Chapter 199

Cedric POV

I can't get back to Georgia fast enough. My wolf is running full speed, trees zipping by in his periphery. Climbing the steep embankment to the lake, we run to the end of the dock and leap towards the water. I shift mid-air, diving into the cold water in my human form. I surface the top of the water, bursting out into the night, and gasp for breath. "Holy shit, that's cold," I breathe. I spend several minutes just treading water where I am and then float onto my back. I stare up into the sky, the stars twinkling above. The moon is high at this point, telling me that I've been running for hours. It's nearing midnight. That's good, because it means I'm that much closer to returning to my mate. I lay there in the water, my eyes closing for just a few moments to listen to the night sounds and relax. With a sigh, I swim back to shore.

I didn't stick around long enough to find out what the Alpha's punishment would be, nor do I particularly care. I shift back into my wolf and run towards the pack house. We are leaving first thing in the morning, and at this point, I am ready to call my mate and wish her good night, and then fall into bed. I approach the pack house and feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Two large wolves come out of the trees, hackles raised. I recognize one of them as Malik. I stand still and observe them as they stalk towards me. They stop a few feet away and stare. We can't communicate like this and frankly, I don't have anything to say, so I continue walking towards the pack house and the pile of clothing I left next to a tree. Malik growls.

I shift, then turn and face the two wolves. "What the hell do you want?" I ask. "I don't have time for games, so shift and tell me what you want." Malik stalks towards me. I go about getting dressed, letting him know I'm not intimidated by him in the least. "If you have nothing to say, then I'm going to bed," I say. I turn and walk towards the pack house. I see out of the corner of my eye, Malik running towards me, but then another wolf bursts through the trees and jumps on top of him. They topple to the ground, neither making any effort to actually harm the other. Then the wolf shifts and there lays Ben, Lynn's older brother. He pushes away from Malik and jumps to his feet.

"What the fuck," Ben yells at him. "Are you out of your mind?" Malik chooses to shift and stand. He's clearly angry, his eyes narrowed at me.

"He," Malik points to me. "He hid that bitch away and she lied about my mate."

"What are you even talking about?" Ben asks again. "What bitch? You better not say my sister either, because I will tear you apart if you do."

"Yes, of course I mean your sister. Actually," he puts his hands on his hips. "Both of them. Shawna was supposed to be mine and Lynn fucking lied."

I hold up my hands in surrender. "I don't know a thing about Shawna, but I'm certain she isn't your mate. Secondly, I did as I was instructed but I don't believe for one second that anyone lied here, except your Alpha and maybe you." He takes a step towards me and Ben places a hand on his chest.

"Stop it man. You're making it worse. You're fine, you still have a mate. The Alpha is the only one being punished, why are you trying to get yourself into trouble." Ben leans closer and whispers. "He's a guardian. Do you want to die?"

"Not for much longer, isn't that right? Guardian," he hisses the last word out with disgust.

"If I am or not, I could still kick your ass," I tell him. "Fortunately for you, I have a much higher level of maturity. I think you need to listen to your friend there," I nod towards Ben. "Leave well enough alone. Go on home," I turn to walk back to the pack house and that's when I see two of the council men standing there watching, both flanked by guardians themselves.

"Guardian Cedric, is there an issue we need to address?" one of them asks me.

I turn and look back over my shoulder. Malik has gone still, his face slightly pale now that he sees what may happen to him. "I don't think so," I reply. Malik swallows and nods towards me. "I think they were just leaving, and I was going to bed."

The three of them, Malik, Ben, and whoever the other one was (he stayed in wolf form and never engaged the entire time, just watched), turn and stalk off into the woods. I walk past the councilmen and give them a nod. "Good night, gentlemen." They give me a knowing smile and nod. I make my way to my room, take a quick shower, and then grab my phone to call Constance.

The phone rings several times before her sleepy voice answers. "Cedric?" she says groggily. "It's two in the morning here, are you okay?"

"Hi baby, I'm fine. I just wanted to hear your voice before I went to sleep. I will be seeing you soon," I tell her. "I miss you."

"I miss you too," she says, a smile in her voice. "I can't wait to have you home with me."

Home. What a concept. I haven't really had one of those in a few years. That thought brings me back to my mother. I need to call her first thing in the morning and tell her what's happened, and then I'm not going to be returning to Louisiana. "Is everything okay there?" I ask.

"Yeah," she yawns. "Lynn had her baby. They named her Ella."

"Wow, that's great," I say. I have a moment of pause, but then I decide I'm going to ask anyway. "Connie?"

"MMM," she says.

"Do you want children? If you don't, I understand. You have your career and you've worked hard, but if you do want children, I'm also okay with that, too," I tell her.

"Cedric," she replies, suddenly sounding wide awake. "You do know that I can be a doctor and a mother too, right?"

"Of course," I answer.

"I'm glad you understand that," she says. "I was going to wait until you got back here, but I think I should tell you. I think others are getting suspicious anyway."

I swallow the lump in my throat, for fear it's not what I want to hear. "Cedric, you're going to be a father." Her voice is soft, gentle, like a caress. I"m not sure I heard her.

"Did you say that I'm going to be a father?" I ask to clarify.

"I did," she says.

"Connie, I didn't think you could make me any happier, but holy shit if I don't feel like my heart is going to explode right now."

She laughs softly. "Don't do that now. You get your ass home to me."

"Soon, baby, I promise."