stopped his giggles and looked up at Liam.

“I feel fine,” Sebastian said, placing his hands over Liam’s.

“When the doctor gets back in town we’ll have him check you both out,” Liam said. Kent nodded.

“Whatever you think.” Sebastian snuggled closer to Liam.

“Let’s head home,” Liam said. Sebastian looked up, and a broad smile stretched across his face.

“I like the sound of that. Let’s go home.”

Chapter 11

“Y’all are here too?” Sebastian asked, walking into the diner.

“Yeah, Aleks got a call from Gabriel at six o’clock this morning, something about a public works

meeting. I stayed in bed and told him I would catch up to him later. You guys, too?” Rebecca asked.

Sebastian nodded.

“Liam, Kent and most of the pride left this morning, too.” Sebastian yawned. His mates had been

treating him like a precious, fragile gift. They were going to drive him crazy if he was pregnant. But he

could definitely get used to some of the pampering. He sat down next to Kate and turned to Felix, who had

left with the pride that morning.

“Do you know what’s going on?” Felix shook his head.

“No, I wasn’t really interested. I wanted some of Ma’s fresh-out-of-the-oven muffins this morning so I

bummed a ride. Thanks for the clothes, by the way, I found out all of my stuff was thrown out the second

my rent was overdue. I’m still trying to get new ID and bank cards. This is taking being kidnapped to a

whole new level of suck,” Felix complained.

Sebastian nodded. He was in the same boat. Thank goodness Liam had money, because his was tied up.

Since he wasn’t able to step forward when his parents were murdered, their family lawyer had put the entire

estate in probate. His only stroke of luck was that because both he and his parents had still been in the

process of moving in, most of their belongings were in storage. Their estate lawyer had moved the contents

of the house into the storage units and set up payments from escrow. As soon as the paperwork went

through, he’d be a very rich hybrid.

“We need a lawyer,” he said out loud. Everyone blinked at him.

“We don’t have one here in town. I have a feeling that what happened with the council is just the tip of

the iceberg. If more hybrids show up in Arkadia, they will need a lawyer that can help them get their lives

back together,” Sebastian explained. Rebecca nodded and looked over to Ma.

“I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows of someone who would like to move here,” Ma said.

“Who wouldn’t want to live in Arkadia?” Rebecca asked, confused. Felix snorted.

“I love Arkadia, I do. Especially since this town kept my skinny ass out of that crazy wolf’s cage. But it

can be a little too Mayberry. I’m used to a bigger city with shops and restaurants and God! Shopping!” Felix

moaned.

“I like the small-town feel. There aren’t many places like this anymore,” Sebastian said. Felix nodded.

“It’s real homey and I love that. I just miss the shopping, I guess.” Felix said.

“But then you wouldn’t have my muffins,” Ma said, bringing over a plate of assorted muffins. Everyone

around the table took in deep breaths and sighed happily.

“Kate, who has the boys?” Sebastian asked, biting into his cinnamon apple muffin.

“Gina and Ethan. I think the Wade children have pretty much adopted Landon and Lucas.” Kate took

out a chocolate and lemon muffin and set them aside. Sebastian watched her. She looked over and smiled.

“You know Rian and Damian will be here any minute demanding to know what’s going on,” she

explained.

“So true.” Rebecca nodded.

The diner door opened and Nic walked in, yawning.

“Why are all the men in the street outside?” he asked. Everyone looked at each other before they

jumped up and raced past a confused Nic to go outside.

Sebastian stepped next to Rebecca in an attempt to figure out what the men were doing. Most of the

pack, pride, and sloth’s men were there arguing over heavy machinery. Rebecca tilted her head, trying to

figure out what they were doing. Just then the smell of tar reached them.

“Are they going to try and repave the road? By themselves? Do any of them know anything about

construction?” Sebastian asked, getting worried. He saw Liam trying to hit Aleks with an orange traffic cone

and Kent looked like he was reading them directions out of a book. Felix sighed.

“Ma, do you have keys to the clinic?” he asked. She nodded.

“Good idea.” She quickly untied her apron and grabbed a set of keys. Everyone turned to look at Felix.

