Page 15 of Kendrick

“I know. Why don’t you go after him?”

“Wouldn’t that make things worse?”

“I don’t think things can get any worse than they already are. I know you’ve already tried talking to him several times, but only twice since you and I met, and I was there both times. Maybe he needs to talk to you alone.”

It hadn’t worked the other times Kendrick had talked to Devon, but maybe it would this time. Kendrick wanted it to. He wanted Devon to let go of him and be happy, but he wasn’t sure that could happen until Devon had closure.

Hopefully, he could give him that closure.

“I’ll be right back,” he said.

“I’m headed to Alexis’s house, but I can wait here if you want.”

“Do what you want. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me. I don’t want you to have to wait for me, but if that’s okay with you, I’ll see you later?”

Jonas nodded, and Kendrick turned his attention to the spot where Devon had vanished. He hoped Devon hadn’t gone too deep in the forest. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his day traipsing between the trees to find him.

Luckily, he didn’t have to worry. He found Devon crying a few trees in, leaning against rough bark with his eyes closed. Kendrick hated bothering him when he was so fragile, but he still hoped to get through him.

“Devon?”

Devon’s head snapped up. For a moment, he looked horrified. Then, he started crying harder.

Kendrick didn’t try to comfort him. He certainly didn’t hug him. He hated that, but he felt it would make the situation worse.

Devon eventually took a deep breath and straightened his back. He stared at Kendrick for a moment, and Kendrick held his breath, wondering what was about to happen.

“He really is your mate, isn’t he?” Devon asked.

Kendrick was afraid to hope. “He is.”

“You were never mine.”

Kendrick shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I never saw you like that.”

Devon sniffed. “It was too good to be true, but I wanted to believe we could have a future. I just wanted to be loved.”

“You will be eventually. You’ll find someone who will love you much better than I ever could. You’re young, Devon. I’m not saying that to disparage you, but because it’s true. You have your entire life in front of you, and there’s no need for you to rush into getting a boyfriend. Give yourself time to find out who you are and what you want. Love will find you eventually, and it will be easier for you to be happy if you know yourself when it does.”

Devon’s expression was tight when he nodded. “Thank you. I’ll leave you and Jonas alone. I shouldn’t have bothered you the way I did, and I’m grateful that you didn’t go to the clan leaders.”

It had been a close thing, but Devon didn’t need to know that. “You remind me of my younger brother, Ryan. I haven’t seen him in a long time, but he was always impulsive and had so much love to give. I hope that eventually, you’ll find what Jonas and I have.”

Devon snorted. “You barely know each other. What can you have?”

“Not a lot yet, but I can already feel the bond between us. It’s going to grow and become stronger, and the certainty that I’ll beloved for the rest of my life is soothing. I know that’s what you want, and I hope you find it. You deserve it.”

“I don’t feel like I do after what I did to you.”

“You didn’t do anything. Go home, Devon. Get over me, and find a way to be happy.” Kendrick already had, and he couldn’t wait to go back to his mate.

* * * *

Jonas had decided to go home instead of seeing Alexis. He wasn’t in the mood anymore because he was worried about Kendrick and what was happening to him.

He didn’t think that Devon would be stupid enough to attack Kendrick, but there was no way to know for sure, and he wouldn’t be able to focus on anything that wasn’t his mate until Kendrick was with him again.

He texted both Kendrick and Alexis to let them know things had changed, then headed back home. He knew Alexis would worry, so he wasn’t surprised when his phone vibrated.

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