Chapter One #3
Moe felt himself fall more in love with his mate. Rhys’s soft smile and gentle hands were quick and careful.
Rebecca turned her wide eyes to Rhys. “You’re like Super Nanny ! How did you do that? I always fumble with the darn Velcro and then he pees on me!” she exclaimed.
“You have to be quick with boys. Cold air hits them and they go again.” Rhys handed Ma the dirty diaper bag over the counter and picked up Moe’s lunch to carry back to their table.
“Where did you learn how to do that?” Gabriel asked, looking surprised.
“About ten years after you turned me, my childhood best friend approached me. Her husband had just been killed and she was pregnant. She was terrified about raising her baby alone in the country. So, before I joined you, I married her and Roman and I moved to the French countryside to help her with her baby. Roman was older so he helped me feed when we made trips to Paris. We stayed until her son turned six before we decided to join you here in the States. Neither one of us wanted to watch them grow old and die. But, for six years I was a father to that baby, which meant diapers and teething and nighttime feedings. Things were much harder then. They have so many time-saving inventions for babies now.” Rhys shrugged.
“Neither of you told me that,” Gabriel said, looking at Roman.
“There wasn’t much to say,” Roman shrugged.
“Before moving here, I helped watch my neighbor’s baby. The tiny thing liked to bite on my fingers when she was teething.” Moe laughed. He never realized how much they had in common.
“Henri did the same to Roman, but never to me.” Rhys chuckled and Roman smiled.
“You would have thought that kid was a shifter or a vampire.” Roman leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee.
Jacinda emptied her glass of soda and stood. She sashayed past Rhys and stopped in front of Moe. Behind him he could hear the diner door open and close.
“He may be good with babies, but he’s no woman. Come see me if you miss a woman’s touch.” She leaned forward and ran her finger down his cheek.
He glared up at the woman. “No thank you,” he said, biting off each word. She ran her hands over his upper chest. He heard a chair hit the floor.
“Rhys!” Gabriel exclaimed.
Moe stood to his full height to see past Jacinda to find his mate. Across the table Rhys had stood, knocking the chair over. His fingers had shifted to claws and his eyes burned red.
“I knew he was a monster!” A familiar sniveling voice yelled.
Jacinda screeched and practically climbed up Moe’s back for safety.
“Bitch, get off me!” Moe reached around and plucked her from his back, putting her on her feet as Gabriel and Roman stood in front of Rhys, talking quickly.
“Get the fuck outta here.” He gave the woman a not-so-gentle shove and she raced out of the door, but not before he caught the smirk she gave the wolf beta standing next to the lawyer.
Moe watched as Alpha Devon’s beta Glenn stood by the door, recording the whole thing on his phone.
Moe quickly turned back and went to his mate.
He simply grabbed the back of Rhys’s neck and brought his mouth down to his.
The second their lips touched electricity arched between them.
Rhys’s claws retracted and he stopped struggling to get free.
When Moe stepped back to look at his mate, Rhys’s eyes were back to their normal deep green.
“That thing is a danger to every shifter. I’m shocked you would allow him next to your children! Give him to me! The Arkadion needs to be protected!” Salsiby screeched, reaching for Aidhan.
In less than a second Rebecca had scooped up Aidhan and was behind Liam, Kent and Connor, sandwiched between Sebastian and Ashby with their own sons.
“You stay away from my son! That ‘monster’ just changed his diaper and is perfectly fine. I trust Rhys with my son before I would ever trust you!” Rebecca was shaking from what Moe could only guess was anger and fear.
“Get out of my diner!” Ma yelled.
“This is a public building. You can’t kick us out!” Glenn protested.
“The hell I can’t. As that sniveling little weasel pointed out the day he arrived I am the diner’s owner. That means I can kick out whomever I want. Right now I’m kicking you out.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Glenn sneered.
Gabriel snarled, silencing the entire diner. He waved his hand and both men were thrown out of the diner’s opened doors. Seconds later, everyone heard two distinct booms as they landed.
