Fated Forgiveness [Kindred of Arkadia 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (3 page)

the cup.

“And no soda either. That has caffeine, too,” Connor said, before taking the cup to the kitchen sink and

pouring it out. Sebastian’s eyes widened as he saw Rebecca’s face turn to a mask of horror before her

bottom lip started to quiver.

“Oh no,” Kate said, looking around for another cup of coffee.

“Connor hates me and Doc hates me!” Rebecca ranted.

Sebastian looked over to Liam pleadingly. Liam smiled and nodded. He stood up and scooped Rebecca

up in his arms before sitting down and settling her on his lap.

“Okay, baby girl, why did they take you off caffeine?” He asked gently. Sebastian’s heart was melting.

His mate had to be the kindest man he had ever met, how could he have ever doubted him? Rebecca had to

be one of the most exasperating, but amazing women he had ever met. Living with her he’d had some of

the best times of his life. Liam seemed to have infinite patience when it came to the tiny human.

“They think I’m too excitable, that I’m all over the place and expending too much energy. I tried to tell

them that this is
au naturel
”—she pointed to herself—“but they didn’t believe me. All because I’ve lost a

pound or two.” She sniffled, looking at Liam pitifully. Sebastian’s ears perked up and he saw Kate lean

forward.

“What do you mean, ‘a pound or two,’ Rebecca?” Kate asked sternly.

“It was only two pounds and ninety-six ounces,” she mumbled. Liam frowned. Sebastian looked at

Kate, who was frowning down at her fingers.

“You’ve lost eight pounds? Since when?” Sebastian asked, putting them both out of their mathematical

misery.

“Since last week.” Rebecca sighed and stared down at her lap.

“Rebecca!” Sebastian gasped. Liam saw the shocked expression on his mate’s face before turning to

stare with concern at his friend.

“Is that a lot?” Liam asked, looking from Sebastian to Kate and back.

“In addition to what she lost in the first trimester due to morning sickness, it’s drastic,” Ma said, coming

from behind the counter. She held out a tall frosted glass with what looked like a milkshake to Rebecca.

“What’s that?” She eyed the glass with a colorful swirly straw sticking out of the whip cream

suspiciously. She took the glass and scrunched her nose. Ashby and Gabriel walked into the diner.

“That is my newest concoction. I made it especially for my Alpha Mother. I gave Ma the recipe last

week and made sure we had all of the ingredients here.”

“Is it a milkshake?” Rebecca asked, perking up. Ashby winked at Ma.

“Something like that. Try it.” He sat down next to Kate as Gabriel took the last empty seat filling the

table. Rebecca took a small sip from the glass and her face brightened.

“It tastes like coffee!” She attacked the straw and inhaled half the cup. Ashby winked at Sebastian and

nodded to Rebecca, who was sucking up the last of the concoction through the straw, trying to get the

whipped cream off the side of the glass.

“What was that?” Sebastian asked curiously, leaning forward and taking a sniff.

“It’s a mochachino-flavored protein shake that I doctored up. Not only does it taste like coffee with no

caffeine, it’s filled with all her daily vitamins, and also acts as a meal replacement, which will hopefully

help her gain weight.” Ashby looked extremely proud of himself. Rebecca looked at Ashby, her eyes wide.

“But it didn’t taste bad.” She frowned down at the empty glass.

“That’s the point. It should help satisfy your coffee cravings too. Ma and I have been worried about

how much weight you’ve lost, so I thought this would be the closest thing to coffee you can get. Don’t you

like it?” he asked, looking dejected. Rebecca quickly backpedaled.

“Of course I like it. I love it! I’m just surprised I like it.” Rebecca rubbed her small belly.

“I’m full,” she said, and yawned. Sebastian had the urge to shift and curl in her lap. He had been

looking after her for months, and it was hard to let old habits die.

“Aww, is my baby boy purring? Yes he is! He liked the new milkshake,” Liam said, making baby noises

at Rebecca and rubbing her stomach. Sebastian and Ashby laughed.

“Put my mate down so I can beat you to death.” A low grumble filled the diner.

