Page 23 of Devon

What was he doing?If he decided to do this, he’d have to stay in the village.He’d have to talk to Ryan about Kendrick and what had happened with him, and he would have to continue seeing Kendrick and Jonas.Worse, he’d force them to become his family if he was with Ryan, and that wasn’t something he was willing to do.

They wouldn’twanthim in their family.The only reason they might accept him was that Ryan wouldn’t get another mate, but Devon wasn’t an idiot, even though he’d acted like one.He would ruin the relationship between Ryan, Kendrick, and Jonas if he stuck around.Ryan would eventually find out what he’d done, and he’d probably feel the need to be on his side because they were mates.He’d lose Kendrick, even though he’d just found him again.

It wasn’t something Devon was willing to let happen.

But maybe for a moment, he could forget about all of that and enjoy the fact that he had a mate.Ryan was hot and sweet.He clearly understood that something was up with Devon, but he wasn’t rushing him.He hadn’t even talked about their bond yet, even though Devon expected him to every time he opened his mouth.

It was stupid, but Devon leaned forward to kiss Ryan again.Ryan made a pleased sound in his throat and opened his mouth, allowing Devon in.His hands landed on Devon’s waist, sliding around so he could pull Devon closer.

Devon couldn’t have resisted even if it wanted to, and he didn’t.He wanted to continue kissing Ryan.He wanted to kiss Ryan for the rest of his life.

He locked his hands around Ryan’s neck and pressed as close as he could.If this was the last time they kissed, he would take full advantage of it.

The problem was that they were in full view of anyone walking around the village.A wolf whistle made Devon jump, and he scrambled back, quickly glancing around to see two of the recently arrived Vila walking by.One of them winked, and Devon felt his face heat.

Ryan chuckled, apparently not bothered by what had just happened—neither the kiss nor the whistling.Devon wished he was still in Ryan’s arms, but he kept a respectful distance.He couldn’t make a mess out of this, not again.

Ryan seemed to understand that something was wrong.His expression changed, and even though he reached for Devon, he didn’t touch him.

Devon wanted him to.

“I don’t want to rush you,” Ryan murmured.“I understand that you’ve been through a lot.We’re also both young, so I really don’t expect us to bond or anything like that.I don’t think I would be ready for it, even if you were.”

Devon frowned.“I thought all shifters wanted to bond with their mates.”What was wrong with him that Ryan didn’t want that?

“Oh, I do want to bond with you.I’m just not ready to do it now.I never imagined I’d meet my mate at eighteen, and my life is a mess.”

Devon snorted.“Welcome to the club.”

“See?You get it.We’re both a mess, and neither of us is ready to bond, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get to know each other.We can take this as slow or fast as we want, and I’m inclined to go slow.”

Devon was relieved, but at the same time, he was also worried.He was supposed to leave this place.He was supposed to put the humiliation and everything else behind him.How could he do that when Ryan clearly expected them to bond eventually?It wouldn’t be this year or maybe even next year, but if the two of them got to know each other, Devon knew he would fall in love with Ryan.It wasn’t only that he was supposed to, but also that he could tell how perfect Ryan was for him.Hell, he’d walked up on the guy playing hide and seek with his kid sister.

Devon didn’t know how he was supposed to resist falling in love with his mate when he was as perfect as he was.Maybe he wasn’t supposed to resist.Ryan was his mate, not someone else’s mate.

“Just give me a chance,” Ryan softly pleaded.“I truly don’t expect anything from you.I just want us to be friends.”

Devon arched brow.“That kiss didn’t feel very friendly.”

Ryan laughed.“Okay, maybe I want us to be more than friends, but we don’t have to do that or anything else.I just want to get to know you.There can be kisses included, or not.Your choice.”

Devon watched Ryan.He could tell that Ryan was sincere, and he desperately wanted to say yes.Would it be so bad?

Yes, it would be if Devon left.It would be an awful thing to do to give Ryan a chance when he knew he wasn’t sticking around.He either needed to change his mind and stay or to tell Ryan what he was planning.That way, Ryan could make the best decision for himself.

Which would probably be to distance himself from Devon.

Devon wasn’t sure he could survive that.Even though he barely knew Ryan, he could feel how necessary Ryan was to him already.Part of him had never wanted to leave the village, and that part was growing stronger every day.

He still had good reasons to want to leave, though.The Kendrick and Jonas problem wasn’t going anywhere.If Devon was going to stay, he needed to tell Ryan about it.

He closed his eyes.“Before you decide anything, you need to know something.”

“You don’t have to tell me whatever’s on your mind if you’re uncomfortable, Devon.When I said I wanted to get to know you, I didn’t mean that you had to spill all your darkest secrets to me right now.”

“It’s about your brother,” Devon pushed on.He felt like if he didn’t tell Ryan now, he would lose the guts.“I had a crush on him before.It was stupid, but he was one of the people who saved me, and I guess I latched onto that.”

“Devon, you don’t have to tell me about that.I already know what happened.”

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