Fated Healing [Kindred of Arcadia 5] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (21 page)

asked.

“My cock,” Felix quipped and reached into the muffin basket. He looked over and Claybourne’s mouth

had dropped. Kate and Sebastian were laughing. Bran clapped a sympathetic hand on Claybourne’s

shoulder.

“We have men’s night on Saturdays when they get together to watch some medical show about a doctor.

You should come hang out with us. We understand what it’s like to be mated,” Caleb offered.

“Saturday can’t get here quick enough,” Aleks said from the counter.

“How is Rebecca doing? She was unusually quiet last night,” Felix said, digging into his muffin.

“You caught that, huh? Her crazy genius brain is working through something. She called Gabriel earlier

this morning when I was in the shower so I didn’t catch everything that was said. But I get nervous when

she goes to him, because that man can’t seem to tell her no. He spoils her like an indulgent older brother,”

Aleks said, rubbing both hands down his face.

“Speak of the devil,” Liam said as Gabriel and Ashby walked in. Ashby was pale and hurried over to

Kate.

Gabriel looked at Aleks and took a deep breath.

“In my defense, I didn’t know she wanted to drive it herself,” Gabriel began. Aleks went white.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“Oh Kate, I think she is really mad this time.” Ashby rubbed his chest.

Sebastian and Kate nodded also, rubbing their chests.

“What? What do you guys feel!” Aleks demanded.

“Where is my mate?” he said, walking over to Gabriel.

“She was right behind us,” Gabriel explained patiently. Aleks looked to Ashby who shook his head and

buried his face in Kate’s shoulder. Liam, Caleb, and Bran stood and went to Aleks, who began to shake in

anger.

“If she is in any danger…” he began and the diner door slammed open. Nic stood in the doorway

breathing hard and clutching his chest.

“Why in the hell is Rebecca driving a bulldozer down Market Street?” he asked breathlessly. Gabriel

sighed and closed his eyes.

“What! What! You got her a fucking bulldozer?” Aleks demanded of Gabriel, who shrugged.

“She sounded so sad when she asked for it, I couldn’t say no.” He spread his hands wide. Aleks looked

up to see a determined Rebecca maneuvering the bulldozer past the diner and down the street. Everyone ran

for the door and chased behind the slow-moving bulldozer.

It came to a slow, grinding halt in the cemetery next to a fresh grave. Felix’s heart stopped when he read

the name on the headstone.

Frances Gilberton

Weeping, Rebecca fiddled with the controls.

“How do I use this thing?” she asked, crying. Aleks leapt up to the cab and pulled Rebecca into his arms

before jumping down.

“Baby, sweetheart, don’t cry like that. You know it breaks my heart. What are you doing?” Aleks asked,

his large hands seeming bigger than normal as he wiped her tears gently.

“I don’t want him here. I couldn’t get it out of my mind during Ms. Brayburn’s funeral that he was so

close. I couldn’t sleep last night. I want him gone. He doesn’t deserve to rest peacefully. We owe Ms.

Brayburn. She shouldn’t have to be buried so close to her killer.” Rebecca sobbed into Aleks’s chest. Felix

clenched his jaw and his eyes burned. He looked around and saw that everyone from town was fighting

back tears. This tiny human was willing to do whatever it took to protect her people, even after their death.

“Don’t worry, Becca, I’ll take care of it,” Duncan said, hopping into the bulldozer. Easily, he and

Emmett maneuvered the large machine to scoop up the glitter-covered earth, and it wasn’t long before the

casket was revealed. The townsmen worked together to pull the casket from the grave.

“Now what?” Felix asked. Everyone stood staring down at the casket.

“My people will take it from here,” Gabriel said and motioned with his hand. A group of vampires from

his coven stepped forward and easily lifted the casket. They pushed it into a waiting truck. Gabriel walked

over to Rebecca and wiped her tears.

“All of these years I thought I knew what it meant to be a leader, a prince. But every day you show me

that there is more to leading people. I stand in awe of your capacity to love.” Gabriel leaned in and kissed

her forehead.

“Don’t be afraid to drop him, you know, a couple times. Maybe lose an arm?” she said, looking up at

Gabriel and sniffling. “You heard the Alpha Mother. Find a place outside the perimeter where this fiend will

know no rest,” he ordered. They bowed to Gabriel and then to Felix’s surprise they bowed to Rebecca.

