Arden’s Mate(34)

“He’s perfect, Faith. You made an amazing little being.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Faith gazed lovingly at the baby. She closed her eyes for a moment, then looked up at Remy, opening them again. “Don’t ever leave me like you did.” Tears rolled down Faith’s cheek. “I thought I was going to have to do this without you. I’m sorry I took away your choice, but I needed you.” Faith glanced at Arden and caught his gaze. “We needed you.” She looked back to Remy. “You’re my best friend, and these last months without you have been hell.”

Arden felt Remy’s body shake against him and a tear fell on his arm. Remy leaned back into him and her shaking stopped. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run, but so much had happened, and then I got bit and was told I’m Arden’s mate. I felt trapped. I wasn’t given an option. I was always going to come back, but I needed time to think, to catch up. I needed to know what I wanted. I love you, Faith, but you’re not the one who gets to make choices for me. No one gets to make choices about my life but me. I know you don’t want to hear this, but this goes for everyone—you can’t make other people’s choices. All you can do is give them options and let them choose.”

Faith sighed, and for the first time in months her body relaxed. “Fine, but I just want to make sure we win this fight, and mated shifters are stronger. Kane, take your son. Wake me when he’s hungry. I’m going to sleep now. When I wake it will be only to be with you, my son, and Bengie. I’m going on maternity leave. No more visions unless they come to me and I have no choice.”

Remy wiggled out of Arden’s hold and kissed the baby. “That’s good, Faith. We can survive without you for a while. They did okay before you came home. I’ll come by and visit in a couple of days. Call me if you need and I’ll come.” Remy kissed Faith’s forehead. “For anything. I’m here if you need me. I always will be.”

“I missed you,” Faith said. Remy turned and took a step, but Faith grabbed both Arden and Remy. “Go check on Griffen. Remy, I need you to be yourself.”

“What do you mean ‘be myself’?”

“When you meet Pet, be yourself.”

Remy nodded.

Faith yanked Arden down and whispered, “Make sure she knows who her real family is. Arden, keep her safe and...and love her.”

Faith let them go, and Arden wondered what she meant. He would always keep Remy safe, Faith didn’t needed to remind him. And what did she mean by ‘make sure she knows who her real family is’? And why did she think she had to ask him to love Remy? His head hurt, and he knew if he dwelled on what was said it wouldn’t get any better.

“Are you okay?” Remy stopped and held his hands as they left the house, Bengie distracted by his games.

“Yeah, sure.” No, he wasn’t. He had a lot to think about. They continued on their way.

“That didn’t sound very convincing.” They now stood by her car. “I want to say thank you. Whatever you said or did it gave me my best friend back.” Remy hugged him tight, and he could smell the waves of gratitude and happiness coming off her.

“I didn’t do anything. I only talked to her and told her what she needed to hear. I should have done it days ago. I’m happy you two are back to being friends again.” He kissed her lips and rested his forehead against hers. “We have to get to the base for a meeting about what happened yesterday with the zombies. They’re going to ask you a lot of questions. Are you up to answering them?”

“Yeah. Now that I have my best friend back I feel like I could do anything.”

“Good. Let’s go get this all sorted out so we can have some time to ourselves before I need to go out fighting tonight, and you have a shift at the bar.”

“Let’s go.”

They let each other go and he winked at her. “I’ll give you a fifty count head start. I bet I can still beat you home.”

Remy straightened her shoulders. “Oh, you’re on.”





Chapter 6




The wanker in front of Remy was really pissing her off. If General Beal didn’t shut his mouth, she was going to shut it for him. Well, if Arden didn’t rip him to shreds.

“We could really use your help. I see you have control over this wolf.”

Remy had no control over Arden in his wolf form. She currently gripped the fur on his neck, trying to hold him back as he lunged for General Beal. Arden threw himself forward and her grip slipped.

Okay, she needed to stop this. “Listen here, fuckwit. I don’t care who the hell you are. I swear if you don’t shut your big, fat mouth, I will let him go and cheer him on as he rips you to shreds. No, I will not go anywhere with you. No, I will not join any crazy experiments or let you take any of my blood. No, I will not work for you. And lastly, if you come, or if I think you’ve been anywhere near me or anyone I love, I will not only burn your dick off, I will make sure my wolf here slowly mauls you to death.”