Kindred of Arkadia 3
Fated for Forever
Ashby Fairfax has always looked for love in the wrong places. His last attempt left him running from an abusive boyfriend. Since coming to Arkadia, life has been great. He finally has the family he has always craved. Only one thing is missing, his mate. But how can a small-town fox shifter be mated to a vampire prince?
Prince Gabriel has led his people through the ages and into the twenty-first century. He is on the verge of losing his soul when he catches the scent of what may be his mate. Once Ashby is confirmed as his, it seems their troubles begin.
Someone is after Ashby. Gabriel’s entire coven rallies around their new prince, and for the first time in his existence, Gabriel experiences bone-numbing fear. Can he find the strength to send Ashby to Arkadia to ensure his safety? And will he be able to eliminate the threat before he loses his reason for living?
Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Contemporary, Paranormal, Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves
Length: 50,026 words
FATED FOR FOREVER
Kindred of Arkadia 3
Alanea Alder
EROTIC ROMANCE
MANLOVE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove
FATED FOR FOREVER
Copyright © 2013 by Alanea Alder
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-545-4
First E-book Publication: October 2013
Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover 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
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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DEDICATION
This one is dedicated to my Facebook fans. To everyone who wanted a story for the little guy. I hope this one doesn’t disappoint.
To everyone who is reading an M/M story for the first time, thank you for giving my book a shot. I hope you love Ashby’s story as much as I do.
To everyone who was brave enough to turn your back to your abuser and walk away. There are no words to describe that kind of strength or courage.
To Peggy “And then...he smiled and grinned before laughing.” Thanks for putting up with my rambling, you are the bestest beta!
And as always a big hug to my mom for being my cheerleader. I kept my promise and didn’t talk to you about this story at all, I hope that you love this book as much as you loved the first two.
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
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
About the Author
FATED FOR FOREVER
Kindred of Arkadia 3
ALANEA ALDER
Copyright © 2013
Prologue
The gentleman sat at his desk, a dreamy smile on his lips. Throughout the entire estate he could hear the anguished screams of the hyenas being tortured in the basement below. It had been centuries since he had enjoyed the sounds of absolute human despair, modern day had no appreciation for the soul-shattering desolation man experienced at the hands of a well-trained, methodical pain expert.
Humming, the gentleman stood and walked to his expansive bookcase. It would be criminal not to take this time to relax and read, especially as he had such soothing sounds in the background. The gentleman selected his favorite recently discovered novel, The Velveteen Rabbit. Smiling, he made his way over to his chaise lounge and settled in for an enjoyable night.
Chapter 1
Ashby checked the clock for the thousandth time that afternoon. Gabriel would be calling him soon. Ashby had come to look forward to their evening conversations. At first he thought the gorgeous nightclub owner simply felt guilty for what had happened when he and Rebecca had been kidnapped by the hyena clan. But lately Gabriel had really started courting him. Last week he had received high-end cake pans. This reinforced that Gabriel listened when they spoke on the phone. He had made an offhand comment that he needed better bake ware because the cakes he had been baking for his ice-cream cakes kept sticking to the pans. The next day a set of non-stick cake pans, better than the ones he had saved on his wish list had been delivered using a shifter courier so that it arrived directly to his shop. He couldn’t wait to bake Rebecca’s Coconut Dream cake. He wanted to make it as an add-in for his newest ice cream concoction, Piña Coco-Colada.
This week he had gotten a dozen Rush Daffodils. He thought daffodils an odd choice until he Googled the meaning. Return my Affection. He sighed smiling and glanced over to where the flowers were proudly on display on the shelf above the ice cream case. He looked around his shop and began to hum happily as he started to put his bowls away in preparation for the after-dinner rush. He had come a long way from the scared young man he had been when Ma had found him in the alle
y beside the diner years ago.
When he first came to Arkadia he had been on the run, trying to escape an abusive boyfriend. He knew that Arkadia would be a safe place to hide. It was against the law to harm any shifter within its boundaries. It had taken every penny to get him halfway to the shifter-only town. He then shifted and made the rest of the way on foot. When he arrived he simply collapsed next to the building that had drawn him in with the scent of food. He didn’t have any money and he had lost the clothes he had been carrying when he had to run from a natural bear in the woods.
