Page 23 of Hansen

Evan’s father cleared his throat.“Why don’t we introduce everyone?My name is Roger, and I’m Evan’s father.This is my mate, Isabel.”He wrapped an arm around his mate’s shoulders.

“I’m Hansen,” Hansen introduced himself.“Evan’s mate.”

That still felt weird to say.Hansen had wanted to meet his mate for so long, and now, he had.He was happy, even though he wished things had happened in different circumstances.

Isabel jumped to her feet, and the next thing Hansen knew, she was in his arms.

He exchanged a glance with Evan, who looked amused.Hansen didn’t have a problem with hugs, but it was startling because he’d never met Evan’s mother before.

“You aresowelcome into our home,” Isabel said, leaning back and looking at Orion.“Both of you.The boys are like brothers.We’re all family, and you being Evan’s mate means that you are, too.”

“They both are,” Davey’s father declared.He offered Hansen his hand, and Hansen shook it.“I’m Arnold.”

“Hansen.It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“And this is my wife, Cynthia,” Arnold continued.“And our youngest daughter, Ellie.That’s her husband, Jack, and their son, David.”He pointed at Davey’s other sister.“That’s Sarah and her mate, Brad.”

Hansen could only nod.He was sure Evan and Davey had more family that they’d eventually meet, but for now, even this felt overwhelming.

“So what happened to you two?”Ellie asked after taking her son back.

Everyone fell silent.Evan looked nervous again, so Hansen sat on the edge of the coffee table.He didn’t want to be rude, but his mate mattered more than manners.He’d apologize to Isabel if she wanted him to, but only after Evan was done with this.

“I did say I would explain, didn’t I?”Evan said with a small chuckle that held no amusement.“All right.Well, to make a long story short, Davey and I were kidnapped.”

Isabel sucked in a breath while Evan’s father pressed his lips together.Cynthia was already crying again and clinging to Davey’s arm.

“You know about the labs and what happens in them, so I don’t have to go into details,” Evan continued.“But we both ended up in one of them.The past few years have been hard.”

“But you’re home.How did you escape?”Roger asked.

“That would be the mutants,” Davey said as he smiled at Hansen.“They’re a group of people who were once prisoners of the labs, too.They’ve banded together and have been rescuing people.”

That wasn’t exactly what had happened to either of them.Hansen wasn’t surprised that Evan hadn’t yet mentioned that Davey had managed to escape much sooner than he had.He knew how Davey still felt about that.

“So they saved you?”Cynthia asked.

Davey’s smile fell.“Not exactly.”He didn’t explain, leaving everyone visibly frustrated.

Evan huffed.“Davey doesn’t want to tell you what happened because he feels guilty, no matter how many times I tell him that none of this was his fault.He managed to escape a few years ago, but he had to leave me behind.He returned as soon as he could, but I’d already been transferred to another lab by then.He’s been looking for me since then and feeling guilty about abandoning me or something like that.”

Isabel pressed a hand against her mouth and turned to look at Davey.He was staring at the floor, and his back had gone ramrod straight.It was clear that he expected Evan’s parents to blame him for what happened.

“Oh, baby,” Isabel said as she got up from the couch and went to hug Davey.“We know you never would’ve abandoned him.Is that why you didn’t come home?Because you thought we would blame you?”

A sob escaped Davey’s throat.Hansen felt out of place, even though he was Evan’s mate.Maybe only family should be present during this conversation.He supposed that he and Orion were family now anyway, but Davey was vulnerable, and Hansen didn’t know if he was comfortable with him being here.

All four parents rushed to Davey’s side.He might’ve been worried about Evan’s family blaming him, but it was clear he shouldn’t have.Roger and Isabel folded him into their arms as if he were their son.

Hansen took the opportunity to lean closer to Evan, taking his hand and waiting until Evan turned to look at him.“Everything okay?”

Evan’s eyes were red but bright.His cheeks were flushed, and he looked more alive than he had since he’d been rescued.

“I’ll be fine,” Evan promised.“Once this is over, I never want to talk about the labs again, but they need answers.”

Hansen raised Evan’s hand and kissed his knuckles.“Never talking about the labs might be hard, considering you live in a village full of mutants who rescue survivors from them, but I’ll do what I can.”

“You know what I mean,” Evan said with a glare that was, frankly, adorable.

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