Shifting back into his human form, Kaden lifted a hand, pressing his palm against a nearby tree. It would probably be best if he packed up and left, but Kaden didn’t want to leave Adam. Was it selfish of him to want to stay? Was he a horrible person for wanting to be near Adam, even though the other man had found his mate?
Spinning around, Kaden started walking back toward the cabin. He dragged his bare feet over the earth, moving slowly. The sounds of the forest surrounded him. Birds sang in the distance, the wind moved through the branches and leaves, and animals scurried away as if sensing a predator lurking nearby. Inhaling deeply, Kaden pulled the fresh air into his lungs. The diverse and complex scents had a calming effect, allowing him to breathe a little easier.
Kaden didn’t want to think about the man that would take his place in Adam’s bed, but he had to admit he was curious. What type of guy had been chosen by fate to become the Alpha’s mate?
When Adam had arrived home, he’d looked almost relieved to see Kaden. He pulled Kaden in for a bone crushing hug, and that was when Kaden had noticed a subtle change in Adam’s scent. It wasn’t strong enough to overpower the Alpha’s masculine smell, but it was there nonetheless.
“Kaden?” He jerked his head up and watched as Seth Parrish, one of the other pack members, approached him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Kaden nodded, plastering a fake smile on his lips.
“Really?” Seth smirked. “So, you’re just walking naked through the woods?” He looked around, as if he expected someone to join them. “Is this some sort of kinky game you and Adam play?”
The words were teasing, playful even, but they still hurt. There wouldn’t be any more games. Their relationship was over.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kaden said.
Seth rolled his eyes heavenward. “Let’s not pretend, okay? We all know you and Adam are lovers. It’s not a big deal.”
Kaden sighed, shaking his head. It was next to impossible to keep a secret from a group of shifters, but he was grateful that the other pack members had respected their privacy.
“We’re not lovers anymore. Adam found his mate when he went to New Orleans.”
“Oh?” Seth’s brows shot up in surprise.
“Yeah.” Kaden nodded.
“What are you going to do?”
“There isn’t anything I can do,” Kaden told him miserably. “It’s fate.”
“You love him.”
It was a statement, not a question. Kaden could simply play it off and deny everything, but there didn’t seem to be any reason to lie. He simply nodded. In the beginning, their relationship had been casual, but things changed over time.
Seth put a hand on his shoulder and gave a squeeze. Kaden knew it was only a friendly gesture to offer comfort. “Come on,” he said. “We need to talk.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I knew this day would come sooner or later. It hurts,” Kaden said, honestly. “But it’s the way things are supposed to be. He’s not mine.” He moved past Seth, intent on walking back to the cabin.
“Michael isn’t mine, either.”
Seth’s startling confession stopped Kaden dead in his tracks. He turned around and faced the other man, shocked to the core. Seth had been mated to Michael Atkinson and Luke Hansen for years. The three of them were perfect together.
“What are you talking about?” Kaden’s brows furrowed. He shook his head, completely confused by what he was hearing.
“Luke brought the three of us together. He’s my destined mate, and he’s also Michael’s.”
“How is that possible?”
“Honestly,” he said with a sigh, “I don’t really know.” Seth moved to a fallen tree and took a seat. “We were shocked at first. Then, Michael and I were at odds, fighting and trying to force Luke to choose. It was a mess. Once we took a step back, Michael and I realized the pain we were causing Luke. We shouldn’t have put him in that position, not when we both loved him.”
“Jesus,” Kaden breathed out. “I can’t even imagine what the three of you went through.”
“I started doing research and found out that our situation wasn’t unique. In fact, trio matings used to be the norm with this pack a few generations ago, but nobody’s around to talk about it. I’m not really surprised though. This pack is different from others. Our wolves are a separate entity. When we shift, we’re not always cognizant of what’s happening. And we can feel the presence of other pack members in our territory and, to a certain extent, feel their emotions.”