Fated To Be Family (Kindred of Arkadia Book 2) Page 2

  "If she needs anything, let me know," Connor said and Aleks nodded.

  Kate looked at Rian and he nodded.

  "Tell her we'll be swinging by later to keep her company," Kate said.

  Aleks looked relieved. "Thank you! I'm going crazy worrying about her. I think I may have said a thing or two to upset her," he mumbled.

  Kate and Rian winced. Aleks was apparently driving Rebecca out of her hormone-driven mind.

  "Yup, we'll definitely be by later," Rian confirmed, nodding his head.

  "Come on, baby boy," Ma said, heading toward the door.

  "Bye, guys," Aleks said, ushering his ma out the door.

  Kate looked at Bran. "Rebecca will kill him before they get to number seven," she said thoughtfully.

  "You're probably right." Bran walked over chuckling and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You ready to go?" he asked.

  "Yup. Rian, I'll meet you at Rebecca's later. She can help us order."

  "Roger, mon capitaine!" he said, giving a horrible salute. Kate laughed as Bran led her out the door to their car.

  "I hope the twins are ok." Bran opened the door and Kate got in. She was buckling her seatbelt when he closed his door.

  "I followed your advice and recommended he hire Gina. You were right about her being capable since she has been helping to raise her brothers and sisters after her mother's death. I hate the fact that her father checked out mentally and emotionally when his mate died, but seeing as how he's stayed alive for the kids, maybe we shouldn't expect more. Hopefully Gina has been enough help for Caleb, it has to be hard being a single parent to twins," Bran said, pulling away from the diner to head toward Caleb's.

  "Why didn't he want to live with the pack?" she asked.

  "I think it has something to do with the boys," Bran said.

  Kate just shrugged and stared out the window as Bran drove to the outskirts of town to the old plantation home. Kate could see that the structure of this architectural relic was as sound as the day it had been built. Pre-dating the Civil War, it was a monument to southern gentility. The colossal, sprawling mansion nestled in the middle of the mountains had been built for a homesick southern belle from Charleston. The original owner wanted a home within the boundaries of Arkadia's protective perimeter for his beautiful, young mate.

  The house had stood empty for the last fifty years before Caleb bought it for his small family. Though it had been closed, it still retained an aristocratic air that lured a visitor in and made them imagine the smell of fresh flowers and hear the faint music of cotillions from long ago. It was easy to look past the aging paint and overgrown flowerbeds to see that this gentle giant was only sleeping, waiting for the right owner to awaken it from its long slumber and return it to its former glory.

  She eyed the expansive estate and looked to Bran.

  "It's only him and the two boys here?" she asked.

  Bran eyed the place, frowning. "Just the three of them. Since it's been empty for so long, he got a great deal."

  Kate got out of the car. She and Bran made their way to the front porch and climbed the stairs before knocking on the door. They waited with no answer. They were about to knock again when the door swung open. Kate's breath caught in her chest as his scent hit her in the solar plexus. She had only felt drawn to a scent like this once before and that was the night she met Bran.

  She took a deep breath. Caleb's scent drew her in like Bran but where Bran smelled like pine and spice, Caleb's scent tantalized her with cedar and musk. She shook her head at the impossiblity. She already had a mate. Everything about Caleb was different than Bran. He was the opposite of her mate in every way.

  Caleb was taller than Bran by a couple inches. Bran had reddish-brown hair and warm amber eyes. This man had black hair and his eyes were so dark brown they were almost black. Bran was muscular but lean. This man had thick ropes of muscles that were clearly defined, giving him an extremely cut look. She was able to look her fill because the man wasn't wearing a shirt, just a pair of worn jeans and a dishtowel sporting spit-up draped over one bare shoulder. His hair was sticking up in every direction and his eyes were bloodshot. In his arms he held one crying infant, who looked about eight months old.

  "Alphas, I'm sorry, did I miss an appointment?" Caleb asked.

  Kate was shocked at her body's reaction to his deep voice. She felt ashamed for feeling these things for another man when her mate was standing right beside her. Before Bran could catch the scent of her arousal, she stepped forward and motioned for Caleb to hand her the baby.