“Look, Rebecca, it’s your grumpy bear. Be careful or he might find out about our torrid affair.
Shush
,”

Liam said in a mock whisper. Sebastian rolled his eyes. Gently, Aleks lifted Rebecca out of Liam’s lap. He

pulled over a chair from another table and sat down with Rebecca snuggled against him.

“As if she would touch your mangy ass. And the baby isn’t purring, he’s growling. He doesn’t like

you.” Aleks grunted. Rebecca thumped his shoulder.

“Don’t say that. The baby loves his Uncle Liam.” She yawned again. Liam pouted and looked down at

his empty lap.

“Now my lap is empty.” He looked up at Sebastian meaningfully. Sebastian stared at him for a moment,

shyly stood up and walked over to Liam, who grabbed him around the waist, pulling him into his lap.

“Come on, Becca, time for your appointment. We get the test results back about your vitamin levels

today,” Aleks said, putting Rebecca on her feet before standing.

“Thanks for my magic shake, Ashers. I can’t wait to have another one for lunch.” Rebecca leaned down

and kissed his cheek. He smiled up at her.

“I have to watch out for my godson,” Ashby replied.

“I’m out too. Caleb and Bran have a surprise picnic waiting for me,” Kate announced.

“If it’s a surprise how do you know about it?” Sebastian asked. Kate winked.

“I have my ways. Later guys.” She waved and headed out behind Rebecca and Aleks.

“I hate to ruin what is obviously a much-needed tender moment, but I was wondering if I might discuss

something with you, Liam?” Gabriel asked.

Sebastian thought that the elegantly dressed prince seemed out of place at the diner. The way the

vampire kept looking at Ashby, he could see that Gabriel wouldn’t let the beautiful man out of his sight for

long, even if it meant hanging out in the diner.

“Sure, what’s up?” Liam asked.

“The townspeople haven’t warmed up to my coven yet, in particular a Mr. Gilberton, the proprietor of

Bobbles and Things.” Gabriel’s melodic voice soothed Sebastian’s frayed nerves. He felt himself relaxing

into Liam, who tightened his hold.

“Gilberton is a nasty old bastard who hates everyone. What has he done this time?” Liam sighed. He had

grown up in Arkadia, and everyone knew that he and Mr. Gilberton had bumped heads on more than one

occasion. The old man usually backed down because he believed that Liam would one day inherit his

grandfather’s council seat and become an Elder.

“He said some particularly nasty things to David and Daniel. Now they don’t want to leave the house.

They were the only ones willing to venture into town, and I’m afraid the entire coven is now suffering from

their boredom.” Gabriel sighed, and Sebastian peeked over to Ashby, who was rolling his eyes. Sebastian

had to agree with Gabriel, though. The twins were a handful.

“I’ll speak with him today. I’m not saying he’ll listen, but I’ll warn him about the potential negative side

effects on his business, if he were to piss off my pride. I swear they eat their weight in chocolate on a

weekly basis.” Liam shook his head.

“Actually, I have a favor to ask regarding the pride,” Ashby said, twisting a napkin in his hands. Liam

looked at Ashby’s nervous gesture and raised an eyebrow.

“Ashby, relax. You’re my friend. Now, what can my crazy bunch of lions do for you?” he asked, as his

hand started to rub up and down Sebastian’s back. Without conscious thought, Sebastian arched his back

and began to purr. When he realized what he was doing, his head snapped down and he looked at Liam,

Ashby and Gabriel, embarrassment flooding him. Liam leaned in and whispered, “Never be embarrassed by

how I make you feel. I think that purring is the sexiest shit I have ever heard.” Liam nipped Sebastian’s ear.

Gabriel cleared his throat and Ashby elbowed his mate, his cheeks turning pink.

“What Ashby was going to say, is that we would like to extend an invitation to the lions to visit us at the

coven house. Of all the groups here in Arkadia, your pride has been the most welcoming, especially Rian

and Talon. We’d like to foster as many friendships as possible.” Gabriel explained.

Sebastian knew that Rian and Damian had already been to the coven house a few times. He didn’t know

about the rest of the pride.

