Fated Forgiveness [Kindred of Arkadia 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (2 page)

pressed it again. In the distance he heard a howl of pain. Laughing, the gentleman relaxed against his

lounger. Shifters were so much fun.

Chapter 1

Liam lay back in his favorite lounge chair next to the pride’s pool, enjoying the early morning sun. He

refused to believe he was sulking. He was brooding. It was a more manly term. But if he had to be honest

with himself, he was pouting. His lion wanted their mate, preferably naked and begging for forgiveness.

The man in him was still nursing a wounded heart and banged-up pride. Of all people, Sebastian should

have felt safest with him, been able to come to him with his problems, but in the end he had been too

scared. Only his fear for Rebecca’s safety had forced him to reveal himself to the others. He sighed.

He wished he were a painter or a poet so he could languish, but unfortunately for him, he had no

patience to truly reflect on his feelings. Normally his emotions were happily surface level. He tended to lash

out like his cat when he was hurt and purr when he was happy. But over the past two weeks he found

himself wearing a stale smile when others asked how he was doing. His heart hurt and he felt raw. It wasn’t

like him.

Liam kept replaying the moment in the apartment when Sebastian had shifted and his scent changed as

he took human form. He had instantly recognized him as his mate. He frowned as he recalled the devastated

look on his mate’s face as he walked. It still haunted him.

Okay, he was terrified. Still, he should have come to me. But then again, I really don’t know what he

went through and I haven’t given him a chance to explain.

Liam scowled to himself. He had been steadily avoiding the smaller man for the past couple weeks. In

retrospect it seemed immature and childish, but he couldn’t help the way he felt. In the end what he really

wanted was to hold his mate and tell him everything was going to be okay. To assure him that if anyone

threatened him again, he would happily gut them and leave them to die.

Was it as simple as that? The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he wanted his mate

beside him more than he wanted an apology. Staying away from his sexy kitten wouldn’t change the past.

His mate hadn’t set out to hurt him, so he could forgive him. His mate needed him, so he would go to him.

They would have an honest discussion and get everything out in the open so they could complete their

mating. Then Sebastian could move into the pride house and they could live happily ever after. Simple.

Yup, it was good to have a plan. Find his mate, talk about what happened, bring him home, mate, and then

find and kill the psycho that hurt his kitten. Rebecca had told him how Sebastian had escaped the lunatic

collecting hybrids.

His grandfather had called him and Rebecca last week to update them on the case against the wolf Alpha

Devon. Sentinels had gone out to Devon’s pack lands and came up empty handed. No one in the pack had

any knowledge of anyone being kept against their will. Sebastian’s old Alpha testified, defending Devon,

stating that Sebastian became mentally unstable when his parents were killed in a random shooting. Devon

testified that Peyton was trying to get revenge against him for a bad break up. In the end it was Sebastian

and Peyton’s word against two established Alphas. Rebecca had been warned sternly about shooting

visiting Alphas, that her next offense may have serious consequences. Liam shook his head as he

remembered how he had to quickly jump the table to cover Rebecca’s mouth before she said something to

his grandfather they would both regret. Thank goodness it had been a conference call where he could do

that, instead of an in-person visit. His grandfather adored Rebecca, but Liam knew that the old man

shouldn’t be pushed. They would find a way to deal with Devon on their own. He just couldn’t shake the

look of pure terror that had been on Peyton’s face. If Peyton was that afraid, what must Sebastian be feeling

as one of the ones who had been caged and abused? Liam felt a growl float up his throat at the thought of

his mate in a cage.

“I’m not going out there now, he’s growling to himself again! Last week he nearly ripped Rex’s head off

when he asked about something benign like patrol rotations. Beau and Kaden have pretty much stayed in

the game room to avoid him, y’all are not sending me into the lion’s den, like literally!” Rian’s voice floated

out of the open kitchen window and down to Liam’s ears. He paused mid-mental tirade and perked his ears

up. Okay, he had to admit, he may have been a teensy bit hard to live with lately, but dammit, his mate had

rejected him!

“Rian, you and Damian have known him the longest. He probably won’t gut you if you ask.” They

officially had his interest now. That was Rex. He was known to take his responsibilities seriously. He would

not be participating in any of Rian or Damian’s normal hijinks.

“That only means I’ve had more time to piss him off in general. How about you, Talon?” Rian offered.

“No fucking way. I haven’t been here long enough to discuss this with him. It has to be one of y’all who

have been in the pride the longest.” Talon’s southern drawl was unmistakable.

“Not it!” He heard Damian practically shout.

“Damn it!” Rian cussed. Liam leaned back and closed his eyes behind his sun glasses. He couldn’t wait

to see what his pride was up to now.

He didn’t have a long wait before he felt a shadow cross his face. He opened one eye to see Rian

standing over him, and he was wearing his damn Stetson!

“You’re wearing my hat,” he said and closed his eye.

“Liam, look, we know that you’ve been going through a rough time with Sebastian and all,” Rian

started.

“You’re wearing my hat.” Liam interrupted without opening his eyes.

“Yes, I know. Listen, the pride has been talking, and we want you to bond with Rebecca so that we are

protected from outside challenges the way the pack is.” Rian stared down at his Alpha, his hands on his

hips.

Liam let the growl rise up from his gut and out his mouth. He opened his eyes and pulled off his

sunglasses.

“Am I so damn untrustworthy that my own pride doesn’t feel safe with me as Alpha?” he demanded. He

saw Rian’s eyes fill with compassion briefly before they narrowed in anger. He knew there was a reason

why he didn’t try to kill Rian on a regular basis, but he couldn’t remember it at the moment.

“Liam Aloisius Lewenhart!” Rian yelled, crossing his arms over his chest and sticking one hip out in a

defiant position. Liam winced at the full use of his name. Only Rian and Damian knew his hated middle

name.

