Page 3 of Gifts of Fate (Kindred of Arkadia #7)

Ma stopped what she was doing and looked over thoughtfully. “A long time ago we did. But, not since before the boys were born,” she admitted.

Rebecca smiled, an idea forming in her mind.

“Uh, oh,” Sebastian said.

“Oh dear,” Ashby sighed.

“What?” Liam and Aleks demanded at the same time.

“She has an idea.” Sebastian grinned.

“She’s smirking, which means it’s probably a good idea,” Ashby added.

“You know me so well, my fellow cohorts. I’ll text you details later. But, I think you manly men should get a tree for the square for our town Christmas party on Christmas Eve. Maybe we can get Peyton to leave the bar for the party.” She hummed along to Elvis’s “Blue Christmas.”

“We can do that. I bet a tree would be an incentive to leave the bar. I know Mojo has been working with him a lot lately. Poor kid is still terrified to leave the bar. Liam, Kent, are you guys available later to help with the town tree?” Aleks asked. Both men nodded.

Aleks leaned in close to his mate. “You know I don’t like that texting,” Aleks grumbled in her ear.

“That’s because your nosy self is used to being able to eavesdrop on all my conversations. Not anymore. Muwahahahaha.” Rebecca held her phone as if she were holding a light saber. “The force is with me.” She grinned.

“Better watch it or…” Sebastian gasped and his hands went to his belly.

Rebecca dropped her phone on the table and clutched her stomach. “Okay, I didn’t like that.” She frowned.

“When was the last one?” Aleks demanded.

“Three minutes and forty-one seconds ago,” Kent said, looking at his watch.

“I feel funny.” Sebastian rubbed his lower back.

“I’m calling Doc,” Liam said. He was reaching for his phone when Rebecca’s phone started to go off.

Rebecca answered it. “Hey, Kate. Did you feel that?” she asked.

Kate laughed. “More than you did. I’m in labor,” she said, sounding calm.

“Kate, did you want to wear your gown?” Caleb asked in the background.

“Yes, dear,” was Kate’s response.

“Forget the gown, where in the fuck is Doc! We called him like an hour ago. Riley! Riley, go see if Doc is outside.” They heard Bran’s voice in the background grow louder then get softer as if he were pacing close to the phone and then away.

“Bran, calm down. We called him about fifteen minutes ago. He should be getting here any minute.” Kate chuckled and then gasped.

“Just breathe.” They heard Nic say.

Rebecca felt the same fluttering around her midsection. She turned to Sebastian, who nodded.

“So, we’ve been picking up on you. Aleks and Liam were about to call Doc thinking we were the ones in labor. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s time. How are you doing?” Rebecca asked.

“I’m fine. It’s been kinda off and on all day.

It’s just getting stronger now. Nic has been an angel.

Our bond seems to be as strong as the ones you share with Sebastian and Ashby.

He came over this morning when I first started to get the small cramps.

This is second time around for Caleb so he seems to be doing okay.

He’s not freaking out like Bran, but he has been staring at the dresser for the past couple minutes trying to remember which drawer I keep my nightgowns in.

” Rebecca could hear the smile in her voice.

“Hey.” Bran and Caleb protested at the same time.

“Did you pick out names yet? I know you were on the fence about one of them,” Rebecca asked.

“I think I’ll know for sure when I see them. I can’t wait to hold them.” Kate stopped and took a deep breath.

Rebecca looked over to Kent who met her eyes. He looked down at his watch. “She’s under two minutes apart.”

“Fuck! Fuck! Where is Doc?” Bran yelled.

“I think I hear his car,” Caleb said.

“I better let you go. They really aren’t handling this well,” Kate said.

“Did you want us to come over?” Rebecca asked.

“No, it’s okay. I have my mates and Nic and the pack. Besides, there’s no telling how long this will actually take. We’ll swing by the diner in a couple days to show them off. Oh! Okay that one hurt. Better run!”

“We love you, Katie Bell,” Ashby yelled.

“Bye guys!” Kate ended the call.

“Wow, I can’t believe it’s time already.” Rebecca shook her head.

“You know what Doc said. That one of you could set off the other two with false labor pains,” Liam said, eyeing his mate.

“I feel fine. I’m just picking up on Kate, that’s all.” Sebastian kissed Liam’s hand.

“Becca? How do you feel?” Aleks asked.

“I feel like I have butterflies flying around my abdomen. But that’s it. Will it be okay for Kate to bring the babies out in a few days?” She rubbed her belly.

“Shifter babies are a lot stronger than human newborns. In fact the fresh air will help them, their animals will get the scent of home. It’s very common for shifter newborns to be out and about the next day,” Ma explained.

“Does that mean I won’t be stuck in the house after the baby is born?” she asked excitedly. Everyone looked from Aleks to Ma.

Ma shook her head. “Maybe not you.” She smiled.

Rebecca sighed.

“Come on, baby, let’s head home,” Aleks said, standing.

“Us too, kitten. I want to get you to bed,” Liam said, taking Sebastian’s hand.

“Good luck, guys,” Rex called out.

“Goodnight,” Rebecca said as Aleks helped her put her coat on.

Walking hand in hand, they left the diner and stepped out into the snow.

They waved as Liam, Kent and Sebastian walked in the opposite direction toward their car.

Rebecca turned her face up and opened her mouth.

She loved to catch snowflakes. She looked over to see that Aleks was watching her with a look of love in his eyes that seemed to touch her soul.

“I love you,” she said simply, and watched his eyes darken.

“I love you too. You are my entire world, Becca.” He took her in his arms and rubbed his cheek on her head.

“Aloisius loves you too.” Aleks stepped back and eyed her suspiciously.

“You’re really not going to name him Aloisius are you?”

“Hi-mi-tsu,” she said, drawing out each syllable.

“I told you that you could watch anime as long as you didn’t speak Japanese to me. What did that mean?” Aleks grumbled.

“Secret.”

“Why can’t you tell me?” he asked.

“No. It means, secret.”

She smiled and took his hand, heading toward their truck.

“Becca. Baby? Aloisius? Really?” Aleks asked.

Smiling, she kept walking, enjoying the sound her boots made in the snow.

Christmas really was her favorite time of the year.