“They were probably looking to get laid,” Liam said bluntly. Sebastian’s mouth dropped and he slapped

Liam’s chest. He looked down, confused.

“What?” he asked, and Sebastian could tell he had no idea at all why he was being hit. He palmed his

forehead with his hand and shook his head. He heard a snort. When he looked up Ashby, was trying to

contain his giggles.

“I’ll explain later,” Sebastian whispered, and Liam shrugged.

“That’s cool, Gabriel. Just let me know what you’d like to do and I’ll let my guys know.”

Gabriel and Ashby stood.

“Excellent, I’ll get Roman to organize an event. We have to do something, it makes me uneasy that the

people are still nervous around us. Nervous people sometimes react in fear.” Gabriel’s eyes changed from a

deep blue to an impenetrable black before turning back to blue. Sebastian and Liam stared up at him,

unblinking.

“Cool,” Liam said. Gabriel raised a single dark brow, his eyes twinkling.

“I’m glad to see that the two of you have found your way to each other. May your mating be a happy

one.” Gabriel inclined his head before he and Ashby walked out of the diner.

“I’m glad we found our way, too,” Sebastian said quietly.

“Let’s go chat with Gilberton and then head to the pride house so we can relax and talk, would that be

ok?” Liam asked

“I’d really like that,” Sebastian said, getting choked up. Liam pulled him down and kissed him on the

top of his head.

“Come on, kitten, we’ll walk to Bobbles and Things then head home.” Sebastian hopped down and

Liam stood. Sebastian prayed to every single deity he had ever heard of that what Liam said would be true

and that the pride house would become his home.

* * * *

“Mr. Gilberton, I just had an interesting conversation with Prince Gabriel,” Liam began as he and

Sebastian walked through the door. Gilberton looked at Liam through thick, gray, bushy eyebrows and

muttered.

“What did the fag bloodsucker want?”

Sebastian’s eyes widened as he edged behind Liam, trying to make himself as small as possible.

“To discuss your attitude and blatant contempt towards not only vampires but also homosexuals, who,

by the way, make up a large percentage of your clientele,” Liam said, crossing his arms over his broad

chest, widening his stance as he stood in front of the counter. Sebastian saw that Lucy, the store’s only

employee, had backed away from the old man to stand closer to one of the display cases. The red panda

clearly did not want to be associated with Gilberton.

“I see the rumors about you mating with that little fag are true. Your parents would be ashamed to call

you their son, Liam Lewenhart,” Gilberton spat venomously.

Sebastian felt Liam tense at the mention of his parents. He placed his hand against Liam’s muscled back

in a show of support.

“Mr. Gilberton, my parents are as closed-minded as you are. Evidently you don’t need pride business or

fag
money. Come on Sebastian, let’s head home,” Liam said, firmly wrapping an arm around his small

mate.

“Don’t threaten me, cub! Your father was a thousand times the Alpha you will ever be. I’m sure he’ll be

interested to know his only son is a cocksucking queer!” Gilberton shouted.

Liam heard the bells on the door chime. He and Sebastian turned to see Kate, Caleb and Bran standing

in the doorway. The men held the twins. Kate’s mouth was open and she appeared to be speechless.

The small, dark-haired boy in Caleb’s arms leaned forward and began to growl at the old man. The

other twin mimicked his brother and alternated between growling and hissing.

“I’m not craving chocolate for our picnic anymore,” Kate announced as she turned and left the store,

her mates right behind her.

“You are costing me business!” Gilberton shouted.

“No, the hate that you spew is doing that. Come on, Sebastian.” Liam led Sebastian out of the store.

Kate, Caleb and Bran were waiting for them on the wide sidewalk outside of the shop. Kate’s face was

pinched in anger.

“I had no idea he was treating people like that. If I hadn’t met up with my boys coming out of the

grocery store and decided I wanted chocolate, I would never have heard that crap. If he says those types of

horrible things to you as the lions’ Alpha, what must he be saying to others?” She shook her head.

“You know we support you, Liam. I’ll spread word around the pack to find another place to get their

sweets.” Bran bounced Landon, who was now all smiles and blowing kisses to Liam.