Page 27 of Kendrick

Ryan sighed and glanced at the house. “She still isn’t. She just doesn’t have the guts to stand up to him. Things haven’t been good, Kendrick.”

“Did my leaving get you and your mother in trouble?”

“Oh, no. I don’t think he cared that you left. In fact, I’m pretty sure he was relieved you weren’t around anymore. He used to say it was one less mouth to feed.”

Kendrick snorted. “Imagine that. You’re supposed to feed your kids.”

Jonas snorted softly.

Kendrick was glad to have his support, and he knew that whatever he decided to do next, Jonas would stand by his side.

This was all he’d ever wanted—a family, people to trust, who would be there for him when he needed them. He’d never found it with his family, but he’d found it with the hunters first and with Jonas now. Hopefully, he’d have it with Ryan, too.

Their parents didn’t matter, and if Kendrick had been younger, he wouldn’t have done this, but he had something to say to his father. He couldn’t judge Ryan’s mother, even though he disliked what she was doing—or rather, not doing. He understood being intimidated and scared, but Ryan was her son. He was more important than her husband. He was supposed to be more important than anyone else in the world to her.

He turned toward the house. Ryan grabbed his shoulder, but Kendrick ignored it and strode forward. He wasn’t surprised when the door swung open before he could reach the porch. Hewassurprised to see how much older his father looked, but he supposed it made sense. His father was human. Kendrickhad never understood why Ryan’s mother had chosen him of all people when she was a tiger shifter who would live so much longer and who could have so much better, but it wasn’t his business. It never had been. She’d made her choice, just like Kendrick had when he left, just like Ryan was now.

“I never thought I’d see you again,” Kendrick’s father said.

Kendrick didn’t climb the porch steps. He stopped in front of them and glared at his father. “You wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for Ryan. You know, I thought things would be different for him. I thought you actually loved him.”

Kendrick’s father snorted. “I do. I’m teaching him what it means to be an adult.”

“By kicking them out of the house he grew up in?”

“By making him act like an adult. Everyone pays rent.”

“I don’t. My house was gifted to me, and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’ll always be grateful that I found people who actually cared about me after I left this house. If I’d known how bad things would be for Ryan, I would’ve stuck around, but I don’t feel sorry that I left you behind. You don’t have a heart. You shouldn’t have had children.”

“Who do you think you are, coming here all highly mighty and judging me? Do you know how much it costs to raise children?”

“Not yet, but I will eventually. It doesn’t matter, though. You chose to have kids, which means you should raise them with love. That’s more important than any amount of money, but I get why you don’t understand that. You don’t have a heart.”

Something moved behind Kendrick’s father. Kendrick squinted, realized it was Ryan’s mother, and decided he might as well speak to both of them.

“I don’t know if Ryan will ever be comfortable enough to reach out to you again after today. It’s his choice, and he’s an adult, so I won’t try to stop him if he wants to call or even visit. I’m never coming back, though. The only reason I did is Ryan, and he’scoming with me. I’ll give him a real family and people who will care about him. You should never have become a father. I hope you’re glad that from now on, you won’t be one anymore.”

That was all Kendrick needed to say. He wasn’t lying when he said he was never coming back. He didn’t want to, and there was nothing here for him.

His life and his heart were in the village, with Jonas and Boyd and Chris and everyone else. Now, Ryan would be part of that life.

Kendrick didn’t need anything or anyone else.

* * * *

When Ryan tried to follow Kendrick to the porch, Jonas put a hand on his shoulder and kept him where he was. Ryan turned a panicked look toward him, and Jonas shook his head, wanting to reassure him. “He’ll be fine.”

“You don’t understand. My father isn’t a good person.”

“Oh, I do understand that. I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard enough about him and what he did to be sure he’s never been a good person.”

“Kendrick is going to get in trouble.”

The way Ryan cared was sweet, especially considering the fact that he and Kendrick hadn’t seen each other in ten years. It looked like things between them had gotten back to what they’d been before as soon as the brothers had seen each other, and Jonas was happy for them.

“With whom?” he asked. “If you mean he’s going to get in trouble with your father, I don’t think he cares. He doesn’t plan to ever see your father again, and he wants to tell him what he thinks of him before leaving. If you’re worried that your father will attack him or something, I wouldn’t. Not only is Kendrick a trained hunter who’s killed many Kudlaks, but I’m here. I mightnot be a hunter or a fighter, but I’m a Krsnik, and I won’t allow anyone to touch my mate.”

Ryan swallowed. “I wasn’t sure what to think of you initially, but now, I think you’re dangerous.”

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