Page 2 of Devon

“Well, I’m going to get breakfast ready.We should go and visit Clay and Rowan once we’re done eating.They knew you were coming, but they’ll want to talk to you.”

“Do you think they might reject me?For the clan, I mean.”

“No.They’ll just want to welcome you and maybe talk about the attack.That damn Kudlak has been hunting Rowan since he realized that Rowan is the last member of one of the clans he decimated years ago.”

There was so much Ryan needed to find out about his new home.He was curious about a lot of things but also wary.He didn’t know the clan.He only knew his brother, and while he knew he could trust Kendrick, it was hard to imagine himself living here.

That was probably normal.He was only eighteen, and he’d always lived in the house his parents had raised him in.That was gone now.Both his father and his mother were part of his past, and he doubted he’d ever see them again.

He didn’t need them.He had Kendrick, who was still looking at him with a smile on his lips.

“You’re sure I won’t bother you by staying here?”Ryan asked.He’d asked yesterday, too, and he hoped Kendrick’s answer hadn’t changed.

“You can stay for as long as you need.This is your home, too.This room is yours.I’m just happy to have you back with me, Ryan.”

“Even though you’ve built yourself a life here?I mean, you have friends, a home, and Jonas.You don’t need me.”

“You’re right.I don’t need you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you.You’re my little brother.You’re the one thing I always regretted losing when I was forced to leave.I won’t abandon you.I won’t force you to pay rent.You’re safe here, Ryan.”

Ryan had to look away.His throat felt tight, but he didn’t want to cry.He was grateful to Kendrick and happy he had a home, but he was grieving everything he’d lost.His relationship with his parents had never been great, but they were still his parents, and that house had been his home.

“Jonas will sleep a while longer, but don’t worry about bothering him.He sleeps like the dead.”

“Thank you,” Ryan whispered.

“I didn’t do anything you need to thank me for.You’re family.”

That had meant nothing to Ryan’s parents, but clearly, the same couldn’t be said for Kendrick.

* * * *

“DEVON, PLEASE.I’Mgetting worried,” Melissa said through the closed door of Devon’s bedroom.

Devon swallowed and stared out the window.He didn’t want Melissa to worry.She might not be his mother, but she’d protected him when he needed it, and he would always be grateful for that.She was his family, even though they didn’t share blood.

That was why he couldn’t ignore her.They’d promised that they would always be there for each other and for Haley, and Devon didn’t want to break that promise.“I’m fine,” he called out.

There was a moment of silence.Devon didn’t think that Melissa had left.She wouldn’t when she still wanted answers from him.She was stubborn like that.

“It’s good to hear your voice,” she said, and Devon could hear the smile in her voice.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I’ll always worry about you and Haley.It’s what a mother does.”

Devon didn’t tell her that she wasn’t his mother.She might as well be.She was the only mother figure in his life, and she behaved like a parent to him.She made sure he ate and that he had everything he needed, even though he was eighteen and technically old enough to take care of himself.It was good to feel that someone cared, but that didn’t mean that Devon felt any better about the thought of staying with the clan.

“Well, I’m fine,” he called out.“You can go back to bed.I promise I’ll eat something.”

Melissa was quiet.Devon knew that she was hesitating, but she was a Kudlak.She was probably exhausted after staying up with Haley for most of the night.Kudlaks and Krsniks were night creatures, but Devon wasn’t one of them.He was a normal human, and his day had just begun.

He’d gotten used to living like Melissa and Haley, so he was surprised to be awake.He hadn’t been sleeping well, which would explain why he couldn’t go back to sleep even though he should be resting.

He wasn’t sure he could.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Kendrick and felt the humiliation he’d felt when Kendrick had rejected him, and Jonas had stepped in.What had Devon been thinking?

He hadn’t been.He’d been desperate.He’d wanted someone to love him, to feel normal for once, and he’d latched onto Kendrick.Even though there was a ten-year age difference between them, he’d thought they were a good match.Both he and Kendrick were human and were used to fighting to survive, and it had felt like a match made in heaven.

Devon had realized it wasn’t a match at all, but it felt like hell.He clung to Kendrick until it was embarrassing, and he didn’t think he could ever face the man again.He wanted to die just at the thought.

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