Page 8 of Devon

“Did you have breakfast?”Jonas asked.

“Before leaving the house,” Kendrick confirmed.“But if you want some company while you eat, I can sit with you.”

Jonas nodded.“Please.Ryan, why don’t you come with us?”

Ryan wrinkled his nose.“What are you planning on eating for breakfast?Is that it?”He tilted his chin toward the mug.

Jonas grinned.His fangs glinted in the sunlight.Ryan shivered when his mind flashed to other fangs that had gone for his throat.He was lucky to be alive.

“I need regular food, too,” Jonas reminded Ryan.“I was thinking pancakes, if I can convince Kendrick to make them for me.”

“How about cereal?”Kendrick offered.

“Pancakes are better,” Jonas said with a pout.

When Kendrick leaned in to kiss him again, Ryan rolled his eyes.He was glad to see that Kendrick was happy and in love, but he didn’t want to watch his brother make out with his mate.

He loudly cleared his throat.“I wouldn’t mind pancakes.”

Kendrick frowned.“You already had breakfast.”

“And maybe I want a second breakfast.I’m a bit hungry.”Ryan patted his flat stomach.

Kendrick stared at him for a moment before chuckling.“I forgot how much teenage boys eat.We’ll have to go to the grocery store soon.”

Ryan suddenly felt guilty.“I can do that for you.”He had some money in his bank account, just not enough to survive on his own.

“I didn’t say it as a dig against you.Iwantyou to eat a lot.I want you to be comfortable here.This is your home as much as it’s mine and Jonas’s.”

Ryan could tell that Kendrick was serious and that he truly believed that.He was touched, but that didn’t change the fact that itwasn’this home.It was his brother’s home, and while Ryan was grateful to be allowed to stay and even more so to have Kendrick back in his life, eventually, he’d have to stand on his own two feet.

He also didn’t think that he would truly ever feel like it was his home.It wasn’t meant to be.Eventually, he’d have his own home, full of his stuff, and he could set it up the way he wanted.In the meantime, though, this was much better than sleeping on the streets like he would have if Kendrick hadn’t come to pick him up.

“Come on,” Kendrick said as he clasped Ryan’s shoulder.“Let’s get those pancakes ready.How many do you want?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, you’ll have to think about it quickly.Jonas tends to eat every pancake that hasn’t been claimed.”

This might not feel like Ryan’s home, but Kendrick and Jonas did feel like family.

* * * *

DEVON’S HANDS WEREstill shaking as he drove toward the closest town.When he’d slammed into his car, he’d hesitated to drive.He hadn’t been sure it was a good idea, considering how shaken he was, but he hadn’t wanted to stick around.He was afraid that Ryan and Kendrick would come looking for him.

He didn’t know if they had.Probably not.Kendrick was no doubt telling Ryan everything that Devon had done and warning him to stay away.It was what Devon deserved, so why did it hurt so much?

Devon had a mate.He was human, but for some reason, fate had decided that he would be the perfect person for Ryan.It didn’t make sense.Ryan being related to Kendrick especially didn’t make sense.How was this possible?

Devon glared at the sky through the windshield.He didn’t know if fate actually existed.He didn’t know if they were like a person or just a presence watching over shifters and other paranormal creatures, but he didn’t care.He needed fate to stop meddling.

He hadn’t asked for a mate.He would’ve been happy sticking with having a boyfriend.He’d never expected to have a mate because he was human, and he’d been more focused on surviving and keeping Melissa and Haley safe.He didn’t care about mates or about fate.He just wanted someone to love him and care about him.He thought he could have that with Kendrick, but he’d been fooling himself.

He wouldn’t make that mistake a second time.

He might be Ryan’s mate, but that didn’t mean Ryan had to be with him.Sure, Ryan wouldn’t find another mate, but he didn’t need to have one.He could be happy with a normal relationship like most humans were.Having a mate had to be overrated.Devon shouldn’t believe all of that stuff about mates being perfect for each other and whatnot.

There was no way he was perfect for anyone, let alone Ryan.

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