“Okay, Rebecca, we have new rules. No lab chemicals. No lab work. No operating heavy machinery. No

going to Gabriel for favors,” Aleks started. Rebecca stomped her foot.

“No way! I am not agreeing to those rules. Okay, maybe the one about the machinery, but not the others.

I have already worked out equations and designs for some perimeter weapons. I will definitely be in a lab

again. I had forgotten the rush you get when you play with the building blocks of the universe, bending

them to your will. And leave Gabriel out of this. He is my family, like Duncan is your family. It’s not favors

if you love someone, right?” she asked, turning her wide violet eyes to Gabriel and Ashby. Ashby sniffed

and wrapped his arms around Rebecca.

“Of course it isn’t!” They snuggled together before looking at their mates. Gabriel looked at Aleks

pointedly.

“Could you say no to that?” he asked. Aleks just started to shake his head.

“One Xanax and a shot of whiskey for the Arkadion,” Felix said. Aleks looked up, his expression

slightly panicked.

“That might not be a bad idea,” he said and turned to Rebecca.

“When you say ‘building blocks of the universe and bending them to your will.’ That was just an

expression, right?” he asked. Rebecca took one look at her mate and stepped away from Ashby.

“I love you, my mate. I would never do anything to hurt you or endanger our baby. We’re safe.” She

jumped into his arms. Felix could see the man practically sag in relief.

“Good. Okay, let’s get you home to rest. You’ve had a hard morning.” Aleks cuddled her close. She

waved at them as they walked away.

Bran, Caleb, Liam, Kent, Sebastian, and Kate stepped up to stand next to Claybourne, Felix, Gabriel,

Ashby, and Nic.

“She didn’t answer him,” Kate said wryly.

“Nope,” Bran said, wincing.

“She totally has a lab, doesn’t she?” Felix asked. Gabriel shook his head.

“Of course not.” Everyone sighed in relief.

“Most of the supplies couldn’t be delivered so soon,” Gabriel added.

“Gabriel, since you seem to be funding this little project of hers. Can I tack on any supplies I will need

to treat things like chemical burns, poisonous gas inhalation, or radiation exposure?” Claybourne asked

casually.

“That might be a good idea,” Gabriel murmured. Felix couldn’t help it. He began to laugh. He collapsed

against his mate, laughing uncontrollably.

“Come on, trouble. And for the record, you stay out of that damn lab,” Claybourne said, swinging Felix

up in his arms.

“No promises,” Felix said, grinning up at his mate.

He laughed at himself. Here he thought that life in Arkadia would be boring. Evidently not, especially

when you are fated to be one of two healers in a shifter-only town, with a quirky, dangerously genius

human for an Alpha Mother.

Epilogue

The gentleman sat back, relieved. The Alpha Mother had somehow survived the deadly shifter virus his

halfwit lawyer had helped create.

“Payne,” he called out.

His manservant appeared from the shadow in the corner. For as long as he could remember Payne had

always been there.

“Have the lawyer moved from the specialty cells below. He can be transferred to the pain expert in the

open dungeon. The Alpha Mother lived. I need him semi-coherent later to create more havoc for the

Arkadians.” The gentleman waved his hand, dismissing the tall warrior. Payne bowed silently and left the

room to carry out his orders.

He walked over and picked up the report he had received earlier that day from one of his many

informants. He did like to keep abreast of the happenings in the world around him. He read the report and

felt a smile on his lips.

Oh this could be entertaining.
If he called in a favor, he could be sure to bring this problem right to

Arkadia’s doorstep. He reached for his phone and dialed a number.

“Yes. It’s me. I need you to do something for me. Do you know a Connor Arkadion?”

THE END

WWW.ALANEAALDER.COM

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ALANEA.ALDER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alanea loves reading almost as much as she loves writing and can be found at any given moment either

in front of the computer lost in her own world or on the couch with her iPad reading some of her favorite

authors. She believes that love truly conquers all and that everyone no matter what, deserves a chance at

that love and a place they can call home.

For all titles by Alanea Alder, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/alanea-alder

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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