  Caleb eyed her cautiously before slowly handing over his son. Kate walked into the house, acting like she knew what she was doing. Both men followed her. She rocked the little guy and to her own amazement, he quieted right down. Caleb slumped against the doorway.

  "How did you do that? I've been up with them all night." He ran his hands over his face. Just then a thin wail was heard behind them, coming from down the hall. Caleb looked up exhausted. Kate stepped forward.

  "Bran check in with Caleb. I'll go check on the other one," she said rocking the baby in her arms. To avoid impossible to answer questions, she hurried down the hall toward the sound of the unhappy baby.

  *****

  Bran nodded and watched her walk to the back room, humming and running her hand up and down the baby's back. He could have sworn she was aroused. He shook his head.

  "Why are you looking at her that way?" Caleb asked.

  "I've never seen her with a baby before," Bran said. He felt his wolf straining to come to the surface. It wanted to create pups with his mate.

  Caleb smiled. "One of the most beautiful sights in this world is a mother and child." He motioned for Bran to come in and sit down.

  "I agree." Bran shook his head again then turned to the larger man, who had collapsed into the leather recliner. It was the only piece of modern furniture in the room. Everything else looked as though it had come with the house.

  "Caleb, are you doing okay out here? Mojo called last night to say you didn't make it in. He was worried about you. You know that if you need help, the pack will assist, especially since you have pups."

  Caleb winced. "That's just it, Alpha. They aren't pups."

  "Well, shit," Bran stared back at the man. "Okay, lay it on me," Bran said, sitting back.

  "I didn't lie when I petitioned to become a pack member. They are my sons. I just think they may be taking more after their mother than me," Caleb said quietly.

  "Caleb, where is your children's mother?" Bran asked.

  "She and her entire leap were murdered. They were hung by their ankles and purposefully drained of blood the way that hunters drain their kills. Thank God I had the boys with me at the time. I took them with me to get pictures taken for Renee. It was going to be a surprise." Caleb rubbed his hands over his eyes.

  "I'm sorry about your mate," Bran said.

  Caleb looked up a surprised expression on his face. "Renee Langford wasn't my mate. She was my best friend. Renee was a snow leopard. They are as rare as shifters as they are in the wild. When it came time for her to reproduce for her leap, she wasn't in any kind of relationship. So she asked me to donate the sperm. In every instance where a snow leopard has mated with someone outside their species, they produce snow leopard cubs. Renee believed it was because they are so rare, that it was nature's way of keeping the balance. When Landon and Lucas were born, I moved in with Renee and her leap to help out with the boys until they were older, then I would become cool Uncle Caleb. That was the plan anyway." He looked at Bran with pain in his eyes.

  "Did they ever catch the ones who killed them?" Bran asked.

  Caleb shook his head.

  "We heard of kills like that going on all over the country. Hyenas are working with vampires to provide them with shifter blood. A couple months ago, Rebecca was kidnapped. What a lot of people don't know is that she was kidnapped to be used as a bargaining chip to get more blood from Arkadia for the hyenas," Bran explained.

&nbs
p; "I didn't have any family or pack to turn to, so I came here to Arkadia, where, at the very least, I thought the boys would be safe. Now you're telling me about hyenas and vampires. If the next Alpha Mother isn't safe, what about my boys?" Caleb stood and went to the window.

  "Move in with the pack, Caleb. You'll be surrounded by thirty or so bodyguards," Bran offered.

  "Let me think about it," Caleb replied. Bran nodded.

  "It's awful quiet in there," Caleb said after a moment. Both men looked at each other then got up to go check on Kate.

  * * * *

  Kate walked to the back bedroom with one baby in her arms and found the other one crying in front of her. When she walked into the nursery, she stopped short. The entire house looked like it needed to be cleaned and given a fresh coat of paint. The baseboards were old and in some places, the wallpaper was peeling off the walls. Every room still had the antique furniture that came with the house covered with dusty sheets. Every room.

  Every room except the nursery.

