Gifts of Fate [Kindred of Arkadia 7] (Siren Publishing Classic) (3 page)

experiencing contractions alongside her. Morning sickness and cravings were one thing, but this was real

pain and she wouldn’t wish this on one of her best friends.

“It’s okay. This is probably the closest I’ll ever come to having kids. Besides, I wouldn’t trade our bond

for anything. It’s worth some crazy-ass contractions,” Nic said.

“You’ll find someone, Nic. Fate seems to be busy in Arkadia matching everyone up. I doubt she’d

forget you.” Kate took a deep breath and exhaled.

“How are things?” Doc asked, walking in with Felix.

“What took you so long, Doc? I heard your car get here like ten minutes ago,” Kate asked. Doc raised

an eyebrow and looked over to where Riley and some of the other wolves stood looking embarrassed.

“Sorry, Kate, our wolves kinda freaked out. He’s a tiger and you’re our Alpha about to whelp. They

didn’t want to let him in,” Riley explained, his cheeks burning.

“Oh. Thanks, guys. I think. How’d you get in?” Kate asked.

“I shifted my animal to wolf and brought him to the surface. Since he’s my mate, it helped,” Felix said,

going to the long folding table they had set up in the room.

“Felix, you are, as usual, fabulous.” Kate smiled as Beverly and Gina walked in. Kate kissed the

wiggling twins and handed them off.

“Good-night, boys. When you wake up in the morning hopefully you will have new siblings to play

with.” Kate watched as Lucas waved a chunky hand.

“
Nigh
Mama.” They called out.

“Call me if you need me, Kate,” Beverly offered, and left with Gina.

“Okay, people, let’s clear the room, non-essentials out,” Felix said. Nic stood as if to leave and Kate

panicked.

“Nic, you can’t leave! I need you. You’re my breathing partner.” Kate grabbed his hand.

“I didn’t know, I mean Felix said non-essentials,” he said, looking down to where their hands were

clasped.

“You are essential, Nic! I don’t know what kind of screwed-up job Rebecca, Ashby, Sebastian and I

have been doing lately, that you don’t know that. But you are. You’re one of my closest friends and I need

you for this.” Kate refused to let go of his hand.

Nic’s face transformed. His eyes brightened and he looked at Kate with a new sense of confidence.

“Okay, let’s do this thing,” he said, taking his seat.

“So, what do we do?” Caleb asked.

“Caleb, you keep scraping Bran off the ceiling and help Doc.” Kate grinned before she felt a sharp pain

rip across her stomach.

“Deep breath in, short breaths out,” Nic said, his voice like a deep well of calm.

Kate did as instructed and soon the pain subsided.

She felt Doc lift her gown and spread her legs. Bran growled. Caleb smacked his shoulder.

“Thanks, man.” Bran shook his head as if clearing it.

“Trust me, Bran, even if I were straight, sights like this would have me looking at men,” Doc said,

starting her pelvic exam.

“Hey!” she yelled.

He looked up and her and winked.

“Oh. My. God!” Kate yelled. The pain radiated from her stomach to her back.

“Focus on me, Kate. Breathe,” Nic said, smiling down at her.

Kate looked up into his chocolate-brown eyes and did as he instructed. He didn’t know it, but she was

using his eyes to focus and breathe. Over the past year she had noticed that her quiet friend felt things so

deeply, but he never wanted to burden anyone with his problems. His eyes were always kind, always gentle.

It was his eyes that made her feel like everything would be okay.

She loved both her mates with every cell in her body, but they couldn’t do this for her. Both were too

worried and anxious. Their feelings always showed in their eyes. She needed Nic’s calm presence and

unwavering, patient gaze.

“You’re doing wonderfully, Kate. I expect the first one to be coming any time now. How are you with

the pain?” Doc asked.

“Hurts like hell, but what are my options. Epidurals don’t exactly work on shifters.” Kate breathed

through her next contraction, keeping her eyes locked with Nic’s.

“Which is why your breathing partner is so important. Nic, I have to say you’re doing a wonderful job,”

Felix complimented.

