Kaden’s lower lip trembled. He stumbled toward his car, locking himself inside. Starting the engine, Kaden turned his vehicle around and headed down the driveway. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Moisture filled his eyes, tears falling down his cheeks. He wasn’t just hurt by Adam’s words. He was devastated that the other man thought so poorly of him.
After everything he’d been through with Adam, from friends to lovers, Kaden had hoped that the other man would at least listen to what he had to say. If only he’d been able to explain the trio matings within their pack, things might’ve been different. But Adam wasn’t in the right frame of mind to even listen.
This wasn’t what he wanted. Kaden didn’t want Nicholas to split his time between them. His hope was to bring the three of them together. He was in love with Adam. For some strange reason, the Alpha believed Kaden had betrayed him by stealing part of Nicholas.
Lifting his right hand off the steering wheel, Kaden rubbed the fresh bite mark. He ran his fingers over the rough skin. The desire to be near Nicholas was overwhelming. He could already feel the distance separating them. Kaden was tempted to turn his vehicle around and seek the jaguar shifter out, but he didn’t.
If he wasn’t wanted, Kaden wasn’t going to force the issue.
* * * *
Adam leaned back against the front door and closed his eyes. Guilt and confusion ate at him. When Nicholas bit Kaden, all of Adam’s worst fears came true. The jealousy he’d felt in that moment was so overpowering that he snapped, taking it out on Kaden. The hurt and pain in Kaden’s eyes wounded Adam more than he cared to admit. He wanted to apologize on the spot, but he didn’t. He just turned his back toward the other man and walked away, desperate to put some space between them.
He didn’t know what to do. This whole situation was incredibly frustrating. If only he’d had more time alone with Nicholas… Adam shook his head, pushing that thought away. It was too late now. Nicholas had marked Kaden. The two of them were mates. Pushing himself off the door, Adam headed upstairs, searching for Nicholas.
How was this supposed to work? How was he going to find the strength to send his mate off to Kaden’s house? How could he explain this situation to the rest of the pack when he didn’t even understand it himself? He was never going to be able to keep Nicholas to himself, and sharing his mate just might kill him.
Adam found Nicholas sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. The other man was dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark-gray T-shirt. When he stepped over the threshold, Nicholas looked up.
“I don’t remember much after the explosion,” Nicholas told him, his eyes haunted by the memory. “When I woke up, I tried to shift, but my jaguar refused. I wasn’t in control. I didn’t mean to bite him. I just…I couldn’t stop it from happening.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that alone.” Shame weighed heavily on his shoulders. “I should’ve been there for you. I wish I never would’ve left.”
“I don’t blame you.” Nicholas shook his head. “It’s not your fault. You waited for me to come to you, and I wasn’t ready, but things changed. I didn’t want to live without my mate. That night, the night of the explosion, I told Damon and Rory that I was ready.”
“Is Kaden your mate?” Adam asked once more, needing to hear the answer.
“Yeah,” he breathed out, closing his eyes, as if he were afraid to see Adam’s reaction.
Adam walked into the bedroom and sat down beside Nicholas. He grasped his mate’s hand, intertwining their fingers together. Being this close to his mate, shoulder to shoulder, Adam felt a calming sensation surround him like a warm blanket. His wolf yipped happily.
“This is new territory for me. Honestly, I’m not sure how to handle this situation,” Adam confessed. It was difficult to admit, especially since he was the Alpha of his pack and the other members depended on him to have all the answers. “You’re my mate, but you’re also Kaden’s mate.”
Nicholas moved, turning toward Adam so that they were facing each other. “And the two of you were lovers.”
Adam nodded. “Yes, we were.” There was no reason to lie. Nicholas already knew the truth. “I ended things with Kaden when I got back from New Orleans. Since we aren’t destined mates, we both knew that our relationship wouldn’t last forever.”
Adam was surprised he could have an open conversation about Kaden with Nicholas. Now that he had some time to calm down, Adam could admit that he wasn’t angry with Kaden. When he’d seen Nicholas claim the other man, the little green-eyed monster within reared its ugly head. It was also a result of his own fears.