Eyes turned to stare at Gabriel.
“Damn, Gabriel, how far did you throw them?” Moe asked, rubbing his hand up and down Rhys’s back.
“Not far enough.” The prince hissed before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He made sure his eyes had returned to his normal blue before walking over to Ashby and Arthur.
“I’ll kill him,” Rebecca whispered softly.
Connor turned and wrapped an arm around his sister.
“Ma,” he said urgently. She indicated to her cell phone where she was already talking to Aleks.
“I’ll kill him if he ever comes for my baby again. I can do it. There are ways that are undetectable. I—” Connor’s large hand covered her mouth.
“Rebecca what did Aleks and I tell you about the term ‘premeditation’? Plan in your head,” Connor advised.
Rebecca’s unfocused eyes cleared and she nodded.
“Rebecca I would never…” Rhys began.
Moe could tell he was trying not to cry.
Rebecca stepped forward with Aidhan. Rhys tried to take a step back but Moe wouldn’t let him.
“Rhys, I wasn’t lying. I trust you with Aidhan. I know you would never hurt my son. It’s them I don’t trust.”
The diner doors opened and Aleks came through. He took one look at Rebecca’s distraught expression and his face hardened.
“Who do I have to kill, baby?” he asked, and walked over and pulled her into his arms.
“Salsiby. I have this formula I’ve been working on…”
“Rebecca! Here is another term, ‘Plausible Deniability,’” Connor said.
Aleks glared at his brother before looking down at Rebecca.
“Wait, you’ve been working on a formula? Where?” Aleks asked.
Rebecca looked from Aleks to Ashby and Sebastian with a panicked expression. She looked back up to Aleks and burst into tears. “That evil lawyer was going to take my baby!” She buried her face into Aleks’s massive chest.
Moe smothered a chuckle. Their Alpha Mother definitely had a lab here in town.
“What! Where is that son of a bitch?” Aleks’s growl rumbled through the diner.
“Gabriel literally chucked them across town. They are probably at or heading to the clinic,” Rian explained.
“We better get home and on a video conference with grandfather giving him a heads up. Let’s hope that asshole’s phone broke when they landed, though I don’t think we’re that lucky.
That video would be a damning piece of evidence.
” Liam started to help Kent and Sebastian, who were already packing up Lucian’s things.
“I wasn’t, it wasn’t about that,” Rhys babbled.
“We know that, we know that is how vampires respond in anger. Unfortunately, the council will only get footage of you with red eyes and out of control.” Liam looked up and smiled at Rhys.
“Look, my grandfather and most of the council is on your side. I know that they will be voices of reason. It would be nice to have evidence of our own, though. Rhys, go over there and stand with the babies.” Liam fished out his phone.
Rhys looked up at Moe, scared.
“We trust you, Rhys. You need to believe in yourself.” Moe pushed him forward gently.
Rhys walked over and stood behind the car seats. Rebecca walked over and strapped Aidhan in.
“He likes you.” She wiped her eyes and stepped back.
“Actually, this is perfect timing. Arthur needs a new diaper,” Ashby said, plopping the baby directly into Rhys’s arms.
Moe could see a physical change come over his mate. His back was straighter, his hands no longer trembled. The faint traces of panic were erased and replaced with a soft smile. Moe could tell that Rhys immediately shifted his own issues to one side to handle the baby with love and care.
Rhys quickly arranged the baby changing items and changed Arthur as quickly as he had Aidhan. The baby smiled and cooed at him the entire time.
“He’s ready to go, Prince Ashby,” Rhys said, scooping up the baby and handing him to his prince.
“We couldn’t have asked for better footage. I’ll make sure the council sees this. We’ll reiterate that you have one-hundred percent of our trust and support. Don’t worry about those assholes.” Liam smiled then turned with Sebastian and Kent, Lucian in tow and left the diner.
“We’re heading out too. I have a feeling they will need someone to watch Lucian while they are in the meeting, and who better than his favorite uncles?” Rian said, standing with Damian.