  The dark wood floor had been sanded and stained and had a fresh coat of poly on it which made it gleam like glass. The baseboards and trim had been replaced and painted a crisp white. The windows had also been replaced, allowing plenty of daylight into the room, making it the most cheerful place in the house. But what caught her eye and made her want to cry were the walls. Someone had painstakingly painted a mural of what looked to be snow leopards and people's faces on every wall. She knew Caleb had poured every ounce of his love for these two boys into this room. She looked at the crying baby, who was standing up and looking at her from his crib. Above the crib, the teal block letters spelled out the name Lucas. Above the empty crib beside the letters read Landon. The color of the letters matched their eyes perfectly.

  "Okay, Landon, go sit with your brother," she said, placing Landon down in the same crib.

  Immediately Lucas stopped crying. The boys turned to each other and did the cutest version of baby babble. Kate watched in fascination. When they finished, both looked up at her and beamed revealing toothless little smiles. Her heart turned over and she knew, without a doubt, she would never be the same again. They both had Caleb's eye shape, nose, lips, and a head full of thick black hair. Everything about them looked like Caleb except their eye color. Caleb's eyes were a dark brown, but the boys had bright teal eyes, like the waters of the Caribbean. She realized that she loved them because they looked like their father. At that moment she realized their father was her other mate.

  "Well, isn't this a pickle?" she said out loud, after staring at them for quite a bit and Landon giggled. Kate smiled.

  "Do you like the word pickle?" she asked. Both Landon and Lucas were chortling.

  "I see that the three of you are getting along," Caleb said.

  Kate whirled around to face her mates.

  "Yup, they are little angels." She ran her hand over their soft little heads. She looked up and realized that Caleb was so tired he was about to pass out as he sagged against the doorframe.

  "Caleb, why don't you put some stuff together for the boys and come with me to the Arkadion ranch? You can catch up on some sleep and Rian, Rebecca, and I will watch the boys," she said logically.

  "I can't ruin your day like that. You don't realize what a handful they can be."

  Kate nodded. "That's exactly why three adults will be perfectly fine watching over them. Plus, Ma is there now," Kate added.

  "The wonderful woman who runs the diner?" Caleb asked. Kate and Bran nodded.

  After Kate pointed out that he was no good to the boys exhausted, Caleb finally agreed. After getting dressed, he brought out four very full diaper bags for the boys.

  Bran's eyes widened. "This is all for those two?" he asked, looking at the bulging bags.

  "You obviously haven't been around many children." Caleb laughed. Bran shook his head smiling.

  "Bran, you drive Caleb's car with the boys in their car seats. Caleb is too tired to drive. I'll follow in our car. Once we get to Rebecca's you can take the car and head home. Rian can drive me back later if needed," Kate said, cooing at Landon.

  Bran nodded before he walked to the back of the car and began to load the trunk.

  "Why are you doing this?" Caleb asked, catching Kate by the arm, and looking down into her face.

  She licked her lips and he inhaled sharply. She broke the spell by pulling away. She turned, giving Lucas a kiss on the head. When she looked back up at Caleb, the moment had passed.

  "Because you need the help," she answered and swiftly walked to the other car.

  "Ready to go?" Bran asked, shutting the trunk.

  CHAPTER THREE

  "Oh. My. God! They are so freaking cute!" Rian said, leaning down, and smiling at Landon.

  Damian was making ridiculous faces at Lucas. Kate waved goodbye to Bran as he drove off then closed the door. She turned around to see Rian and Damian monopolizing the twins. Ashby and Nicholas sat next to Rebecca on the sofa and Ma was sitting in a rocking chair.

  "Rebecca, this is Caleb Donovan and his sons Landon and Lucas. He's had a rough couple of days and I volunteered us to babysit so he could catch up on some sleep. I'm sorry I didn't ask you first," Kate said apologetically. Rebecca waved away her concern and continued to pet Sebastian who was lying on her lap, purring, and rubbing his head against her tummy. "When did he start that?" Kate asked, pausing in her introductions.

  "Right after Doc confirmed I was pregnant," Rebecca said. "His purring helps me to sleep at night and the other morning he brought me the wet washcloth I had on the counter when I was throwing up in the bathroom. I swear he has to be the most intelligent cat ever. Ashby thinks he's grateful for being saved from the alley."

