Page 13 of Hansen

“I want to argue that, but I’m pretty sure that finding my mate would’ve been the thing that drove me to the edge.You were right not to talk to me right away, but I can still feel disappointed.”

“You can feel disappointed by whatever you want.I’m sorry if I overstepped, but I’d do it again if it meant keeping you safe and happy.”Hansen wasn’t kidding.He wanted Evan to be happy, even if they were never together.

He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

“Well, congratulations,” Orion said as he put a hand on Davey’s shoulder.“You two have things to talk about, so Davey and I will head to the kitchen to get started on dinner.Yell if you need anything, all right?”

“You can’t force me to leave,” Davey grumbled, but he allowed Orion to turn him in the direction of the kitchen.

“I’m not forcing you to do anything.”Orion grinned at Hansen.“I’m assuming you’ll stay for dinner?”

Hansen didn’t know.He wanted to stay, and not only because of Evan.He wanted to spend time with Davey.What if Evan didn’t want him here, though?He seemed more relaxed now, and he was still in Hansen’s arms, but he might change his mind after they talked.

“He’ll stay,” Evan confirmed.

“Good.We’ll see you two later.Evan, you can use the living room if you don’t want Hansen in your bedroom.”

Evan waited until Orion and Davey were gone—although Hansen could still hear Davey grumbling—to step out of Hansen’s arms and turn to face him.Hansen let him go, even though he didn’t want to.

“I don’t want you to get offended, but I’d like to do this in the living room.”

“I’m not offended.”

“Good.”Evan rubbed his face with a hand.“I’m not gonna lie.This is a lot.”

“I know, and we can take this as slowly as you need.My main goal here is to keep you happy and safe.”

“Considering what happened to me over the past few years, it’s hard to believe I can be either of those things.”

Hansen knew how that felt.He followed Evan into the living room and made sure not to sit too close to him.He and Evan might have been through something similar, but Hansen had been out for longer.He remembered how life was right after he’d regained his freedom, and he wanted Evan to feel that he was in control.

Evanwasin control.

“I don’t know anything about you,” Evan started.

“We’ll get to know each other over time.”

“But you’re like Davey, right?”

Hansen wasn’t sure what he meant.“You mean that I’m a mutant?”

Evan grimaced.“I don’t know if I like that word.”

“It takes a bit to get used to, but it’s what we are.We mutated into something different, something that’s not quite human and not quite shifter.Yes, I’m like Davey.I have a cloaking ability that means that I can hide in plain sight.”

Evan hesitated.Hansen desperately wanted to know what was on his mind, but he wasn’t about to push.

“What do you think I would be able to do if I were a mutant?”

Hansen’s stomach dropped.“You think you’re a mutant?”

Evan’s eyes were wide when he looked at Hansen.“I think it’s a possibility.I don’t know how to feel about it.I barely even remember who I was before the labs.How am I supposed to deal with the knowledge that they changed me so much that I now have abilities no one else has?”

Even though he didn’t know how Evan would react, Hansen reached out to take his hand.He was relieved when Evan didn’t push him away.“Whatever you are now, we’ll deal with it.You won’t find a better group of people to help you through this.We know how it feels.We understand.”

“Plus, you’re my mate,” Evan said with a tearful smile.

“I’d support you through this even if you weren’t, but yes.You’re my mate, and that matters to me.”

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