“I’m a registered nurse,” he admitted.

“Good thing, too, with Dr. Claybourne out of town,” Ma said as she and Felix headed across the street

to the clinic.

“Not to sound mean, but isn’t he kinda spazzy to be a nurse?” Kate said. Rebecca nodded.

“I bet he is really good with patients, though,” Nic said. Kate nodded.

“He was always taking care of us when we were able to get out of the cages. I think it’s second nature

for him to nurture,” Sebastian said quietly. Then an idea came to him.

“Be right back.” He rushed to meet up with Felix and Ma at the clinic.

“God lord, this man needs to get laid. I mean really, who makes sure all the tongue depressors face the

same direction? This is scary organized,” Felix complained as he dug through Dr. Claybourne’s supplies.

“You can head back, Ma, I’ll help Felix,” Sebastian said, smiling. Ma nodded and handed the keys over

to Sebastian.

“Make sure you boys lock up,” she reminded them, and walked out.

“Okay, why did you want to get rid of Ma?” Felix asked.

“I need to know if I’m pregnant,” Sebastian said quietly. Felix’s head came up.

“Seriously? I mean I knew it was possible for us, but you’re only like the second guy I’ve known to try

it among hybrids,” Felix said. He looked around and then stood up. “Let’s go to the examination room. I bet

they have testing kits in there,” Felix said, pointing to the back.

Sebastian hopped up on the paper-covered table. Felix came back with a needle.

“I would have you pee on a stick, but it’s probably too soon to tell from your urine. However, shifter

pregnancies are detectable almost immediately after conception with a blood test. When you average in the

different type of animal’s gestation period with a human one, the average shifter pregnancy is about six

months. Because the gestation is so much shorter, changes pop up that much sooner. Things happen at a

rapid rate. Now hold still,” Felix said, wrapping the elastic band around his arm. Sebastian barely felt the

tiny pinch and seconds later Felix held a couple vials of blood.

“Okay, let me find his testing equipment. Be right back.” Felix walked away and Sebastian lay back on

the paper. Would having a baby change things with his mates? Everything had been so crazy over the past

few weeks. He sighed. Maybe this is exactly what they needed. Proof of their love and a tie to hold them all

together. He felt himself smile. He could just imagine a crazy blond-haired menace running around or a

dark-haired, studious scholar. Suddenly he couldn’t wait to find out. He wanted to be pregnant so he could

hurry up and meet their children.

“Congratulations, your men know how to lay down the pipe. You are preggers! Good thing shifter

nurses are also trained as lab techs, huh?” Felix said about twenty minutes later. Sebastian smiled and then

began to cry.

“Oh honey, don’t cry, this is happy news. I’ll be the best uncle in the whole world,” Felix promised,

holding Sebastian tight.

“You always did take care of me. I’ll never be able to repay that. You took the hits for so many of us,”

Sebastian said, wiping his eyes. Felix just shrugged.

“Someone had to take care of you guys. I didn’t do anything special,” Felix said, looking away,

embarrassed.

“I know what you did, and I won’t ever forget. You not only kept us alive, but your craziness kept us

smiling, kept us sane in those damn cages.” Sebastian looked up at Felix, stark terror running through him.

“What if Alpha Devon finds out and takes my baby?” Sebastian whispered. Felix growled.

“That will never happen! I will learn how to shift into the scariest shit on earth and eat that fucker if he

comes near us!” Felix promised. Seconds later Sebastian’s phone began to ring.

“Kitten, are you okay? Where did you go?” Liam demanded.

Shit!

Sebastian had forgotten about the mating bond. No wonder Liam sounded frantic.

“I’m fine. I’m with Felix in the clinic, he just scared me with the skeleton model, that’s all,” Sebastian

said, lying his ass off. He could hear a relieved sigh from Liam.

“Tell him not to scare us like that. Especially after the other day,” Liam grumbled.

“Okay, baby, have fun breaking stuff,” Sebastian said. Liam laughed and ended the call.

“Come on, honey, let’s head back. You picked the best town to hide in. These people are crazier than we