Page 6 of Kendrick

Kendrick rushed toward the front door, throwing it open and stepping out before Devon could stop him. But even though Devon was human, he was fast, and he was out the door after Kendrick only minutes later.

“Wait,” Devon said. “I can help if you’re not feeling well.”

“There’s nothing for you to do,” Kendrick called out.

Devon grabbed Kendrick’s wrist. Kendrick’s heart really was too soft. That was the only explanation he could come up with for what he did next.

Instead of running away after shaking Devon’s hand off, he focused on him. “It’s fine. I know you’re trying to help, and I’m grateful for that, but I don’t need help.”

“You said you weren’t feeling well.”

“And since I’m an adult, I can take care of myself.”

Devon placed his hands on his hips. “But you don’t have to. Why do you keep treating me like a child?”

“Because youarea child,” Kendrick snapped. He regretted it right away.

But Devon didn’t seem to be hurt. He looked angry instead, and Kendrick had no idea what to make of that. “Is that why you don’t want to be with me? Because I’m so young? I turned eighteen, Kendrick. Whatever happens between us will be legal.”

“It’s not that, at least not only. Iamuncomfortable with dating you because you’re only eighteen, but more than that, I don’t see you that way. You’re like my little brother, Devon, and incest gives me the creeps.”

“I’m not your brother.”

“I realize that. It’s the way I feel about you, though, and I can’t change that.”

Devon had a mulish expression that didn’t bode well. It was one of the reasons Kendrick wasn’t surprised when Devon stepped closer. Hewassurprised by the way Devon threw himself into his arms and sloppily pressed their lips together, though.

Jesus. Was this Devon’s first kiss? Kendrick couldn’t imagine he’d had many opportunities to kiss people while he’d been living on the streets, and he didn’t know what to make of this.

He gently pushed Devon away. “Don’t,” he said.

“But I know we can be happy together.” Devon sounded desperate. “I’ll be whatever you want. I’ll do whatever you need.”

“Why the fuck were you kissing my mate?” a voice snapped.

Kendrick frowned and turned to look at the man. He was on the short side, with blond hair and blue eyes. He looked a bit like an angel, and Kendrick briefly wondered if his hair was as soft as it looked. Kendrick recognized him—Jonas, he was pretty sure—but that didn’t help much.

What the fuck was happening?

Devon placed himself between Kendrick and Jonas as if trying to protect him, which was both endearing and ridiculous.

“What are you talking about?” Devon asked. “Kendrick doesn’t have a mate.”

flashed Kendrick a grin, exposing a pair of fangs that shouldn’t be as sexy as Kendrick found them. “He does now. Unless it’s you I smell, but I really don’t think so. I also hope you’re not my mate because you sound like a brat. He told you that he doesn’t want you and pushed you away when you kissed him. You should learn to takenofor an answer.”

Devon’s body was tense, his arms flung out to the sides and his hands curled into fists, as if he was thinking about punching the guy. “You have no right to bother us. Leave us alone.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going anywhere.Youshould be the one to leave.”

Kendrick didn’t know what to do. He didn’t think Jonas was lying, but it felt impossible. Had they really not been close enough to each other Jonas would have realized that Kendrick was his mate sooner? Jonas was Alexis’s best friend, while Kendrick was close to Boyd. He’d met Caroline several times, and he liked her. Why hadn’t he met Jonas? Where had he been hiding all this time?

“You’re lying,” Devon said in a shaking voice.

For a moment, Jonas looked at him with pity. Kendrick felt the same way, so he understood. Devon was desperately trying to cling to something that wasn’t real, and it couldn’t be easy. It was time to let go, though, and not only because of Jonas.

Maybe Devon would finally understand that he and Kendrick couldn’t be together. He wouldn’t break the law to oppose Jonas, right? He wouldn’t try to break the bond between him and Kendrick.

At this point, Kendrick wasn’t sure of anything, but he wouldn’t put it past Devon to at least try, which fucking terrified him.

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