Alder, Alanea - Fated to Be Family [Kindred of Arkadia 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (9 page)

“Kate Edwards,” Caleb said.

Mojo sprayed out the beer he had been drinking.

“What the hell? Isn’t she mated to the Arkadian Wolf pack Alpha Bran McGregor?” Mojo asked.

He could see why his friend was drinking now.

“Yes, evidently we are a ménage mating.” Caleb stared up at the ceiling.

“How is that working out for ya?” Mojo asked.

“It’s actually easier than I thought it would be. I was scared that I would feel like a third wheel since they had been mated for so long, but it’s not like that. They have both made me feel like I belong.” Caleb
 
scraped the beer label with his thumb.

“So why are you here instead of with your mates?” Mojo asked.

“Because I spoke before thinking. I fucked up big time and I don’t think I can fix this.”

“Well, how about you tell me what you did and I can tell you how to fix it. Fixing problems is a gift of mine.” Mojo winked.

Caleb smiled. It was that glass-is-half-full philosophy that drew Caleb to Mojo. He felt like the man could do anything, including giving an unknown wolf shifter with two leopard cubs a job.

“Kate went to pick up one of the boys and referred to herself as their mama and I said she wasn’t their mother,” Caleb admitted quietly.

“Dude, you’re fucked,” Mojo said, shaking his head.

“Whatever happened to the man who could fix anything?” Caleb asked, shocked.

“Let me get this straight. This beautiful, sweet woman opened up her heart, home, and bed to a complete stranger based solely on the fact that he was her predestined mate. She put your needs and the needs of two boys not birthed from her womb, who are not even of the same species as either herself or her mates, above her own. She had to face the fact that some unknown woman, who you admitted you weren’t even in love with, gave you something so precious, sacred, and intimate in the form of two perfect sons and was okay with it? Then you turned around and say something that basically negated every feeling she had and, for all intents and purposes, led her to believe that she wasn’t good enough to be your children’s mother.

“Yep, you are most definitely fucked,” Mojo said.

Caleb slammed his forehead down on to the wooden bar, groaning. Mojo hid a smile and rubbed his stubbled chin with a rough hand. Sometimes a man had to be broken down to be rebuilt.

“You are absolutely right. I fucked up big time. If I were her, I would never forgive me. I don’t deserve it,” Caleb said, his voice muffled by the bar.

Mojo looked up when another man walked into the bar from the doorway where he had been standing and listening. He nodded as Bran took the seat next to Caleb. Caleb looked over, surprised.

“I realized I had the car halfway home and that meant you wouldn’t have a ride. Mojo is right though. You really hurt Kate. But you are also hurting,” Bran said and took the beer that Mojo offered.

Mojo went to the sink to finish cleaning the glassware, giving them the illusion of privacy.

“I haven’t been part of a pack in so long it’s almost like I have forgotten how to be around people. Renee was the only one who stayed around and personally, I think she just liked being contrary,” Caleb said.

Caleb liked being more dominant in the bedroom, but Bran was still their Alpha and he found himself depending more and more on the man’s inner strength.

“Why did you leave your birth pack?” Bran asked.

“I didn’t agree with the way my dad ran things. My mom always agreed with him, even if she felt otherwise, probably to avoid arguments. It was his way or get out. He was very close-minded and power hungry. Unlike the Arkadian pack, packs outside of Arkadia are constantly flexing pack muscle for even two more feet of pack territory. By the time I graduated, I had had enough. I took an academic scholarship to the School of Art at Australian National University and never looked back. I met Renee when I was doing sketches in Nepal. The rest you know.” Caleb took a drink.

“You never went back?” Bran asked.

“No. I probably never will. That man was hard and cruel. I never want him around the boys.” Caleb shook his head.

“My father was very similar to yours. My mother died when I was young, so all I had was him. When I turned thirteen and hit my growth spurt, it became evident I would be Alpha one day. My wolf was twice the size of my friends’ wolves. That was when my father started to change toward me and the pack. He became more defensive and aggressive. When I was sixteen, Riley approached me and told me that my father had beaten and attempted to rape his sister.” Bran stared down at the bottle.