Ma simply picked him up and carried him to her office. He had shifted and stood there shaking and naked. Connor had pulled the shirt from his back and offered it up to Ashby to get him warm. Ma gave him a job as busboy and offered to let him live on the ranch. He declined the offer and simply asked if he could sleep in her office at the diner.
After a few weeks, Ma had presented him with a check. It had been for nearly fifty thousand dollars. She had gone to the council and presented his case for their review. The council did an investigation and his wolf shifter ex-boyfriend had a long list of missing boyfriends. Ashby’s testimony allowed the council to get the warrant they needed and upon searching his ex-boyfriend’s home they discovered no less than a dozen bodies buried in the back yard. His ex, in an attempt to run, shot at one of the Sentinels sent to search his house and he was killed by the man’s partner. His ex-boyfriend’s house and possessions were then sold and the monies split between Ashby as the sole survivor and the family members of the other victims. If not for Ma he never would have stood up for himself before the council and he never would have gotten the money he needed to start his life over.
He had taken that fifty thousand dollars and bought the small run-down gym across the street and a block down from the alley where Ma had found him and with the help from the Arkadion brothers he turned it into a small, cozy ice cream parlor. It was small enough to feel homey, but large enough to handle most good-sized birthday parties. He harbored a secret love of birthday parties. He loved the idea of cake, presents, balloons and of course ice cream all rolled into a friends-and-family event.
He glanced at the clock again and sighed. Time was moving so slow. It was only four thirty—still another thirty minutes before Gabriel would call. He was about to check his topping supply when he heard the tinkling of the bell over his door. It was Marcus Evans, a lynx shifter who worked in the bank. He was constantly coming in here to harass him.
“Mr. Evans, what can I get you today?” Ashby asked, turning to take his place behind the ice cream case. Then a hand grabbed his arm.
“It’s so rare to catch you when you’re out from behind your counter, pretty little Ashby. Feeling braver since you bonded with the new Alpha Mother?” Marcus sneered and squeezed down on his arm harder.
“You’re hurting me, Mr. Evans. Please let go.” Ashby said, trying to keep his voice and emotions even. The last thing he needed was Rebecca racing in here due to a spike of fear from him. He could handle the likes of Marcus Evans.
“You keep forgetting your place now that you’re bonded with the Rebecca Arkadion. Do you think being bonded makes you better than everyone else?” Marcus said, jerking his arm.
It keeps me safe. “Being bonded with the Alpha Mother is a great responsibility as I help her connect with the people of the town, nothing more,” Ashby said, tugging on his arm. Marcus laughed and pulled Ashby closer, leaning down until their lips were almost touching.
“How about connecting with me?” he leered. Ashby’s stomach rolled and he felt like he couldn’t breathe. He was so caught up in his blossoming fear that he didn’t hear the door’s bell chime.
“Is there a problem here?” a deep voice asked. Ashby turned his head and nearly fainted in relief. It was Moe. There were very few men in town whose very size seemed to mandate a voice that deep. It seemed to reverberate up the man’s barrel chest.
“No problem here Mojo,” Marcus said, not letting go of Ashby.
“Good, because I would hate for you to impede me getting my ice cream. It might impede me serving you beer later, catch my drift?” he said, crossing his thick arms and staring down at the smaller man. Marcus finally let go of Ashby’s arm.
“I’ll see you later pretty little Ashby,” Marcus said, grinning and then left, the door’s bell tinkling as he left.
“That asshole still messing with you?” Moe asked.
Ashby nodded. “He now thinks that I am putting on airs by being bonded with Rebecca. Maybe in his own way he thinks I’m playing hard to get.” Ashby rubbed his upper arm. He would have bruises for sure.
“If he keeps fucking with you let me know, I can usually persuade people to see things my way,” Moe said, cracking his knuckles and grinning. Ashby smiled back. It was hard to imagine that this intimidating man was one of the main volunteers at the school. He worked with the kindergartners at that.
“Enough of that jerk. Your usual?” Ashby asked, reaching for the bananas.
“Yup, extra chocolate today. It’s going to be a long night. I’m breaking in Caleb’s replacement at the bar tonight, Peyton Miller. The poor kid looks like he’s been through the wringer. I was going to ask if you have any clothes you can spare. The kid doesn’t have much and you’re the only one in town, uh, about his size,” Moe said wincing.
