Page 13 of Devon

“You will.”Devon still didn’t know what to think of Nic, but he was going to need help, and he could tell that Nic wouldn’t hesitate to give him that.It made him feel slightly guilty because he was still planning on leaving, but he didn’t have a choice.

He sucked in a breath when he reached his car and settled in the driver’s seat.He felt the tension leave his shoulders, and he allowed himself to really think about the implications of what had happened today.

He had a job, which meant he’d earn money.It wouldn’t be a lot, but eventually, it would be enough for him to be able to leave.It probably wouldn’t even take long since he didn’t have to pay rent or anything like that.As soon as he had enough set aside, he’d finally manage to leave Kendrick and Jonas behind.

Along with Melissa and Haley, the only family he’d ever had.

Chapter Three

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RYAN HAD MADE HIS DECISION.It had taken him a few days, but in the end, what had happened between Kendrick and Devon didn’t matter.Ryan was slightly weirded out by the fact that Devon had wanted to date his big brother, but it was clear there had been nothing between them, and what Kendrick had told Ryan of Devon’s life explained why Devon had latched onto him.

Devon had lived on the streets with his family.He probably hadn’t felt safe, so of course, when someone had defended him, he’d latched onto them.It could have been any of the hunters who’d been there that day, but it had been Kendrick.Maybe it was because Devon was attracted to Kendrick, or maybe because most of the other hunters already had mates or partners.The reason didn’t matter.

Ryan wouldn’t go as far as thinking that Devon’s feelings for Kendrick had been fake or hadn’t existed at all, but he hoped that whatever had been there was gone or would be soon.Kendrick had a mate.He’d rejected Devon.He’d been honest with him and hadn’t strung him along.Devon might not be over Kendrick yet, but he would be eventually.

When he was, Ryan would be waiting for him.

Someone on the TV screamed, making Ryan jump.He glared at it and lowered the volume.It wasn’t like he was actually watching.He’d just had enough of being alone in his room, so he’d decided to come downstairs to the living room.Unfortunately, the house was empty except for him, so it hadn’t changed much.He’d hoped for a distraction, but instead, he’d been obsessing over Devon since he’d flopped down on the couch.

Ryan had never expected to meet his mate so young.Both he and Devon were eighteen, which meant that even if Ryan gave Devon a few years to get over Kendrick, they’d have all the time in the world to get to know each other and fall in love.

It was hard to believe that was about to happen to him.He wanted what Kendrick and Jonas had, though.He wanted someone who would love him unconditionally and who wouldn’t turn on him when he most needed them.His parents were supposed to have been that, but they’d kicked him out as soon as they’d been able to.

Kendrick wouldn’t.Ryan was sure of that, just like he was sure that his brother loved him, but he needed something different.It was great to have Kendrick back in his life, but Kendrick had his own life now.He had a job that was important and where he saved people.He had Jonas.He had a home and friends.

Ryan would have all of those things, too.He still felt unsettled, but then, he’d only been here a few days.He was sure that once the dust settled and he found a job and maybe even his own apartment, he’d feel better.

He had to.

Ryan wanted to get to know Devon, but he wasn’t sure where to start.He didn’t know where Devon lived, even though it had to be in the village.Maybe he should ask Kendrick.He wasn’t sure his brother would tell him, but Jonas definitely wouldn’t.He was still angry at Devon in a way Kendrick didn’t seem to ever have been.Ryan didn’t blame him.From what Jonas and Kendrick had explained the other day, Devon hadn’t taken no for an answer even after both Kendrick and Jonas told him that they were mates.Technically, Jonas could have demanded that Devon be arrested for trying to interfere in a mate bond.

He was glad his brother-in-law hadn’t.

Ryan really hoped that eventually, Jonas would get over it.If he couldn’t, family dinners would be awkward.Ryan didn’t want to keep these two parts of his life separate.He wanted to be happy with Devon and have Kendrick and Jonas.

But he was getting ahead of himself.Right now, he didn’t have Devon.He didn’t even know where Devon was or what he’d want from their bond.Maybe he was still in love with Kendrick and would want nothing to do with Ryan.If that was the case, Ryan would give him space and time.He wanted to get to know his mate, but if he couldn’t start right away, he’d find something else to focus on.He needed to build a life so that he’d be settled once Devon was ready to talk to him.

The front door opened.Ryan tilted his head back and watched as Kendrick appeared in the entrance.He toed off his shoes and left them there, sure to make Jonas stumble when he came home.Jonas would bitch, and Kendrick would apologize and kiss it better.Ryan had seen it happen several times.

“Hey,” Kendrick said with an easy smile.

They’d been separated for ten years, but sometimes, it was like they’d never been.They might not know each other anymore, but they were still brothers, and the love they shared was still very much present.

“Hey,” Ryan answered, patting the couch.“Want to sit with me?”

“Yeah.I wanted to talk to you, actually.”

That was never good.“What did I do?”

“Nothing.”

Nothing in Kendrick’s voice made Ryan think he was lying, but he was still wary.After being betrayed by his own father, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was about to be betrayed by his brother.

Ryan settled deeper against the couch as Kendrick sat next to him.Kendrick was silent for a moment, which made Ryan’s nervousness even worse.This really couldn’t be good.

“I guess I just wanted to know what’s going on with Devon,” Kendrick eventually said.

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