Page 11 of Hansen

“Physically, sure.What about everything else?”

“I don’t know how to answer that.”

Orion nodded.“I get it.”

“I don’t know if anyone can get it.”

“Well, Davey spent time in a lab, too.Every mutant who lives in the village has.”

It was sad to think that the hunters and the doctors they worked with had hurt enough people to fill a village.“It’s not the same.”

“I agree.No two experiences are the same, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find common ground.”

“I just need time.”

“And you have it.You have as much time as you need and want.”

That was the one thing that made Evan feel better.He might not know where he belonged or where to start, but he knew that he’d always have a safe space with Davey.He didn’t have to rush into anything because Davey was there for him.Orion, too, and apparently, an entire village full of people.

Someone knocked on the door.Evan groaned, hoping that whoever was there wasn’t here for him.He’d already met Rikar and Moore.Who else did he have to meet?The local sheriff?Did the village even have a sheriff or a figure of authority who wasn’t one of the two men Evan had already talked to?

“You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to,” Orion said.“Besides, I don’t think that this person is here for you.”

“I sure hope not.I don’t know anyone in the village.”

“No, but people will be curious about you.Word about what happened yesterday with the hunters has gone out.”

“I wasn’t there, so I don’t know anything.”

“You know that’s not going to stop them.”Orion looked behind himself.“But like I said, Hansen isn’t here for you.”

Evan tried to place the name, but he couldn’t.“I don’t know who that is.”

“A close friend of Davey.He’s a mutant, too.”

A shiver slid down Evan’s spine.Washea mutant, too?There was a good chance that he was, but that was a problem for the Evan of tomorrow.“I’m glad to know that Davey wasn’t alone all this time.He has the tendency of isolating himself when he feels guilty.”And there was no way Davey hadn’t felt guilty about not being able to help Evan.

“He does.He’s in a good place right now, though, especially with you back in his life.”

Evan got to his feet and stretched.He was glad that Davey had friends, but right now, Evan’s best friend was the pillow he’d used last night.“I’m going to go upstairs.”

“Do you want me to call you when dinner is ready?”

“That would be great.”

Orion patted Evan’s shoulder as Evan walked past him.The casual movement startled Evan.It had been so long since anyone had touched him like that—easily, friendly, with no painful purpose.That was something else he’d need time to get used to again.

He stepped into the entrance and smiled at Davey, who was talking to a man Evan vaguely remembered seeing yesterday.The man’s blond hair was cut short, and his brown eyes were warm as they stopped on Evan.The man smiled, and Evan grinned back at the sight of his canines.They were pronounced, almost like a vampire’s.It shouldn’t be adorable, but it was, and Evan had to resist the urge to poke at one of them.

“I’m going upstairs to take a nap,” he told Davey.

“Of course.Let me know if you need anything.”

Evan moved to walk past the two, only to freeze when a scent he’d never smelled before reached his nose.

His wolf howled in the back of his head.It was happy because they’d found their mate, but Evan didn’t know how to react.

So, of course, he panicked.

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