Page 25 of Devon

“It is.He told me what happened with you.I guess he wanted me to know before things got too serious.He was apologetic and said that he latched onto you because you were one of the people who saved him and his family.”

Kendrick nodded.“That’s what I thought had happened.I don’t know why he focused on me instead of one of the other hunters, but I don’t think it matters or that Devon himself knows.”

Ryan shrugged.“I don’t think it matters, either, but maybe it’s because you’re my brother.”Devon was human, but maybe Ryan being Kendrick’s brotherhadmade a difference.Maybe that was how things were always meant to happen because if they hadn’t, Ryan and Devon wouldn’t have met.Devon was skeptical, but Ryan wasn’t so sure.Fate guided mates to each other.This had been an odd way to do that, but it had gotten them both where they needed to be.

“Devon and I are human, Ryan.I really don’t think Devon could feel the pull to you through me,” Kendrick said.

“Maybe not the pull, but we had to get together in some way.”

“Well, whatever happened, it doesn’t matter because you and Devon found each other.”

It hadn’t been easy, and Ryan didn’t think it would become easy anytime soon.Devon was skittish, both because of his past and what had happened with Kendrick.The only thing Ryan could do was reassure him and show him that he didn’t blame him or hold anything against him.

“So you and Devon talk?”Kendrick asked.He looked a bit worried now.

Ryan sighed.He wasn’t sure he wanted to know where Kendrick’s mind was going, but it would be best to get it out of the way.“We’ve been talking,” he confirmed.

“About your future?”

That made sense, even though it made Kendrick sound like Ryan’s father.Kendrick wanted to know what Ryan was planning.Ryan was a guest in his home, and even though Kendrick and Jonas had welcomed him, he was sure they’d like to have the house back to themselves sooner rather than later.

“Not quite,” Ryan said.“We did talk about what we expect from our relationship, and neither of us is ready to bond.”

Kendrick looked relieved, which wasn’t what Ryan had expected.His brother was human, though.He’d understand better than shifters that it was okay not to rush into things, especially at Ryan’s age.

“Well, you’re only eighteen,” Kendrick said.“I’m not saying it means you shouldn’t be together, but you still need to start your life.It wouldn’t be good for either of you to be so focused on each other that you ignore everything else.”

Ryan was already shaking his head.“We're not ignoring anything.Is this you asking me when I’m going to get a job?”

Kendrick spluttered.“I would never do that.”

“Why not?Iwant to know when I’ll get a job.”

“I don’t want to push you the way our father did.Yes, you’ll have to find a job eventually, but there’s no rush.I’m not going to kick you out just because you don’t have one.”

“And knowing that makes me feel a lot better, but yeah.I’m going to have to start looking.I’ve been thinking about what I want to do, but I still don’t know, and I can’t just stare at the same four walls every day.I want to contribute to this household and to the clan.”

“I don’t want you to do something that you’ll regret in a few years.”

“What could I regret?Working at the local grocery store?”

“Have you thought about college?”

Ryan had.He’d been thinking nonstop about what his future could be like.He still wasn’t quite sure, but he was coming up with a plan.“I think that eventually, I’d like to open a store in the village.The people who live here don’t really need it yet because there aren’t that many of us, but I know that more people are moving in every so often.Eventually, there will be enough of us that having local businesses will make sense, and I think I’d like to help with that.”

“You’re young to open a store,” Kendrick pointed out.

“Which is why I’m planning to find a job in a nearby town first.I already have experience working in grocery stores, but I want to get more, and I was thinking that maybe I could do some kind of business course online or in a nearby college.”

For a moment, Kendrick just watched Ryan.Ryan had thought this through.He knew that with him being so young, he might change his mind sometime in the future, but he had a place to start, and he liked that.

“Sounds like a plan,” Kendrick eventually said.“What about Devon?What does he think of that?What are your plans for the future?”

“We haven’t really talked about that beyond agreeing that we’re not ready to bond.We have time to get to know each other.”

“Good.I don’t want you to rush into something you might regret.”

“I don’t think I could ever regret being with my mate, but I get where you’re coming from.I don’t think there’s a reason for you to worry.We’re just getting to know each other right now.”

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