Kindred of Arkadia 4
Fated Forgiveness
Liam Lewenhart was devastated when he learned that the little cat Sebastian Wakefield, whom he had known for months, was his mate and had been hiding the truth from him since they met. He has to overcome the pain of his past before he can accept a future with his kitten. But will Sebastian forgive him for ignoring him when the truth finally came out?
Sebastian has lost hope that Liam will ever forgive him. He knows what he did was wrong, and that he wounded his mate deeply. Will he be able to find a way to get Liam to see that he really does need him and earn his forgiveness?
Kent Fieldings has been walking through life as a spectator. He finds himself mediating between his two hurt mates. Will their history together leave him feeling like a third wheel, or will the heat between his two men burn him alive?
Will they be able to come together as a united front before the attempts from an old enemy destroys them?
Note: This book contains double anal penetration.
Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: 47,477 words
FATED FORGIVENESS
Kindred of Arkadia 4
Alanea Alder
MENAGE AMOUR
MANLOVE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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FATED FORGIVENESS
Copyright © 2013 by Alanea Alder
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-855-4
First E-book Publication: November 2013
Cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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DEDICATION
To my Street Team, thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You’ll never know how much it means.
To Pegster, thank you for every single “You always say you won’t finish and you do,” and “You always think they won’t like it and they will because it’s awesome.” You have kept me from jumping into the abyss. You get a special thank you because you had to listen to me moan and complain for the next four books. This alligator is for you!
Fated Forgiveness Playlist
1.Prologue - The Gentleman theme song - “Still Doll” - Shinshoku Dolce and Kanon Wakeshima
2.Chapter 1 - Liam/Sebastian and the gang Diner - “Safe in the Arms of Love” - Martina McBride
3.Chapter 2 - Liam and Sebastian - “Please Forgive Me” - Bryan Adams
4.Chapter 3 - Claiming their mates - “Let’s Make Love” - Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
5.Chapter 4 - Liam’s Family - “Family Affair” - Mary J. Blige
6.Chapter 5 - Wild Kingdom Night and Pancakes - Disney’s Peter Pan, “Crocodile Song”
7.Chapter 6 - Kent’s ringtone - Piano Concerto No.2 - Rachmaninov
Party - “We Like to Party” - Vengaboys
Selene’s Story - “Dance of Curse” - From the anime Vision of Escaflowne
8.Chapter 7 - Hello Felix - “Sexy and I Know It” - LMFAO
Felix, Rian, and Rebecca - “Love the Way You Lie” - Eminem
Sebastian’s ringtone - “The Bad Touch” - Bloodhound Gang
The Circle Opens - “Wunderkind” - Alanis Morissette
New Enemy - “Trust in Me” - Disney’s The Jungle Book
9.Chapter 8 - New Enemy Returns - “Escape to Paris” - Interview with a Vampire Soundtrack
Sebastian’s Ringtone for Rebecca - “Superfreak” - Rick James
Liam’s ringtone for Kate - “Li’l Red Riding Hood” - Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs,
Everyone working together - “Wanted Dead or Alive” - Bon Jovi
10.Chapter 9 - Triumph –-“The Power” - Snap
11.Chapter 10 - Ringtone Sebastian picked - “Closer” - Nine Inch Nails
Hatred - “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” - Rodgers and Hammerstein - South Pacific
12.Chapter 11 - Yummy Men - “It’s Raining Men” - The Weather Girls
Happy Ending - “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” - Bob Marley
13.Epilogue - The Gentleman - Fortune’s Wheel - “O Fortuna” - Carmina Burana
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
About the Author
FATED FORGIVENESS
Kindred of Arkadia 4
ALANEA ALDER
Copyright © 2013
Prologue
“Ahh, there is my puppy.” The gentleman smiled from his chaise lounge as the wolf shifter walked into the room.
“Now, old boy. Where are all of my hybrids?” In the background, a wail
filled with despair resonated through the house. The wolf shifter shuddered.
“Sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? At first my pain expert had nearly all of them singing at once. It proved to be annoying. So now he is working through them one at a time. I get to enjoy each agonized scream as it erupts from the depths of their soul.” The gentleman crossed one leg over the other.
“I will have them soon. There’s nothing anyone can do, not even the council,” the wolf said, staring at the floor.
The gentleman snapped his fingers and watched as Payne stepped from the shadows.
“I have a present for you. I love giving presents. Payne, if you would, please?” The gentleman nodded to his servant. The wolf snarled when a thick, black, leather collar was secured around his neck.
“I am having a hard time believing you. So I am going to explain things to you slowly.” He reached into his top pocket and pulled out a sleek, metal case.
“You are going to get me the hybrids I desire or you get to enjoy your present.” The gentleman calmly pressed the red button. Immediately the wolf shifter screamed and dropped to the plastic-covered floor, writhing in agony. The gentleman watched in fascination as the shifter twitched and jerked for minutes, whimpering and cowering until the effects wore off.
“This is absolutely dreadful. I love it! Payne, we must order more of these,” the gentleman said, accidently pressing the button again. The smell of urine and feces wafted up to his nose. The gentleman sighed.
“That was my fault.” He watched as the wolf’s spasms slowed down.
“You have my neighbors to thank for this little invention. I watched them last week trying to train their dogs not to cross the property lines, and it hit me. Shock collars for shifters. I mean, it’s so obvious I’m surprised no one else has thought of it before now. I hear that the pain a shifter feels from an electric current is a thousand times harsher than that of a human’s, since you feel your own pain and the pain of your animal.” The gentleman spun the remote with a childlike glee.
“Now stand up. There’s a good boy. Good boy!” The gentleman clapped.
“Go get me my hybrids.” The gentleman’s voice was no longer happy and laughing but cold. Shaking, the wolf walked unsteadily toward the door.
“Oh, and Devon?” The gentleman called out. Slowly the wolf turned to look at him.
“You will not like what will happen to you if you fail.” The gentleman scrunched up his nose.
“Payne, can you please air out the room? It’s a bit…ripe in here.” The dark figure nodded and closed the door behind them. The gentleman sat down and eyed the red button. Unable to resist its allure, he 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, l
ook, 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.