Page 106 of The Enemy to the Living
“You know what I mean. It’s not—We didn’tthink. And we’ve done a shitty job looking after you, even when you trusted us enough to get away and come here.”
“What Hale did wasn’t your fault,” I say slowly. “Any of it. He’s responsible for that, just like I’m responsible for killing the vampire.”
“But Tamesis—”
“Is dead. And manipulation or not, I’m still the one who did it. I can’t take it back.”
“Do you want to stay with us?”
“What?”
“Well, you and Asher…” He sighs. “He can’t leave the Hunt, can he?”
“No. But I’m not leaving my pack. I don’t think he wants me to.”
“Really? I don’t think he likes us much.”
“He doesn’t know you. I’m not leaving, Drew. I can’t imagine another pack I’d want to be in.”
Drew swallows and drops his gaze. “You don’t want to go home?”
“No. I still haven’t sorted the house, you know. Can’t imagine going back. They’re braver than me for doing it.”
“Braver than me, too.”
We sit in silence for a moment. It’s comfortable, for a change, reminiscent of the way things used to be.
Drew reaches over and squeezes my arm. “I want you to stay,” he says. “I-I know I didn’t think about it, but I wish I’d thought to bring you with me in the first place.”
“I wouldn’t have come,” I reply, and when Drew opens his mouth, I shake my head harder. “I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have left my parents.”
“You’re my best friend. I should have—” He sighs. “Doesn’t matter, does it? I didn’t. But I’m not letting go of you now.”
“No? Even with your mates right there, all the time?”
“They’re not… They’re perfect for me. For each other. The bond is real enough. But they’re not wolves. And they’re not the best friend I grew up with, the one who doesn’t justknowall the secrets of my childhood and adolescence but was there for it, too. Kieran was always fighting to protect me, and I love him, but we’re learning how to be friends too, you know? You were right, what you said before.”
I frown, trying to follow his train of thought. “About what?”
“About us being brothers. You’re mine.”
“Drew. I—”
He lunges forward and hugs me before I can get the words out, and I don’t hesitate at all in hugging him back. I noticed him pulling back before he left our pack; I think part of me all along was angry at myself because I really should have realised something was wrong.
Doesn’t matter now.
“If Asher hurts you, I’ll hurt him back,” Drew says, words muffled against my shoulder, and I let out a surprised laugh.
“Yeah, okay. I’m not taking on Sam for you. Kieran can handle that.”
Drew laughs, too. “Just Adam?” He leans back but keeps his hands clasped on my shoulders.
I chew my lower lip. “I don’t know him that well, do I? Either of them.”
“That’s okay. We’ll all just have to spend more time together.”
“Asher too?”
