Page 31 of Fated Redemption
“Love you too.” This time there was love and laughter in his mate’s eyes, not fear and sadness.
Please help me to give him whatever he needs to be happy. Please give us whatever we need to make this mating work.
Moe prayed to whomever was listening before he drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Six
Rhys walked into the diner and fought the urge to walk right back out. Every member of the Inner Court except for his prince was there eating breakfast. Only Rebecca’s slightly hung-over appearance seemed to match the dogged expressions of their mates. Sebastian was cuddling Lucian, Kate was laughing with Rian and Damian as they bounced Matthew and Merrick on their knees. Bethy and Asling played with Landon and Lucas as naturally as if they had known the two boys their entire lives. Nic was inhaling a plate of waffles as if he hadn’t eaten in days. Rhys had half turned to go back out the door when he heard.
“Don’t even think about it. Come tell me what drink I am,” Rebecca called out, still face down at her table. How she had even seen him he didn’t know.
“Rebecca, leave the poor man alone, he looks like he’s about to bolt.” Ma smiled at him sympathetically.
Rebecca raised her head with what looked like tremendous effort and looked up at him. He sighed. He was stuck. There was no way he could say no to those purple puppy-dog eyes.
Aleks chuckled and adjusted Aidhan on his arm.
“She is still feeling some of the aftereffects of drinking eight double-strength espressos.” Aleks shook his head.
“If y’all would let me have some coffee…”
“No!” the entire diner said at one. She looked at Rhys and pouted.
“They are picking on me.”
Rhys smiled and sat down at her table rubbing her back when she put her face back down on the table’s cool surface.
“I’m used to dealing with hangovers, hair of the dog usually helps, though I’m not sure how that would work with caffeine,” Rhys said.
Rebecca raised her head and yawned. “I’m feeling better, just not one hundred percent awake. Having the Inner Court together actually helped a lot.” Rebecca stretched her arms up over her head.
Rhys sat back and picked up a menu. Moe would be joining him after he made Peyton some coffee and got his breakfast order.
“Doc says now that we know what we’re experiencing we can take steps to prevent it from getting that bad again. Postpartum depression usually only occurs in the first three months, so hopefully we won’t see it get this bad again,” Kate said, then turned to Rebecca. “What on earth possessed you to drink so many espressos?”
Rebecca shrugged. “I felt better after the first one, so I figure the second and third one would be amazing. I kinda lost track of time after the third one, then the colors started attacking me.” Rebecca closed her eyes and shuddered before laying her head back down on the table.
Rhys was laughing when the diner door opened again and woman he had never seen before walked in. She was about Kate’s height at five-ten with light brown, wavy hair and curves everywhere a man wanted. He had always appreciated the soft curves of a woman. He shook his head. Going by the social media images of today this woman would be considered “thick” or “chubby.”
Back when he was turned, she would have been highly sought after. It amazed him how much had changed over the centuries, even the concept of beauty. He watched her soft, doe-like, brown eyes as they searched the faces of the diner. When her eyes landed on Rebecca they hardened and the woman’s nostrils flared. She marched forward until she was standing beside Rebecca. Kaden and Beau sat up quickly at their table across thediner. The woman had come in here with a purpose, and Rhys could see that they weren’t sure if that purpose was good or bad.
The woman wrapped both hands around Rebecca’s shoulders and made her sit up, before she swiveled Rebecca in her chair until she was facing her. Rebecca’s face broke into a smile as she recognized the woman. The dainty woman smiled right back at Rebecca.
Rhys was shocked at what happened next. The delicate-looking woman wrapped her arms around their Alpha Mother’s head, effectively putting her in a headlock before she began to rake her knuckles over her scalp.
Aleks, Liam, Beau and Kaden stood as if to intervene, but looked on, frozen, unsure of what to do. She wasn’t exactly hurting Rebecca, but the other woman was obviously pissed. Aleks handed Aidhan off to his ma.
“Bitch! Let go of me!” Rebecca shouted.
Rhys kept his seat. So far Rebecca wasn’t getting hurt.
Aleks took a step forward to break the two women apart.
“You deserve worse, you psychotic little midget!” the woman shouted.
Aleks stopped. Everyone looked at each other. Rhys could tell that everyone was hesitant to interfere now. They had no idea who this woman was, but with that one statement, she confirmed she knew Rebecca.
“Do you know each other?” Aleks asked.
