Chapter 202

Cedric POV

I had done my due diligence. I had completed my contract as a Guardian. I had returned to my home pack to see my family before rejoining my mate. That last part was killing me and making my wolf growl in anger. She's pregnant with our pup, and you want to dilly dally, my wolf had growled out in my head. It's not that I didn't want to return to Connie as soon as possible. I absolutely did—more than anything. Despite that, I felt I owed my mother a visit at the very least. During my travels to Georgia, with my Ford Explorer loaded with my belongings, I made the trek to Louisiana to visit my mother.

When I arrived, she acted like she hadn't seen me in years. "Mother," I said, hugging her close and kissing her on top of her head. "You saw me in February."

"Yes, well, now it's October, so that is far too long, Cedric. Come on in the house, I've made your favorite gumbo stew. Your brother and father will be home in a few minutes." She tugs me inside, and there, sitting at the table, is Tabitha, the neighbor's daughter. I nod to her and then look over at my mother. "Say hello to Tabitha," she says as she ties on her apron. "I'm going to finish preparing dinner."

I sigh. "Hello Tabitha," I say and sit at the table across from her. "How have you been? School going well?" She scrunches up her nose.

"School? Cedric, I graduated from college five years ago. I'm a school teacher, remember?" she says pointedly.

I shake my head. "That's right, fifth grade," I say. "Excuse me a minute," I tell her and stand up and walk to the kitchen. I pour myself a glass of water and lean against the sink, watching my mother as she adds some more spice to the gumbo. She turns and crosses her arms over her chest as if waiting for me to say something.

I refill the glass again and then set it on the counter, appraising my mother. "What is your plan here?" I ask her, then nod my head towards the dining room. "With Tabitha, I mean."

"I invited her for dinner," she says, her head slightly tilted.

"Why, mother?" I ask.

She clears her throat. "Uh, I wanted you to meet her."

"I've met her, like a hundred times, "I say, waving my hand in the air. "I'm just here for one night, mother, then I'm leaving."

"One night?" she asks, her brow creasing. "But your contract is over, right?"

"Yes. It is." I take a deep breath and then approach my mother. I take her hands, forcing her to relax and uncross her arms. "Listen, Mom, I know you mean well. The truth is, I'm here to share some news, and then I have to leave. I'm not interested in any woman you might want to introduce me to, okay?"

My mother swallows and then nods, "Okay. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy. I'm the happiest I've ever been," I tell her and then smile. I'm not sure when she last saw me smile. So when I beam at her, she grins, and a tear rolls down her cheek. She reaches up and wipes her tears away.

"You've just been through so much, and I'm worried about you, Cedric. A good woman can make you happy, take care of you, make sure you're not alone anymore."

"Mom," I pull her in for a hug. "I am so happy, you have no idea. I'm about to tell you, though. I wanted to wait for dad, but I feel like you need to hear this, and then you need to send that girl away," I tell her. "Stop trying to fix me up, and I sure hope that you aren't bothering Darren with these girls, too," I add in. Darren is my younger brother. My mother has always wanted grandchildren, and neither of us has given her any, yet. I smile, knowing I'm about to change that for her.

I step back from my mother and look down at her. "Mom, I met someone. I met my second chance mate."

"What?" she gasps. "You are kidding?"

"No, I'm not. I went to Georgia on business. There is a pack there, up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The pack doctor there turned out to be my second chance mate," I tell her with a smile.

"Pack doctor?" she asks. I watch as her expression changes over and over, and then she swallows hard. She doesn't smile, which is not what I would expect at all. She's not happy. "Your second chance mate, is a man?" she whispers.

"What?" I growl out. "Why the fuck would you think that?" I ask.

"Cedric," she snaps. "Language."

"Sorry, but no. Mother, my mate's name is Constance. She," I emphasize she, "is the pack doctor there. She's the most amazing woman I have ever met."

Her hand flies to her mouth, and she smiles. "Oh, I'm so sorry for assuming it was a man. When you said pack doctor, I just thought," she trails off. I can't help but burst out laughing.

"Mother, women are intelligent, you know. I can't believe your old-fashioned views sometimes." I stand there, shaking my head at her.

"This is good news, Cedric. Are you bringing her home then? When are you going to be back?" she fires off.

"I'm not," I reply, suddenly serious. "I love her and I won't begrudge her all that she has worked for. I have a couple of options for work there. One, I can be a warrior if the Alpha will have me as such, or I can work with the rancher, alongside his horses and cattle. It doesn't matter to me, so long as I get to be with her."

"Wow," she whispers. "Okay," she takes a deep breath. "Tell me about her, what's she like?"

"Tall, willowy, graceful, smart, loyal, gorgeous eyes that are filled with love, and the most beautiful porcelain skin. She practically glows in the moonlight," I recall how she looked standing under the moon the night of the mating moon run. "She does glow in the moonlight," I say.

"She's white?" my mother asks, head tilted. "I wouldn't have seen that from the Goddess."

I snort laugh, "Really, Mom? Yes, she's white. She has the most beautiful soul of anyone I've ever met. She's going to be a wonderful mother," I add.

"So you two will have children?" she asks quickly. "Even though she is a doctor and probably very busy?"

"She is swamped, and yes, we will have children. We ARE having children," I say. I'm waiting for her to catch on. She turns back to stir the pot, nodding her head.

My mother returns the lid to the stew and walks out of the kitchen to the dining room. "Listen, Tabitha," she says, "I'm going to have to ask you to go. I apologize, but Cedric informed me he found his second chance mate, so best of luck to you." She ushers Tabitha out of the door and then closes it behind her with a click. Turning back, she sees me standing in the doorway, leaning against the door frame, watching her. Suddenly, she bursts into tears. "I'm going to be a grandma," she says, swiping at her eyes. "You have made me the happiest woman alive. I can't wait to meet Constance."

"I'm glad, Mom, you're going to love her." And she will, because no one in their right mind would say a bad word against Connie. She's the best woman I know. My heart fills with pride and love as I think about her and our unborn child. I need to get to her as soon as possible.