Page 27 of Devon

Kendrick was a sweetheart, which was probably one of the reasons Devon had latched onto him.He’d known that Kendrick was safe and that he wouldn’t hurt him.Someone else might have taken advantage of Devon and the feelings he’d convinced himself he had, but not Kendrick.Jonas, on the other hand, still saw Devon as a danger to the bond he shared with his mate.Devon didn’t blame him.He and Ryan weren’t even bonded yet, and he already knew that he’d get pissed if someone tried to get between them.He could only imagine how it felt for Jonas.

So Devon wasn’t going anywhere.That meant he would have to talk to Jonas.It wasn’t only that they were a part of the same clan and lived in the same village.They were mates to two brothers, which made them family, and wasn’t that awkward?

Jonas would probably hate Devon for a bit, but what was Devon supposed to do?If he didn’t leave, he and Jonas would have to learn to live together.Devon didn’t want Kendrick and Ryan to start avoiding each other or putting distance between the two of them just because of him.If he was staying, he’d have to work on that.

Devon was still thinking about it by the time he and Nic were done with work.For the first time, Devon was looking forward to going home.He and Ryan had plans, and while Devon didn’t know what they would do, he didn’t care.He just wanted to spend time with his mate, something he would never have thought would happen a few weeks ago.

“So you’re seeing a guy,” Nic said as they walked to the parking lot.

“Yeah, I am.”

“I thought you said you were leaving town as soon as you could.”

Devon had admitted it to Nic in a moment of weakness.He’d be looking for someone to try to change his mind, but Nic hadn’t.In fact, he’d pushed Devon to do just that and explore the world.Devon had wondered why Nic wasn’t doing so himself, but he hadn’t asked.Nic had been supportive, and Devon had needed that.

“I changed my mind,” Devon confessed.He stopped next to his car and turned to Nic.“It doesn’t only have to do with Ryan.I never really wanted to leave my family, but I thought I had to.I realized that I didn’t, even if things will be awkward initially.”

This time, Devon was sure something was going on.Nic was staring at him with wide eyes, and he looked slightly panicked.It didn’t make sense.

“You were supposed to see the world,” Nic said.

“I’m sure I can travel eventually, but for now, I’m sticking around.”

Devon took a step back when Nic’s hand shot forward to grab his shoulder.He wasn’t fast enough, and Nic caught him.He pulled Devon forward.Devon had no idea what was going on, and while his first instinct was to push away from Nic, he found out that he wasn’t strong enough.

Nic crushed Devon against his chest and pressed their lips together.Devon was still trying to get away, but his arms were trapped between their bodies, and Nic’s hold was stronger than Devon had expected.

He squeezed his lips together, briefly wondering if this was how Kendrick had felt when Devon had been so pushy with him.Devon didn’t want to overreact.Nic had been flirting with him from day one, but Devon hadn’t expected his friend to kiss him.

“Nic, please,” he murmured as he tried pushing Nic away again.

Nic stumbled back, and Devon leaned against his car.For a moment, they stared at each other.Devon wanted to say something, but what?

“I’m sorry,” Nic said.“But you have to go.You can’t stay in the village.”

Devon frowned.What the hell was Nic talking about?“Why?”

Nic shook his head and turned.Before Devon could demand a better explanation, Nic rushed toward the forest.The only thing Devon could do was watch him disappear between the trees.He wasn’t about to run after Nic.

What the fuck had just happened?

* * * *

RYAN WAS ALWAYS EXCITEDto see Devon.He liked to think that he was getting to know his mate and that he was getting better at reading Devon’s expressions.Devon was closed off as a person, which wasn’t a surprise considering what had happened to him, but Ryan was convinced that in time, he would open up to him.

But Ryan didn’t even need to know Devon to clock the fact that something was wrong as soon as he saw Devon.They’d agreed not to meet at Ryan’s house, and since Melissa and Haley were home, Devon hadn’t wanted to meet there, either.There was nowhere for them to go in the village, so they decided to go for a walk.Ryan had been thinking about shifting and showing Devon his tiger, but he suspected that would have to wait until next time.

Devon got out of his car, already frowning.He seemed lost in thought, and he started moving toward the house before he even realized that Ryan was sitting on the porch steps waiting for him.When he did see Ryan, he blinked as if coming out of his thoughts, but the frown didn’t vanish.

“We were going for a walk, remember?”Ryan said as he got to his feet.He brushed off the dirt from his jeans.He hadn’t wanted to look like he was trying too hard, but he’d put some thought into the clothes he was wearing.This might not be an official date, but he and Devon were still spending time alone together.

“I haven’t forgotten,” Devon quickly reassured Ryan.“I was just lost in my thoughts.”

“We can do this another time if you want.”

Had something happened at work?It was where Devon had been this morning.Ryan couldn’t think of anything that would happen in a coffee shop that would cause Devon to look so worried, but he could be wrong.Maybe something had happened with a customer or one of the people Devon worked with.Ryan had heard all about Nic and Alex, and they seemed like good people.He hoped they were okay.

Devon smiled.It looked a bit forced, but Ryan could see he was really trying.“No, I don’t want to do this another time.I want to spend time with you.”

---