Closing his eyes, Adam fell asleep.
Chapter Three
Kaden Wilson stared at Adam’s back as he hustled up the stairs. He stood frozen in place, his feet planted firmly on the floor.
When the Alpha reached their territory line, Kaden along with the other pack members, had felt his presence like a living force. That was the reason he’d raced back home. He was desperate to see Adam after being separated for the last couple of weeks, but everything changed in a matter of seconds. Reality had crashed down around him, far harsher than anything he’d ever expected.
After several minutes, Kaden forced himself to move. It took a great deal of effort to put one foot in front of the other. He walked up the stairs in a daze. He strolled down the long hallway, heading toward his bedroom at the opposite end of the house.
Mine, his wolf whined pitifully.
Kaden shook his head, rejecting the claim. “No, he isn’t,” he whispered.
Even though he felt a deep connection with the Alpha, the other shifter wasn’t his mate. There were times when Kaden had been tempted to mark and claim Adam as his own, but something wasn’t quite right.
When he reached his bedroom, Kaden closed the door behind him and clicked the lock into place. He leaned his back against the wall as his knees gave out. Kaden slid down to the floor. Pulling his legs up, Kaden wrapped his arms around his shins, rolling himself into a tight ball. The emotions he’d managed to hold back in front of Adam swam to the surface, overwhelming him.
Moisture filled Kaden’s eyes as tears slipped down his cheeks unchecked. Leaning his forehead against his knees, Kaden cried.
His lower lip quivered uncontrollably, and he pulled the plump flesh into his mouth, biting down to prevent himself from making a sound. He didn’t want Adam to know how much pain he was really in. Adam shouldn’t feel guilty for finding his mate. This isn’t fair.
Even though Kaden knew they weren’t destined to be together forever, he still felt a bond far stronger than mere friendship. His heart broke into a million little pieces, shattering apart within the confines of his chest. He sobbed silently as overwhelming agony consumed him. It was hard to believe that his relationship with Adam could end so abruptly, but Kaden had known it would happen someday.
Taking in deep gulps of air, Kaden tried to pull himself together. He needed to make a decision. Should he pack his belongings and leave, or should he stay?
It was a hard choice. Kaden had been living in the Alpha’s house for many years. Even though Kaden had his own bedroom, he rarely slept in the bed, preferring to be beside his lover. Both Adam and Kaden kept their personal relationship private, but he was certain the rest of the pack knew the truth, even if none of them said a word.
The only person that didn’t know was Rory, Adam’s brother. Adam kept Rory sheltered, babying the younger man unnecessarily. Kaden understood his reasoning to a certain degree. Rory was unable to communicate with his inner wolf or shift.
In an aggressive pack, where strength meant power, Rory had been at a disadvantage, but none of the other pack members had ever hurt the young man. Instead, they’d followed the Alpha’s lead, treating Rory, an adult, as if he were a small child incapable of making even the simplest decision. When Rory finally worked up the courage to run away, Kaden secretly applauded. Now it seemed that both Rory and Adam had found their mates.
Slowly rising to his feet, Kaden wiped a hand down his face. Kaden took a deep breath, blowing his out on a heavy sigh.
He rubbed the place above his heart, hoping the pain would vanish sooner rather than later. Even though Kaden was heartbroken, he really was happy for Adam. Finding one’s mate was a gift.
Mate, his wolf murmured, clearly unhappy that Adam wasn’t the one meant for them.
Kaden glanced out the large picture window, looking at the thick forest of trees. The outdoors beckoned, calling his wolf to shift and run. Unlocking his bedroom door, Kaden pulled it open and raced downstairs. He pushed the sliding glass door open and stepped outside. Kaden stripped off his clothing, leaving the material in a messy pile on the patio. In one smooth motion, Kaden shifted into his wolf form as he jumped to the ground.
Mate. The word echoed through his head as his paws slammed against the earth. Kaden ran away from the large cabin, needing some space from the man his heart had chosen for its mate. Fate could be so cruel sometimes. He didn’t understand why he wasn’t Adam’s. He didn’t know why they weren’t meant to be together. He howled toward the heavens, a harsh sound that was impossible to contain.
Kaden ran faster and faster, needing this time alone to clear his head and accept the inevitable. The wind brushed through his fur like phantom fingers as he swerved his way through the maze of trees, moving deeper and deeper into the forest. Kaden didn’t slow down until his lungs screamed and his muscles burned.