“I went to Ma and Pa, who agreed to go with me to approach my father. He flew into a rage, accusing me of trying to take over the pack. He challenged me then and there. Riley stepped forward to act as my second. I held back until I realized he was really trying to kill me. In the end, I had to kill him to survive.” Bran looked at Caleb.

“How did you manage to run the pack when you were only sixteen?” Caleb asked quietly.

“A lot of the pack members stepped forward and helped, including the Raymonds. Ma and Pa helped as well. But I was just going through the motions. I don’t feel like I really started living until I met Kate.” Bran smiled.

“How did the two of you meet?” Caleb asked.

“Well, I was minding my own business taking a run out on the territory when I scented a strange wolf. I tracked her down to the large oak tree on the property. She was lying down, exhausted. When she saw me, she stood up and growled. I caught her scent and knew she was my mate. We both shifted and mated the entire night. In the morning I found out that her old Alpha had beaten her and tried to force a mating on her. He had convinced her that she wasn’t womanly and no one else in their pack would want her. He told her she was too tall, too outspoken, and not very feminine. Your comment may have cut deeper than you realize. She has always doubted she was woman enough for me. I’ve been working this past year to make her see exactly how beautiful she is, despite not being a girly girl,” Bran explained.

“And I probably undid any progress you have made with her.” Caleb rubbed his hands over his face. “Bran, what in the hell am I going to do? Being with you and Kate is the first real sense of home I’ve ever had. Even with the leopards, I felt like an outsider,” he said dejectedly.

“You are going to beg. Yup, lots of begging and you’re going to give her
her
favorite chocolate, which old man Gilberton happens to keep in stock since he knows Kate is addicted. The damn stuff is imported from Belgium. Then we’re going to put our heads together to think of the perfect apology gift.”

Caleb looked at his Alpha.

“Will that work?” he asked.

Bran nodded. “I’m pretty sure it will work. Kate has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met. If you are truly sorry and prove to her that you are really okay with her being the boys’ mother, then she will forgive you. I’ve fucked up more than once. Trust me, that chocolate can work miracles.”

Caleb stood up and finished his beer.

“Mojo, as soon as you find someone to replace me, I’ll need to quit. I’m going to be focusing on my painting and my mates,” Caleb said, smiling at Bran.

“No worries. I have someone who came in here yesterday looking for a job. Paint me something for the bar and there won’t be any hard feelings. Maybe one of those fifties-style pin-up girls you have been doodling on bar napkins.” Mojo winked.

Bran’s eyebrows went up and Caleb blushed.

“I didn’t think you saw those,” he admitted and Mojo gave a great booming laugh.

“They were all over the place, pretty blonde women. Ironic, thinking back, they looked a lot like Kate,” Mojo said.

Caleb’s eyes widened. “They did, didn’t they?” he said, smiling.

“Fate knows what she’s doing, kiddo. Don’t fuck up again,” Mojo said.

Bran and Caleb turned to leave the bar. Bran grabbed Caleb’s arm.

“You have
got
to paint Kate as a fifties pin-up girl for my office,” he said, a dreamy look on his face.

“Sure, if you spot me the money to get that imported chocolate and my apology gift.” Caleb laughed.

“Deal! I can’t wait to get my painting,” Bran said, rubbing his hands together.

* * * *

“Okay, Uncle Rian is going to introduce you to the best things in life, boys. Candy and coffee. Can you say coffee?” Rian said, bouncing Landon.

“Rian, should they have sugar and caffeine?” Damian asked, worried.

“If it’s tiny amounts, yes, they’ll be fine. Besides it’s fun to watch them get excited and it makes me the best uncle ever,” Rian said as they walked into Bobbles and Things, the local candy and toy store.

“What do you think, Damian, a little cotton candy? It should dissolve so they won’t choke and they can have just a little bit.” Rian eyed the blue, fluffy candy.