“I was jealous, but not anymore. I can see why she needs him. Hell, he’s calming me down from across

the room,” Bran admitted.

“Well this party is just starting. Take a seat, gentlemen, it may be a while,” Doc said.

Kate looked over to her mates.

“I love you both.” She put her heart behind her words.

“We love you too, Katie Bell,” Caleb said, taking her hand. She took a deep breath and braced for the

next contraction.

* * * *

“Okay, one more push, Kate.” Doc ordered. Caleb stood on one side holding one leg, while Bran stood

on the other holding the other.

“I can see the head, Kate!” Bran exclaimed.

“You can do it,” Nic whispered.

“This is what you’ve been dreaming of for so long. One more push, Kate.” Nic squeezed her hand.

Crying out and bearing down with every ounce of strength, Kate pushed. She felt a second of intense

pressure and then relief. And then there was the sound she had been waiting her whole life to hear. Her

baby’s cry.

“It’s a boy, Katie, we have another boy!” Caleb shouted, tears streaming down his face.

Felix took the baby to the side table and began to clean him up.

“We’re not quite done, Katie, you got one more. How are you holding up?” he asked.

“I’m tired. But I can’t wait to hold them,” she whispered through dry lips. Nic reached over and

brushed her lips with a moist cloth. She smiled her thanks. Another contraction started.

“Okay Kate, one huge push,” Doc yelled. Gritting her teeth she looked up at Nic, scared. She didn’t

know if she had one more push left. His warm eyes filled with tears and he leaned in.

“Hurry, Kate, this baby wants to meet its Momma,” he said. His words were exactly what she needed to

hear. Taking a deep breath she pushed and pushed.

“Another boy! Oh God, Kate, he’s perfect,” Bran cried. Nic collapsed in the chair next to the bed.

Doc carried the baby over to the table for Felix to clean and collect information before turning back to

Kate. He carefully massaged her lower stomach.

“One more push, Kate, and then you’re done.” Kate nodded as she began to push to deliver the

afterbirth. Heaving a sigh of relief as it left her body, she collapsed back onto the bed.

Felix turned and handed a tiny wrapped bundle to Kate. With trembling hands she brought the baby to

her chest. She looked down and couldn’t help the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

“Hello, Merrick Bran McGregor,” she whispered, and kissed the baby softly on his head.

Nic moved so that Caleb and Bran could lean in from either side of the bed. Felix, smiling, handed her

the second baby.

“Hello, Matthew Caleb McGregor.” She stared at the tiny souls in her arms. When she looked up she

saw Nic watching them, tears dripping off his chin. He was feeling her bond with her sons. She looked

down.

“Welcome to the world, my boys. You have a large family that loves you very much. Including an Uncle

Nic.” She smiled up at Nic.

“Get over here, Nic, and meet our sons,” Bran said, wiping his eyes. Nic stumbled forward as if in a

daze.

“They are so small,” he whispered, his eyes wide.

“They didn’t feel small,” Kate grunted.

“Look, he has fingernails. Kinda,” Nic said, entranced.

“Baby fingernails are the sharpest things on the planet.” Caleb laughed and ran his large hand over the

babies’ heads.

“You all did very well. I’m proud of you,” Felix said, packing up the small medical case.

“Textbook perfect, Kate. Congratulations on the birth of your sons.” Doc offered his hand to Bran and

then Caleb for a handshake.

“Can we tell the pack now? I can hear them in the hallway. I bet they are dying to hear the official

news.” Felix grinned.

“Good idea. These little guys have an entire pack to meet.” Bran grinned. He walked over to the door

and flung it wide.

Riley, Gina, Beverly, and to Kate’s surprise, Baptista, waited in the hallway.

“We have two more boys!” Bran yelled excitedly.

“Hot damn! That is wonderful news, Alpha!” Riley grabbed Bran for a hug.

Gina and Beverly walked in and went right to the bed to stand next to Nic. They leaned forward.

“Oh, Alpha, they are perfect,” Beverly gushed. Kate felt a wave of pride wash through her.

“How are Landon and Lucas?” She could see that the sun was starting to come up. Her other boys

would be up soon.