  "It's nice to finally meet you, Alpha Mother," Caleb said, nodding his head. Rebecca smiled and inclined her head in return.

  "The two goofballs hogging the twins are Rian Stafford and Damian Prescott. They're part of the local lion pride," Kate said, pointing out the two men.

  Rian looked over and winked at Caleb, blowing him air kisses, and Damian waved. Good-naturedly Caleb winked back.

  "The two sitting next to Rebecca are Ashby Fairfax and Nicholas Redding," Kate continued.

  "We've met, they watch the boys for me when Gina isn't available. Hey, guys," Caleb said.

  "Hey, Caleb," both Ashby and Nic chimed from the sofa in unison.

  "The gorgeous lady in the rocking chair is Rebecca's mother-in-law, Margaret Arkadion, but everyone calls her Ma," Kate explained.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am," Caleb said.

  Kate looked over the full room. "We didn't mean to invade." Kate felt bad. She hadn't known Rebecca already had people over.

  "Don't be ridiculous. The more the merrier, especially when I have been dying for company today. Ma, I love your son with my entire being, but I swear I almost shot him this morning," Rebecca said, sounding exasperated.

  "Did he finally break down and get you a gun?" Ma asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Rebecca shrugged. "I simply pointed out how tiny, weak and helpless I was, and he eventually saw things my way." Rebecca smiled.

  "Try not to shoot my son anywhere vital," Ma said, eyes sparkling.

  Rebecca thought about it for a long moment, her head tilted in the way she did when she was thinking hard, then she nodded. "I'll try, but I'm not making any promises." She leaned her head back again and closed her eyes. "This morning sickness won't stop! I thought you were supposed to puke and then be done for the day," Rebecca whimpered from the sofa.

  "I think I can help with that," Caleb said. All eyes swung to where he stood in doorway, still mostly in the foyer.

  "Anything you can do to help Rebecca with this morning sickness would be welcomed. Along with intense emotions, her morning sickness also seems to be leaking through the bond with my Alpha Mother," Ashby said, looking pale and shooting Rebecca an apologetic look.

  "How come I'm not feeling sick?" Kate asked.

  "Don't feel bad, Kate.
It's not hitting me either. I think it varies based on the type of bond. Ashby and Rebecca bonded first, so they've been bonded longer. I don't think there's a science to it," Nic explained, bouncing Lucas.

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry, but the extremely gorgeous man said he could help me with my morning sickness," Rebecca said, pointing to Caleb, who chuckled.

  "Let me go check out your kitchen. Be right back." He disappeared down the hallway.

  Rian looked over at Kate. "You have some s'plaining to do, missy!" he whispered.

  Kate's head snapped around to where Caleb was working in the kitchen, nearly spraining her neck. She put her finger to her lips and shook her head. Ashby, Nicholas, and Damian were also giving her concerned looks. Rebecca had her head back on the sofa and looked like she was going to die. She was human, so she probably hadn't picked up on Kate's arousal.

  Caleb walked back in a few minutes later with a cup of steaming hot tea. He handed it to Rebecca carefully.

  "Sip it slowly. It's a ginger mint tea. Luckily, you keep a well-stocked kitchen. I made a batch and left it in the saucepan on the stove. Renee swore this was the only thing that got her through her pregnancy."

  Rebecca sipped it and after a few moments, her face began to relax. She looked up at Caleb. "I love you. I would offer to have your babies, but I'm pregnant, you already have two, and my mate would kill you." She sipped her tea.

  Caleb laughed.

  "Okay, Caleb, up to bed with you. Uh... I–I... I mean time to go upstairs. I m-m-mean, you're obviously exhausted. I'll show you the guest room," Kate said, rambling. She felt her cheeks begin to burn.

  Confused, he looked at the group, who were all staring at him.

  "Thank you again for giving me this breather," Caleb said.

  Rebecca waved her hand. "If you keep making me tea, you can sleep in the master bedroom for all I care." She sipped her tea again and rubbed her tummy. He smiled.