“Chin up, Rhys, everything will work itself out.” Damian smiled warmly.
“We need to hurry, I want time to stop at Nic’s and grab some coffee before heading home,” Rian said.
“Good idea.” Damian nodded and they left the diner talking about their next caffeine fix.
Moe walked over to Rhys and pulled him into his arms. Rhys sagged against him leaning on him just to stay upright.
“How about we grab some extra meals, Peyton’s lunch, and head back to the bar? We have all afternoon to relax before the bar opens this evening.” Moe easily supported his mate. Rhys never looked up, just nodded as he kept his face buried in Moe’s chest.
“Ma, can I get a meatloaf lunch with extra gravy, pie and coffee for Peyton, and a couple of boxed lunches for Rhys and I for later?” Moe asked.
“Of course son, give me one second.” Ma kissed her grandson on the top of his head before doing the same to his mother.
“You head straight home and rest. Doc said you’re still anemic from the blood loss from having my grandson. You need to take your iron and get some sleep.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rebecca yawned and struggled slightly with the car seat. Aleks looked torn. Moe could clearly tell he didn’t want Rebecca driving. Moe was about to offer her a ride when Ashby and Gabriel stepped forward with Arthur all bundled up.
“We can take her home. We carry an extra car seat base in the trunk in the event Rebecca and Ashby need to go somewhere together. That way you have your car for later. Aleks, I imagine you want to…check in on that wolf beta and the lawyer.” Gabriel wrapped a steadying arm around Rebecca and gently took the car seat with the other. Aleks let out a sigh of relief.
“I’d really appreciate that. I want to make sure they understand the rules of Arkadia,” Aleks said ominously.
“Please convey my personal safety advice to them.” Gabriel’s eyes flashed red.
Aleks’s grin was devious. “Of course.”
“Rhys, if you ever get bored hanging around that bar you’re more than welcome to come over and be Super Nanny.” Rebecca leaned forward and kissed his mate’s cheek.
“You are one exceptional woman, Alpha Mother. If we weren’t mated…” Rhys wagged his eyebrows, eliciting giggles from Rebecca and growls from Aleks.
“Great. Now I have to watch out for the pair of you.” Aleks pointed to him and Rhys.
Moe looked over to Aleks, surprised. “What did I do?”
Aleks just scowled. He leaned his huge frame over the car seat in Gabriel’s hand and kissed his son. He stood only slightly straighter before kissing Rebecca. “I’ll see you at home, love.”
“Hurry,” she said, waving good-bye as he left.
“Come on, Becca, let’s head to your place. I bet you still have some of that Lemon Drop cake left, don’t you?” Ashby licked his lips.
“You know I do.”
“I would like a slice as well. The piece that mon ange brought home from his last visit didn’t go very far between the two of us,” Gabriel said, surprising Moe.
Rebecca gently nudged Gabriel in the ribs. “I knew I could convert you to a sweets eater.”
“I have to admit, everything you have made thus far has been exquisite.”
“Bring some home, we haven’t had any yet.” Daniel pouted.
“Come on you two, I have a new project in mind and it will be perfect for keeping you out of trouble. Then, I’m off to Purgatory. I have several conferences with the Regional Coven Leaders scheduled over the next month or two that will keep me out of town for a while.” Roman stood.
“Is it illegal?”
“Is it dangerous?” they asked.
Roman nodded.
“We’re in.” They chimed in together and followed Roman out to their car.
“Will they be okay?” Ashby asked, biting his lower lip. Gabriel winked at his mate.
“Let’s go.” Rebecca smiled at her friends and they left.
“Here you go boys. I packed an extra pie for you. Now Rhys, you let this wonderful man take care of you.” Ma walked up and handed the white plastic bags containing their to-go boxes to Rhys.
“He is wonderful isn’t he?” Moe felt himself starting to blush.
“I’ve always thought so.”
“Bye, Ma.” Moe waved.
“Bye, boys.”