“Still sleeping soundly when last we checked,” Gina said.

“Baptista, come meet your godsons,” Caleb called.

“I wasn’t sure,” the large man said, stepping into the room hesitantly.

“Well I am. If it weren’t for you, they wouldn’t be here today. Neither would I,” Kate said, tears filling

her eyes at the thought of losing the two precious bundles in her arms.

“I um, brought them toys,” Baptista said, holding up two small, old-fashioned teddy bears. Each was

wearing sewn knightly armor which bore a regal crest.

“Knights?” Kate asked. Baptista nodded.

“I never had any children, but back before I was turned, before Prince Gabriel saved me, I was a

knight. During those times, we would foster children and raise them to follow in our footsteps as knights of

the land. This is the closest I think I’ll come to fostering.” Baptista set the bears down on the dresser.

“My sons will be truly blessed to have a godfather like you, Baptista.” Kate smiled.

“We’ll just keep them away from David and Daniel.” Baptista grinned.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Kate asked.

“What are their names?”

“Merrick and Matthew.”

“They are strong names.”

Caleb nodded to Bran and they walked over to the bed. They took the boys and passed Matthew to Nic,

who instantly brought the baby to his chest. Caleb handed Merrick to Baptista, who looked like he was

about to faint at any moment.

“Kate, we were going to wait, but I think this is the perfect time to give you your Christmas gift, since

you just gave us two more precious sons,” Caleb said, sitting on one side of the bed. Bran joined them on

the other side of the bed.

Bran handed Kate a small box. She looked from Caleb’s face to Bran’s before she opened it. When she

saw what lay nestled inside she couldn’t hold back the sob that seemed to explode from her heart.

Cushioned on white satin were two more gem charms for her necklace, each in the December

birthstone. The bluish-green charms wavered as her eyes filled with tears.

“I love you both so much, I don’t deserve you.” She pulled both men’s faces to hers for a three-way

kiss. She pulled back to kiss first Bran and then Caleb soundly. They heard a sniffle and to everyone’s

surprise, Baptista was the one wiping his eyes. Felix patted the large warrior on the back. Doc smiled at the

trio of mates.

“You have a beautiful family.” Baptista leaned in and gently passed Merrick back to Caleb. Nic returned

Matthew to Bran.

“Here’s your mommy and daddies,” Beverly said as she and Gina came in toting Landon and Lucas.

“Mamamama Dadadadadada!” the boys babbled.

Gina and Beverly placed them on the bed and let them crawl up to snuggle in close to Kate.

“Landon, Lucas, these are your brothers. Merrick and Matthew.” Kate introduced the boys. Bran and

Caleb kneeled down so that the newborns were eye level with their older brothers. Lucas leaned in and

placed a gentle but sloppy kiss on Merrick’s head. Not to be outdone, Landon did the same for Matthew.

“I think this will be the best Christmas ever,” Kate whispered.

“We all got our gifts early this year.” Bran stared down as he watched his sons meet each other for the

first time.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Caleb agreed.

Chapter 3

Felix

Dec 21st

“Was that made-for-TV perfect or what! I felt like I was watching a Hallmark Christmas special.” Felix

couldn’t seem to stop smiling. Claybourne was driving them back to their home after dropping off the

unneeded medical supplies at the clinic. It had been a long time since he was able to celebrate Christmas.

This year seemed to be kicking off wonderfully.

“You are a goof. The mother and both babies are healthy, that’s all that matters.” Claybourne yawned.

The delivery had taken them into the next morning.

“Why do you think we were ambushed by Rebecca at the clinic? She wasn’t happy until she took our

pictures,” Felix said, turning on the radio to a Christmas station. Seconds later in the middle of
White

Christmas
, Claybourne turned the radio off. Felix sighed. His mate had been a huge Ebenezer Scrooge ever

since Thanksgiving. If he didn’t know better he would say the man hated Christmas.

“No telling with her. I know that she was relieved to hear that everyone was okay,” Claybourne said,

pulling into their driveway.

From the outside you couldn’t tell it was four days until Christmas. There were no lights, no garland.