Addy...

I lay staring at the white ceiling. I couldn't sleep. After my breakdown this morning I just wanted to be alone, but my brothers wouldn't allow that. They wanted to know why I was crying and what was going on with me. The king had left it up to me to share, but I couldn't bring myself to tell my brothers. I wasn't ready and I’d simply told them that.
That had prompted them to hover over me throughout the day. Finally, this evening, I hadn’t been able to take it anymore and announced I was going to bed. I hadn’t realized it was only nine o'clock, which left me lying on my mattress, staring at the ceiling, and thinking about Chad for God knew how long.
A knock on my door brought me out of my thoughts. "Yes?" I called.
The door opened, and in stepped Aaran. "Hey, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, Aaran. I thought you had a date tonight. How was it?” I asked, attempting to divert him from me and my issues.
He sighed. "I did, but just as we’d just sat down to dinner, Adam got called in on an emergency. So we had to reschedule," he said sadly.
"Don't worry; you'll get your chance to see him. He'll love you."
Aaran looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Of course he'll love me. I'm me, and he's my mate. He has to love me. I just want to be with him now."
I flinched at his words. "Just because he's your mate doesn't mean he'll love you. You'll have to work at it," I said softly.
He looked at me, confused. "What do you mean? Look at the mated couples we know, all head over heels in love."
"They still had to work at it. It took Roarke five months to win Devin," I explained.
"But Devin said he loved Roarke right away. He was just scared. I can deal with that, but mates love each other right away—or pretty darn fast," Aaran said firmly.
I scrunched my eyes, fighting back the tears. I knew the truth. I shook my head. "Take it from me. They don't."
"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.
I looked up at him. His eyes were unusually soft. "I—" I started but was cut off by the sound of tires on the gravel road. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It was past midnight. Who was coming here at this hour?
"Someone's here," I said, getting up from the bed. Aaran turned toward the door, and we headed downstairs.
I heard Roarke's voice. "What do you want with my brother?" he asked.
"I need to speak with him," said a voice I thought I'd never hear again. I froze mid-step and my dragon surged to the surface.
Aaran stopped and turned toward me, then grabbed my arm. "Addy, calm down. Control your dragon," he said, his eyes filling with worry.
I couldn't. My mate was in the other room, and that was all my dragon knew. I pushed past Aaran, rushed down the stairs, and burst into the room.
My breath hitched as I saw him. He was even more gorgeous than I’d remembered. His dirty-blond hair was still messy, but that was my mate. His light blue eyes locked onto mine. They were tired, and dark circles shadowed them. No one else in the room mattered.
I came up to him and raised my hand. I needed to touch him. I needed to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
"Chad," I whispered.
He leaned forward into my touch. "Addison, I—"
I didn't let him finish. I leaned down and captured his lips with mine. He gasped in surprise, and I took advantage. For weeks I had desired him, had longed for him, and I thought I'd never see him again. Now he’d come to me. He kissed me back, and I moaned into his mouth.
A clearing throat caused my dragon to growl as I pulled back from the kiss. My dragon hated the interruption. I hated the interruption. I looked into Chad's eyes, and lust filled them.
“Chad, I'm glad your mate is happy to see you, but I think we need to tell everyone what's going on," a shaky voice I didn't recognize said.
I gazed at the one who’d spoken. He looked like an older, more muscular version of Chad.
"Zach's right," Chad said, stepping back a little.
Oh no, he isn’t getting far from me! I wrapped my arm around him and brought him flush with my body. We could talk, but I wasn't going to let him go. I couldn't; my dragon was in control.
"Addy," Chad said softly.
"I know we have to talk, but I can't let you go," I replied matter-of-factly.
"His dragon is in control. Your rejection of him has put Addison and his dragon at odds. What are you doing here? Are you ready to accept a man as your mate?" Krispin asked bluntly. His power filled the room. He was not happy with my mate or what Chad had put me through.