Page 3 of Devon

Melissa sighed.“I’m going back to bed.I’ll check in on you later, though.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“But I do.”

Devon listened to her footsteps fade as she walked down the hallway.Melissa was worried about him, and that wouldn’t get any better if he left the village.

He couldn’t believe he was actually thinking of doing that.When they’d arrived at the village, he’d thought for sure this would be a fresh start for the three of them.They were finally safe.Haley would be able to grow up in a normal place, with a roof over her head and food in her stomach.She wouldn’t have to worry about sleeping on the ground or being cold at night.None of them would ever have to worry about being attacked and hurt ever again.

Well, that wasn’t quite right.The Kudlaks had attacked the village, but people were working on setting up magic defenses.Besides, that didn’t change the fact that Melissa and Haley were safer here than they could ever have been living in abandoned buildings or on the streets.Devon was, too, but he still needed to leave.

He needed a plan.

He wrapped his comforter tighter around his shoulders and forced himself to think practically.No matter how desperately he wanted to leave right now so he would never have to see Kendrick and Jonas again, he couldn’t afford to.He didn’t have any money.He didn’t have a car.He only had a few changes of clothes.Clay and Rowan had given Melissa enough money to buy necessities for the three of them, but Devon couldn’t even think about taking that money from her.That meant he’d have to earn his own.

There was nothing for him to do in the village.It was too small and had been abandoned until recently, and people were barely settling into their new homes.No one was opening businesses yet.They would eventually, but it would be too close to home.Devon needed to put space between himself and Kendrick, which meant finding work in the closest town.

He could do that.He didn’t have any skills, but he was young, so he hoped people would hire him anyway.He wasn’t looking for a job that would last him a lifetime.He’d be fine with working at a bar or a diner or something.He could learn whatever he needed to know for the job.

Even though thinking about leaving the house and doing this was scary, he forced himself to get out of bed.It was good that he’d woken up so early, even though he hadn’t known it at the time.This way, he could get out of the house while Melissa was still sleeping.He could talk to people in town who were on a normal human schedule and would be awake during the day.If he found work, he would have to do the same, anyway.Besides, once he left the village, he could live any way he wanted.He wouldn’t have to stay awake during the night and sleep during the day like he had after he met Melissa and Haley.

But to do that, he needed a job.

He’d showered the night before, so he threw on clean clothes and carefully made his way out of his bedroom.The floor creaked a bit, and he paused several times, but he heard nothing but silence.Melissa and Haley were deeply asleep, as they should be.

The three of them hadn’t been able to sleep deeply for so long.When they’d lived on the streets, one of them had always needed to be awake.It was the only way to be safe and ensure that no one would sneak up on them while they were unconscious.Melissa had tried to do everything herself, but even when Devon was younger, he’d refused to let her.Keeping both her and Haley safe was as much his responsibility as it was Melissa’s.They may not be related, but he cared for them as if they were.Leaving them would be hell.He wished he didn’t have to, but he didn’t see another way out of this.

Devon couldn’t stay in the village and face Kendrick every day.He wasn’t sure what would be worse—having to see Kendrick or having to see Jonas.He’d humiliated himself with both of them.Kendrick had pitied him, and Jonas had been angry, so Devon was planning on staying away from both of them.Jonas was a Krsnik, and he could kick Devon’s ass without breaking a sweat.He probably wouldn’t hesitate to do so, either.He was fierce, especially when it came to his mate.

Devon swallowed and moved down the stairs.He didn’t go to the kitchen to get breakfast.He wasn’t hungry.He hadn’t been eating much because his stomach still churned with uneasiness.He couldn’t stop thinking about what happened.He suspected that he wouldn’t stop thinking about it until he was far away from the village, but unfortunately, that would take time.

He slipped his shoes on and quietly opened the door.He paused, but the house was quiet.Stepping out and closing the door felt like a massive step, but he told himself that he wasn’t taking that step yet.He was coming back.

For now.

* * * *

RYAN ALMOST BEGGEDKendrick to allow him to stay home.When Kendrick had mentioned that they needed to see Clay and Roland, Ryan hadn’t thought it would happen right away.He’d thought most of the village slept during the day and was awake at night, but after breakfast, Kendrick had gotten up and declared that the two clan leaders didn’t live far away and that they could walk there.Ryan had stared, trying to make sense of the words.

He understood why he needed to talk to the clan leaders.He was here because they’d agreed he could be.If it wasn’t for them, Kendrick wouldn’t have been allowed to bring Ryan back with him, and Ryan didn’t even want to think about what would’ve happened then.He didn’t have to think about it.He’d left his parents, and he was safe and had a roof over his head.He had his brother back, something he hadn’t thought would happen.

When Kendrick had left when Ryan was eight, it was almost like he never existed.Ryan had tried talking to his father about Kendrick, but he’d been dismissed, and Ryan’s mother had never liked her stepson, maybe because she was a shifter while Kendrick was human.But she’d never felt any maternal feelings toward him, and Ryan hadn’t understood that until years later.He’d thought things would be different for him.He was his mother’s son, and he’d hoped that would mean she wanted him around even after he turned eighteen.

Clearly, she didn’t.

But he didn’t have to think about that anymore.His mother might not want him around, but Kendrick did.That was why Ryan was here.It was why he was headed to the clan leaders.

“What if they don’t want me to stay?”he asked.

“I don’t see why they wouldn’t.I’ve worked with Clay for years.We might not be best friends, but he wouldn’t do that to me.Besides, neither of them wants to lose a hunter.They need me.”

But they didn’t need Ryan.Did Ryan have anything to offer them?He wasn’t sure.He kept thinking about it as they walked, but they reached their destination way too soon.

Kendrick climbed the porch steps.He knocked and turned to Ryan, frowning when he didn’t find him behind him.Ryan quickly joined his brother, but he was so nervous that he felt like he was about to jump out of his skin.

“Relax,” Kendrick murmured.“You’ll be fine.”

Ryan had to believe it.He wanted to ask Kendrick to reassure him more, but the door opened, so they didn’t have the opportunity to talk any longer.

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