Page 36 of Finlay

I reached out to clasp his hand, ignoring the blood smearing over my skin. “For a child who was being abused? Of course we would have. But that decision wouldn’t have been put on your shoulders, Evan. You weren’t even part of the inner circle then. It would’ve been down to me, Logan,and Calan to decide, and we would’ve chosen to fight,” I reassured him, squeezing his hand. “We’d never leave anyone in that environment, let alone a child.”

“But I did,” Evan said numbly. “I left him there.”

“Because ye didn’t know,” I said fiercely. “Evan, you were not the one who was abusing him.”

“No, but I could’ve been the one to save him.”

There was nothing I could say. Nothing that’d make Evan believe this wasn’t his fault.

“I mentioned what he’d said to the alpha.” Evan shuddered, like he was coming apart. “Clyde told me the boy was prone to dramatics. That he told tall tales. I shouldn’t have believed him. I should’ve fuckingquestionedit.”

A tear rolled down Evan’s cheek and my wolf howled. I’d seen Logan cry. Calan too.

But not Evan. Never Evan.

They didn’t stop, falling faster and faster until he was openly weeping.

“I should’ve saved him,” Evan sobbed. “He blames me, and he’s right to. Who the fuck does that to a child?”

I hugged him tightly. “Evil fuckers, that’s who. But it’s not your fault, Evan. You’re not responsible for what happened to Reid.”

“I’m responsible for everything that’s happened since. I didn’t listen to someone in need, someone who asked for my help. I left him there with those monsters. And now, that’s something I have to live with.”

He was wrong, but he wouldn’t listen to me. I wasn’t the one he needed to hear it from. “I’m guessing Reid recognised you today?”

Evan nodded, sobs still shaking his body. “He was furious. I don’t blame him. But you know the worst part?”

“What?”

“I didn’t know who he was,” he whispered. “I didn’t recognise him. Didn’t even remember what he was talking about until he reminded me.”

“Because you didn’t realise the significance,” I said patiently. “Most people wouldn’t, Evan. He was a kid asking to go with you. If you’d taken him, it would’ve been kidnapping. I’m not surprised you forgot.”

Evan swiped at his eyes, glowering at the floor. “Reid remembered though.He thought I’d save him, instead I condemned him.”

I sat back and studied him, trying to decide what to do. Evan was a cheerful soul, but he had the same stubborn streak all shifters did. His protective nature ran deeper than most too. This knowledge challenged that, made him question who he was.

I didn’t think I was the one who’d be able to answer that for him. Instead, I focused on the most pressing issue. “Okay, we know no jaguar shifters have crossed our borders in the last decade.”

“No.” They weren’t banned per se, but there were strict rules in place thanks to a treaty between our clans. They couldn’t take anyone from our lands—shifter or human. They also couldn’t incite or participate in any violence.

“Exactly.” My face was solemn as I leaned forward on my thighs. “They can’t come into our lands and forcibly take him. Now ask yourself, why is it that Reid chose to move here?”

The blood drained from Evan’s face as he reached the same conclusion I had. “Fuck, he’s in hiding.”

“I think so. What better way to ensure you stay out of their hands than by hiding within the enemy’s borders?”

Evan was on his feet in a second, his body trembling. “He’s going to run.”

I stood too. “What makes you think that?”

“You didn’t see how scared he was,” Evan said, starting to pace. His bones creaked and cracked as his wolf tried to force the shift. “He was angry, but under that, he was scared.”

“Of you?”

“No.” Evan came to an abrupt halt. “Of his clan, I think. Of being found. Maybe he thinks we’re going to turn his location in.”

“We’d never do that. Reid has to know?—”

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