Page 3 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

I can’t help but smile proudly when he confesses this little fact that brings back hope. “You really have changed, Brother. It’s refreshing to see.”

“Yeah, well…” he shrugs. “... You could say I’ve finally grown up.”

I see it for myself, feeling pride swell my chest as I stare at my twin. It’s almost like staring at my reflection, seeing his green eyes twinkling.

Feeling somewhat foolish for keeping a secret from him, I decided it might be time to come clean.

Who better to understand me than my twin brother?

“Will my very grown-up twin brother accompany me to the mortal world to see my mate? I could use a wingman,” I suggest with a grin. We could share a drink or two, and I’ll tell him that I’ve been watching Camilla from a distance for a few months.

“Of course…” he begins, then pauses, his eyes saddening with a sense of apology. “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Sure, no problem,” I agree with a smile, though it disheartens me that he isn’t as excited as he would have been a few months ago to visit the mortal world. I know it’s because he has a mate now, and his daughter is a newborn. Now is not the time to tell him about my personal life.

He has one of his own.

“See you around, Stryder,” I bid him as I make to leave. Hiding my disappointment, I don’t want Stryder to feel bad for changing his priorities.

Maybe if I’d been honest before, I wouldn’t feel this way. I don’t blame him.

All my brothers have families of their own now.

What’s left is for me to find my happiness out there, and bring my mate, Camilla, to the island.

With a new sense of determination fueling my steps, I make my way to the elevator to take me to the ground floor, where I’ll leave for the mortal world. Fresno, California, to be precise. That’s where I’ll find Camilla, pick up where I left off three months ago, and take the leap of faith to introduce myself to her.

What could go wrong, right?

Unless she doesn’t like me…

“Stryker!”

Father stops me in the hallway; something about his powerful, magnetic aura indicates that he’s about to tell me something important as he marches forward. I have no idea what it could be since the most important moment in my life hadjust come to light when they revealed my human mate to me. It’s only my own trepidations that overpower the magnitude of what just happened back there.

I’m the last male of the Vulkan family to learn about his human mate and be given the chance to produce offspring for the dragon clan to preserve our kind.

But right now, Father exudes the magnificence of his former Alpha position amongst the Aurora Dragons. As an immortal, it seems that the innate nature of his leadership will never die.

It compels me to bow my head just as he places a hand on my shoulder.

“I’m glad I found you before you left,” he says, prompting me to look up with a frown.

A million and one probabilities race through my mind.

What could be wrong now?

“What is it, Father?”

His eyes turn down gloomily, and it causes my heart to skip a beat. I know that look all too well—he had that same look on his face when he told me that I couldn’t visit the mortal world three months ago.

“You’ll have to put your quest on hold for a while,” he explains.

“Why?” I ask dejectedly. Despite my inhibitions and doubts, I’d just built up enough courage to go through with this on my own.

As the youngest sibling of the Vulkan family, I feel like I’m the unluckiest.

“It’s just for a few days,” he assures me with a curt, reassuring nod. “The Council has just informed me that we’re going through with the Dragon Ball this weekend. I want you to be in attendance.”

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