Page 12 of Hansen

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HANSEN COULD TELL THEmoment everything went wrong.This wasn’t what he’d planned, but then, he hadn’t really planned anything, had he?He’d been dying to know how Evan was doing, and instead of calling Davey to check in on both of them, he’d decided to show up at Davey’s house.He’d hoped to get a glimpse of his mate, and he had.

He hadn’t expected his mate to come anywhere near him, though, which was where the problem started.

Evan’s eyes widened, and he stumbled back, hitting the railing.He paled so quickly that Hansen expected him to faint, but when Davey reached for Evan, Evan slapped his hand away, shocking all three of them.Evan sucked in a breath, then stopped breathing entirely as he continued staring at Hansen.

“What’s going on?”Davey asked, panic coloring his words.

Hansen wasn’t sure how to answer that question.Should he tell Davey that he was Evan’s mate?It didn’t matter that Evan was panicking at the thought of meeting him.Hansen wasn’t offended, nor did he believe that it meant that things between them couldn’t work.He’d wanted to give Evan time for a reason.

He’d messed up.

He should’ve stayed away, but it was too late for that.Hansen needed to act, and while he should probably think instead of doing what his instincts were pushing him to do, he didn’t resist.

Evan wasn’t breathing.Davey was panicking.Hansen had no idea what Orion was doing, but right now, he didn’t care.

When he reached for Evan, Evan didn’t push him away.He allowed Hansen to pull him into his arms and hold him close.Hansen tucked Evan’s face against his own neck, hoping that his scent would calm down his mate enough for him to breathe.It might not be the best idea since Evan had started panicking when he’d realized that Hansen was his mate, but Hansen couldn’t think of anything else.

He finally felt Evan suck in a deep breath.He allowed his shoulders to slump and held Evan more tightly against his chest, knowing he couldn’t let go of his mate until Evan told him he was ready for it.Thankfully, Davey didn’t interrupt.He was watching them with wide eyes.His mouth was slightly open, and his skin was almost as pale as Evan’s.

Hansen rubbed his hand up and down Evan’s back.It was good to feel his mate breathe.It was good that everyone was relaxing and that Evan wouldn’t be running out of here screaming.

“Do I want to know what’s going on?”Orion asked.

Hansen blinked at him.Orion was standing next to Davey, but Hansen hadn’t noticed him come closer.He was too distracted by Evan.

“I want to know,” Davey said.Now that he could see that Evan would be okay, he appeared worried rather than shocked.

“We’ll explain,” Hansen promised.“Just give him time.”

“Time for what?Why did seeing you send my best friend into a panic?What did you do?”

“He didn’t do anything,” Evan muttered, his face still pressed against Hansen’s neck.

“It doesn’t look like it to me.What’s going on?”

Evan sighed so heavily that Hansen felt his chest move.Evan leaned away, and even though Hansen didn’t want to, he had to let him go.Thankfully, Evan didn’t go far.He just turned into Hansen’s arms so he could look at his best friend.Hansen took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Evan’s waist.He didn’t miss the way Orion’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead or the fact that Davey looked like he wanted to shake him.

“Hansen’s my mate,” Evan said, going straight to the point.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.Orion and Davey stared while Hansen wondered if Davey would be angry.

Hansen didn’t know why Davey should be, but he was protective of Evan.Maybe he didn’t think that Hansen was good enough for his best friend.If that was the case, Hansen would show him that he was wrong.

“I don’t know what to say,” Davey eventually said.

Evan snorted.“How aboutcongratulations?How aboutI’m happy for you?”

“Well, of course I’m happy for you.I just didn’t expect it.”

“You think I did?I spent years in a cage.The last thing I expected was to meet my mate as soon as I stepped out of it.”He turned his head to look at Hansen.“It’s a lot.”

Hansen couldn’t help but smile.Even though Evan sounded confused, he wanted Davey to congratulate him.That had to mean that he was happy, right?“I know.I realized yesterday, but I wasn’t sure what to do.”

“You didn’t tell me.”

“Considering everything that was happening and the fact that more hunters were coming, I thought it would be better to give you space.”

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