I swallowed, nodded my head, and got out of the car. Many people started greeting my parents with smiles and hellos. They’d been part of the pack for a hundred years before I was born. Everyone loved them.
We made our way up the path, and with each step my heart beat faster and faster. I shook my head again and followed my parents through the door.
My cousin’s mate, Lydia, greeted us. She was a striking woman. I might be gay, but I could tell she was gorgeous. She had long, dark-blonde hair and hazel-green eyes. She was at least five-nine, with long legs. As always, she was stylishly dressed. But as gorgeous as she was on the outside, her insides blew it away.
She was the kindest, sweetest person you could ever meet and never had a bad word for anyone. She was also strong and assertive, standing up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves—including me. I loved her and was happy my cousin had found her.
“Uncle Danny, Aunt Toni,” she said, hugging my parents. “It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Lydia,” they replied.
“Em, I’m glad you’re here. James was worried you were going to find some way not to show up,” she said to me with a smile.
“Hi, L-lyds,” I said.
She smiled, hugged me, and whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry about anything. If it gets too much for you, you can go up to my room and read. I left my e-reader in there for you.”
I grinned at the thoughtfulness. This was why I loved Lydia and why she was the perfect alpha mate. She cared about the smallthings in the pack. I was excited and wanted to go upstairs now. I could escape to anywhere and be anything in my books.
But we had to speak to my cousin first. I scanned the room, looking for James, giddy that I had a book with my name on it and didn’t have to stay down here.
A flash of red caught my eye, causing my wolf to take notice. I turned and looked.
A massive mountain of a man stood on the other side of the room. He was standing next to an identical version of himself, but there was something about him that drew me. He was different, and I didn’t know why.
He was at least six-seven or eight. He had huge muscular arms and a large frame. He had short dark red hair, an angular nose, and a firm jaw. He wore a black muscle shirt that molded to his body like a second skin. The red tartan kilt and black combat boots were something I’d never seen in real life, only in my dreams.
This was better than my dreams. I wondered what he wore underneath it.
I tried to shake my head to clear it of those thoughts, but I couldn’t look away from this gorgeous man. He exuded sensuality. He turned his head, his emerald eyes scanning the room like he was looking for someone—finally landing on me. His green eyes darkened, and his nostrils flared.
My heart raced even faster than before. I was enthralled. A scent reached my nose. It was the scent of wood-burning on a frosty night. It rushed through and filled my body. My cock hardened.
He took a step in my direction, and I could do nothing but stare into his eyes. I was caught in his spell. He owned me—body and soul.
A roar sounded through the house, shaking the foundations, causing him to turn his gaze from me, and breaking the trance I was under.
It was then I realized I was looking at my mate.
No, no, no! He can’t be my mate. I can’t have a mate!I thought. I prayed my wolf was wrong. The sexy man was a giant and clearly an alpha of some sort.
“No, no, no,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes tight. I needed to get out of here. My mate was still distracted, smiling at his lookalike. I took advantage and did the only thing I could.
I ran.
Heart Awakens
Angus
It had been a long flight, and I was tired and hungry. All I wanted was some food and a nice soft bed to crawl into. Yet, here I was, traveling with my brothers and the Dragon King, Krispin Adair. I was a Blue Caste dragon, Guardian Protector of High Garden. I was one of the king’s personal guards. I still reeled at the fact that Krispin had elevated me to such a position.
Two months ago, my father, our dragon circle leader, had ordered me and my triplet brothers, Aaran and Addison, to find our youngest brother, Roarke, and bring him home. My father had arranged for him to mate with the leader of a neighboring circle.
When we’d located Roarke, we learned he had been injured defending the king’s mate and had almost died. The king had saved him, which made him the king’s brother, and on top of all that, he had found his fated mate—the vampire Devin. Needlessto say, Roarke hadn’t been about to give Devin up, and in the ensuing conflict, the king had called my other brothers and me to serve as his guardians.
“What’s wrong with you?” my brother Aaran asked. “Usually I’m the quiet, brooding asshole.”
He was right; he usually was an asshole. Aaran, Addison, and I were identical triplets, and while we all looked the same in our human forms, our dragons were different. In addition, we had distinct personalities.