“So he’s a shrimp like me?” Ashby said, trying to make Moe feel better. Moe grinned at him thankfully.
“Yup. You can tell he’s nervous, keeps looking over one shoulder expecting someone to walk into the bar and get him. I’d like to meet up with whoever has that poor boy jumping at every sound,” Moe said darkly.
Ashby felt his heart sink. That was him only a few short years ago.
“Give me a few minutes, I’ll run upstairs, I have a ton of stuff he can have,” Ashby said, handing over the six-banana split with extra chocolate syrup. Moe took the large bowl in one hand and got comfortable at one of the tables.
Ashby ran upstairs to his apartment and grabbed the gym bag he never used. He started going through his clothes. He actually had a lot he could part with, and by the time he was done the bag wouldn’t zip. He shrugged and hefted the bag up to carry it downstairs.
“Holy crap Ashby, I didn’t mean for you to give him your closet,” Moe said, taking the bag. Ashby shook his head, his blond curls swinging.
“Please tell him if he needs anything else to let me know. I’ve been where he is, I know what it feels like to be without anything and reliant on the kindness of others. It’s my way of paying back everyone who helped me,” Ashby said, looking up at Moe earnestly. Moe gave a slow smile.
“You’re a strong man, Ashby Fairfax, don’t let anyone tell you any different. Thanks for the clothes, I know Peyton will be happy to have something else to wear.” He motioned to the overflowing bag. Ashby blushed at the praise. He had been called many things, but strong was never one of them.
“Catch you around,” Moe said and walked out. Ashby smiled. It felt good knowing that he had helped someone.
He looked at the clock. It was well after five, then as if by willing it to happen his cell phone rang. He jumped up and ran to pick it up.
“Hello?” he asked breathing hard.
“Why do you sound so out of breath, mon ange?” the melodic voice asked. Ashby felt his insides quiver.
“I ran to my cell phone to answer it. You’re late today,” he said smiling. He heard a chuckle and knew he was right to tease him.
“My apologies mon ange, how can I make it up to you?” Gabriel asked smoothly. Ashby thought about it for a second. The episode with Marcus and hearing about Peyton had really made him want to celebrate how far he’d come.
“Is your offer still open for me to visit?” Ashby blurted out. There was silence on the phone. He felt sick. He knew that Gabriel would change his mind. “I mean it’s OK, if it’s not…” That was as far as Ashby got.
“Do you need an escort? Do you have transportation? I can send
my car. Will you be hungry? I can arrange for dinner?” Gabriel asked. Ashby could hear him barking orders in the background between questions to prepare his personal VIP room. Ashby smiled. His normally calm and cool prince sounded frantic.
“No I don’t need an escort and no I don’t need transportation, I have my own car. I’ll be stopping at the diner for dinner, so don’t put anyone out. And you don’t need to prepare a VIP room, it’s just me,” Ashby said softly.
“I will prepare the VIP room, because it is you,” Gabriel said, his deep voice soothing.
“What time should I expect you?” Gabriel asked.
“I’ll be swinging by the diner after I close then coming back to my place to get ready. So is ten o’clock OK?” Ashby asked.
“Ten o’clock is perfect, mon ange. I will be waiting anxiously for you to get here,” Gabriel purred.
“See you then,” Ashby said and hung up the phone. He took a deep breath. He had done it. He had agreed to meet his vampire prince at last. He grinned, that’s how he referred to Gabriel in his head, as his vampire prince. Shaking his head he decided to close the shop early to give himself extra time to get ready. He made sure everything was closed and put away for the night and flipped the sign to “Closed.” He had just enough time to eat, shower and then agonize over what to wear.
Chapter 2
“There he is! You’re in early today,” Rebecca said. When he first met Rebecca Arkadion she had been Rebecca Morgan, a human in a shifter-only town destined to be mated to Aleksander Arkadion, the eldest Arkadion son. When Aleks’s parents fully retired, Aleks and Rebecca would take over in leading Arkadia and the other Arkadian sister cities. Aleks and Rebecca had already started stepping into their roles and making decisions for the town.