“Lions don’t have betas, but if we did, I would be yours and you know it. So you know I say this with

all the love I have for you. You. Are. Being. An. Asshole!” Rian threw his arms up, exasperated, and Liam’s

mouth dropped. He was pretty sure he was the Alpha here.

“Let’s start with the pride. Did you ever stop to think that we were trying to protect you? You have given

some of us the only true home we have ever known. You pay all the damn bills, and if anything happens,

your life is on the line to defend us. How do you think that makes us feel? We want to keep you safe

because you represent home to us and if being bonded to our little Rebecca cements that, then so be it.”

Rian waved his hands around. Liam stubbornly stared out across the lawn.

“Now about your mate. That poor man needs you. Stop being such a drama king and go get him.

You’ve made him suffer long enough. You’re not exactly showing him how trustworthy and reliable you are

by ignoring him and hurting him further. Now go get him!” Rian pointed to the gate.

“You’re wearing my…” Liam started.

“Now!” Rian screeched, and Liam jumped up and headed for the gate leading to the driveway. It wasn’t

until he was in his car that he realized that he just let his “beta” order him around. He scratched his head. He

was the Alpha, dammit. He started the car and grumbled the entire drive into town.

* * * *

“He’ll never forgive me!” Sebastian lay his head down over his crossed arms on the table. Rebecca and

Kate each leaned in and wrapped their arms around the shaking man. All three sat at their usual table in the

diner. It was just after the breakfast rush and the diner was mostly empty.

“Of course he will. Liam is one of the most wonderful men we know. He’s just had a bit of a shock,

that’s all.” Rebecca rubbed Sebastian’s back soothingly.

“Rebecca’s right. Liam has the emotional depth of a teaspoon. It won’t take him long to bounce back

from this,” Kate offered. Sebastian looked up hopefully.

“Do you really think so?”

Rebecca and Kate both nodded.

“Pretty soon he’ll be driving you nuts the way our mates drive us crazy.” Rebecca giggled.

“You have to admit it’s sexy when they get possessive and growly,” Kate countered. Rebecca nodded.

“I wish Liam felt that way,” Sebastian said sadly. He couldn’t blame his lion for ignoring him. In his

mind he knew that he could trust the man, but his heart feared the Alpha in him. Every single instance

dealing with men in power had resulted in pain and horror, and he couldn’t bear it if his own mate treated

him the same way. But even as he came to realize that Liam wouldn’t hurt him, he started to fear his mate’s

reaction for deceiving him. It was a vicious cycle that continued until he had shifted to save his best friend.

He could still hear Liam’s accusing words.

“
You knew! You had to know!”

Sebastian looked up to see one set of anxious violet eyes and one set of worried blue eyes watching

him. His heart turned over. He had wonderful people as friends, people who cared about him, he couldn’t

let them worry about him so much. He reached up and patted each woman on the shoulder. They

unwrapped their arms and sat back in their chairs, looking at him.

“I…” he was about to say he would be all right when Liam walked into the diner. Liam’s eyes searched

the room until they fell on their table. Sebastian couldn’t help but stare. The man was simply divine. He was

tall, but not as bulky as Rebecca’s bear, for which he was grateful. He liked the way he could see Liam’s

muscles as they moved under his skin. He subconsciously licked his lips, and Liam’s eyes widened. A slow

smile crossed his lion’s features. When he took a step forward and started coming towards them, it was

with a definite swagger in his step. Was his lion showing off for him?

Liam walked up to the table, grabbed a chair and sat down between his mate and Rebecca. He smiled at

Sebastian, reached over and took his hand. Sebastian looked to Rebecca, then Kate, who were grinning like

idiots at him.

“Hi,” Sebastian mumbled, staring down at the table where their hands were joined.

“Hi, kitten.” Liam lifted Sebastian’s hand to his cheek and rubbed his face across it.

“You’re not mad anymore?” Sebastian asked. Liam shook his head.

“I was hurt you didn’t come to me, but I never gave you a chance to explain why. I’ve been walking

around out of sorts and snapping at everyone in my pride. We’ll have a long talk later, but you’re my mate

and I’ll support you. I’m going to stop acting like a grumpy-ass bear, because they are freaking annoying,

and give you the chance to get comfortable with being with me, so I can understand your story. Besides, my

lion is dying to mark you. He’s been snarling at me for the past two weeks to be near you.” Liam kissed

Sebastian’s hand.

“Yes! Yes, yes!” Rebecca was pumping both small fists in the air and kicking her feet, laughing happily.

Sebastian looked around the table and everyone was smiling at them.

Liam turned to Kate and Rebecca.

“Good morning, my luscious ladies. And how is my baby boy doing today?” he asked, making kissing

noises at Rebecca’s stomach, sounding like his normal self. Rebecca beamed up at Liam, obviously relieved

at his familiar, laid-back persona.

“Aleks said the next time you referred to his son as your boy he was going to choke the life out of you.”

Rebecca looked around, snatched up Kate’s coffee cup and took a healthy swig.

“I saw that! No more caffeine for you, Rebecca Arkadion, doctor’s orders,” Connor yelled across the

diner. Rebecca winced and set the cup down, grumbling about stupid doctors and what do they know.

Sebastian removed his hand from Liam’s, winked at his mate before sucking up all the soda in his cup.

Under the table he popped off the lid, then he reached across the table, grabbing Kate’s mug. When

Connor’s back was turned, he carefully poured Kate’s coffee into his soda cup and put the lid back on. He

handed it to Rebecca, who started bouncing excitedly in her seat. She accepted the cup and held it in front

of her.

“Sebastian, you are the bestest!” She was about to take a sip when a large hand swooped in and grabbed