Page 1 of Fated Surrender

PROLOGUE

“Payne, I want updates around the clock as to what our little friend is up to. They are about to call the Arkadion, so it should be getting intriguing soon. It’s amazing that such depravity lurked just beneath the surface of such a mouse. He is such a surprising and random development, it would be a shame not to enjoy it.” The gentleman swirled his glass of dark-red liquid.

“Oh, can you also locate my puppy? I believe he owes me some hybrids. I would like to see what he comes up with this time.”

The dark figure bowed and left the room.

The gentleman took a sip and returned the glass to the desktop. Yes, things were about to heat up soon. His contact would ensure that Connor Arkadion was pulled into this case. He was eager to see who his little friend would kill next. He had a running bet with the torturer that the next victim would be a celebrity. He desperately hoped so.

Chapter One

Connor Arkadion sighed, sat up, and turned to sit on the edge of the bed. He glared at his computer. Lately, he had come to hate the damn thing. When he moved back to Arkadia he swore he would leave the past behind him. But, given the current state of affairs in their world, he didn’t have a choice. His past was haunting his waking moments and disturbing the quiet life he had built for himself.

He stood and let the sheet fall. Walking naked to the bathroom, he turned the shower on and let the steam fill the small room. It was already November and the weather had turned chilly. He was a bear-shifter, but that didn’t mean he was immune to the cold in his human form.

Once the small room had become heated by the steam, he stepped into the shower. Standing with both hands on the tiled wall he let the hot water run down his body in rivulets. With no thought to his actions, he quickly washed and stepped from the shower.

Wrapping his robe around him, he walked into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, he stared at the contents.Same shit, different day. He decided to skip making himself breakfast and just head to the diner early. If he was going to cook, he might as well do it all at once.

Going back to his room, he opened his dresser, removed a black T-shirt and jeans and got dressed. Heading toward the door he pulled on his thick fall jacket and grabbed his truck keys. He stepped out of his house and locked the door behind him. Normally, he wouldn’t worry about locking up, especially living on the Arkadion ranch, but lately Emmett and Duncan had been pulling pranks, and he saw no reason to make it any easier on them.

He fired up his truck and headed into town. Lately, even the relaxing drive into Arkadia did nothing to settle him. Shaking his head, he turned on the radio and blasted the music loudly. Feeling his spirits lifting, he rolled his windows down and let the crisp fall air fill the cab of his truck. God, how he loved the smells of fall! He pulled into his parking spot at the diner and turned off the engine. Hopping from the truck he walked over and unlocked the diner doors. It was still early if he had beat Ma in. Shrugging, he made his way to the kitchen and started pulling out everything needed to start breakfast.

He was just popping the biscuits in the oven when he heard the bell on the door chime. He looked up and was surprised to see Ashby standing in the doorway. Connor had always felt a particular closeness to Ashby since he was one of the first ones to meet the tiny fox when he first appeared in town. It wasn’t surprising to see Ashby early in the morning, as he often stopped by before opening the ice cream parlor, what was surprising was seeing him alone, without his overprotective mate.

“Ashby, what can I get ya?” Connor asked, walking up to the counter and motioning to the barstool.

Ashby gave a small smile and hopped up to sit across from Connor. “Just some coffee for right now,” Ashby said, quietly.

Connor nodded. People usually only asked for a cup of coffee if they needed to talk. Connor poured him a fresh cup of coffee and stood across from Ashby as the small fox-shifter fixed his coffee the way he liked it. Connor could have made it for him, he knew that Ashby loved a little bit of coffee with his sugar and cream. Personally, he would gag if he ever tried to drink it that way.

He leaned against the counter and let Ashby take his time. He knew better than to rush someone when they came to him for advice.

“So, the pregnancy symptoms are getting better,” Ashby said, turning his mug in his hands.

“That must be a relief to you and Gabriel,” Connor said, pouring himself a cup of coffee as well. If Ashby was talking about the pregnancies, it would probably take a while. Connor sipped his coffee the wayheliked it, black.

“He’s relieved that I’m not puking all over the place anymore,” Ashby said, giving Connor a grimacing smile.

“I know that he was worried about you losing weight.” Connor watched Ashby’s features carefully. He knew most of the townspeople well enough to accurately read their body language.

“He is always worrying about me.” Ashby stirred his coffee with the spoon. Connor watched and knew that these small nervous habits were huge red flags.

“That’s because he loves you very much.”

“I wish I deserved that love,” Ashby whispered so softly, Connor almost missed it.

“What makes you think you don’t deserve his love, Ashby?” Connor set his cup down and leaned forward. People usually whispered their deepest fears or greatest worries. It was as if speaking them out loud made them true.

“I’m not like Sebastian or Felix. I can’t give him children,” Ashby confessed.

Connor walked around and sat on a barstool next to Ashby.

“Ashby, Sebastian, and Felix are extremely rare exceptions when it comes to gay male couples. It’s not the norm for two men to be able to have children together. Why would you think that Gabriel would hold this against you and withhold his love for you?” Connor asked, scared that this concern concealed a more deep-seated issue.

“I’ve seen the way he looks at Rebecca and Sebastian and Kate. He gets this soft smile on his face when he is around them.I know he has to be regretting mating me.” Ashby sniffled and wiped his eyes.

Connor pulled Ashby into a one-armed hug. Maybe Ashby had spoken up in time for this misunderstanding to be nipped in the bud.

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