“That should be okay, as long as it’s a tiny bit,” Damian said, bouncing Lucas.

“They probably had more sugar eating some of the cereals they have nowadays, relax Damian.” Rian smiled down at Landon.

“So the fags are back,” a cranky voice said from behind the counter.

Rian rolled his eyes. “Hello and a good afternoon to you too, Mr. Gilberton. It’s a fine day today, isn’t it?” Rian said sweetly. The old man harrumphed and went back to his books.

“Can we get these for them?” Damian asked, holding up a pair of stuffed toy lions. Rian hurried over and gushed over the small toys. The boys squealed and tried to take the toys from them.

“I think they want them,” Damian said, smiling.

“Then they get them,” Rian said simply.

They were on the way to the counter when they saw Caleb and Bran walk in, holding the distinct burgundy bag from their local jewelry store. He dragged Damian into the back of the store. He prayed that the overwhelming smells of the different candies masked their scents. He overheard Bran ask about the Belgium chocolate that Kate loved. Damian nudged his side and pointed excitedly to Caleb. He had heard it too. Poor Caleb looked as though he had been kicked in the nuts and anxious. Bran paid for the chocolates and turned to Caleb, saying that Kate should still be at the library.

“Here take him real quick, he said, handing Landon off to Damian, who juggled both boys.

He took out his cell phone and quickly sent a text to Kate. He was so glad that the three newly mated ménage members seemed to heading in the right direction. He zipped off one last text as Bran and Caleb left the shop before he put the phone away and took Landon back from Damian.

“Let’s get out of here and head to The Grind. I am dying for one of Nic’s frappes,” Rian said.

They went to the counter and paid for their candy and the toy lions. Mr. Gilberton was rude as usual. They walked down to The Grind and stepped in. Both men stopped and breathed in deeply.

“Heaven must smell like this,” Rian said. Damian nodded. They heard a laugh and saw Nicholas behind the counter looking at them. Rian and Damian carried the boys over and sat at the bar.

“Who do we have here?” Nic asked, smiling at the twins, who beamed back.

“I need caffeine, Nic, or I’m going to die,” Rian whined.

“He needs caffeine, Nic, or I’m going to kill him,” Damian said, rolling his eyes.

“Your usual extra-large, quad-shot, raspberry white chocolate mocha with whip?” Nic asked.

“Stop talking dirty to me in front of the babies,” Rian said, making a shooing motion at Nic with his hand.

“Coming right up. Damian, anything for you?” Nic asked, laughing.

“Can I get a medium caramel frappe with extra coffee and drizzle?” Damian asked.

“Of course. Be right back.” Nic turned and starting pouring espresso shots into cups.

Rian and Damian settled the boys into two of the shop’s highchairs and scooted them between the two barstools. Rian’s phone buzzed. He checked his text and smiled before sending one back. He then hit a contact on his phone and hit send.

“Hey, Zane I need a favor. If I place an order, can you pick it up tomorrow? You can take on any hyena, Zane. It’s why I called you… Yup. I’ll text you with the details later. Thanks,
bello
!
Ciao
.” Rian then squealed when Nic placed his drink in front of him.

“What was that about?” Damian asked.

“Kate needs me to order some stuff for her,” he said, sighing happily as he sipped his mocha. He then turned to Landon. “Now we’re going to learn about coffee.”

Damian groaned.

* * * *

“Was I wrong? I mean I know it’s soon in the mating and all. But, I thought that, you know, they would be mine. I didn’t mean to cross any lines or anything.” Kate knew she was rambling but couldn’t seem to stop herself.

“Kate, honey, sit down,” Rebecca said from behind the circulation desk at the library.

“Everything will be fine. You’ll see. Caleb is a great guy. I think what you said just surprised him. I mean he moved himself and the boys into the Pack house and completed the claiming, so you know he’s on board with this mating.”

“What if I screwed everything up being presumptuous? I mean he never said I could use the “M” word.” Kate straightened all the books on the counter until they lined up perfectly.