Chapter Five

Davey spent the evening thinking about Evan. It wasn’t surprising, considering he’d spoken about him more today than he had in years. Moore, Hansen, and Orion had said similar things, and Davey had realized they were right.

As long as Davey didn’t give up looking for Evan, Evan would want him to be happy. He would want him to have his mate, to build a life, and to stop obsessing over finding him. That didn’t mean Davey was giving up, but it did mean he might have to take a step back. He felt like if he didn’t, he’d eventually do something stupid, and he’d lose everything, from Evan to Orion.

That wasn’t something he wanted to happen, and while before, he hadn’t felt he had anything to live for except his search for Evan, he did now. He had Orion, and even though there was some distance between them, soon enough, there wouldn’t be. They’d get to know each other, things would settle down with the bakery, and Davey would stop taking stupid risks when he went on raids.

If he was ever allowed to go on one again.

Moore had done the right thing by forbidding him to continue going on raids. Davey had been angry, and part of him still was. He couldn’t deny it anymore. He didn’t care about hurting himself much, but eventually, he would have gotten someone else hurt, and that wasn’t something he could or wanted to live with. His friends had already lost enough. They all had. They didn’t need to lose even more because Davey was impulsive and never stopped to think before he acted.

A knock on his door made him frown. He’d been watching TV on his couch, still amazed that he had a home where he felt safe, but he’d been falling asleep. He’d hoped Orion would come by, but he hadn’t actually expected him to. Orion had still been at work earlier, and he had to be exhausted. He was probably in bed, resting so he’d be ready tomorrow morning—which would come way too soon for him since he always got up early to go to the bakery. He wouldn’t be able to withstand this kind of rhythm forever, but Davey wouldn’t let him, even if he tried.

The only person Davey had protected in his life was Evan, and he hadn’t done a good job. He could only hope he’d be better at it when it came to Orion. He might not have to protect Orion from scientists or hunters, but he could protect him from himself.

He hauled himself to his feet, wondering when he’d started feeling like an eighty-year-old man, and went to open. Davey would be surprised if it were Orion, but at the same time, he hoped it was. He couldn’t think of anyone else who would knock on his door this late at night. Maybe Orion couldn’t sleep.

It wasn’t Orion. Perseus stood on the doorstep, and as soon as Davey opened the door, he looked around him as if searching for something. Davey frowned and stepped aside. He didn’t know Perseus that well, but Perseus was Teddy’s mate and Orion’s brother, which meant they were in each other’s lives to stay.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Perseus stopped by the stairs and turned to Davey. “Is my brother here?”

“No. Why would you think he is?” Davey didn’t like where this conversation was going, but they needed to have it.

“He never came home tonight.”

For a moment, Davey and Perseus stared at each other. Worry was etched in Perseus’s expression, and it was getting to Davey.

Davey rubbed his face, knowing he’d need to feel a little more awake for what was coming. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I always check the house and my brother before I go to bed. Usually, he’s snoring in his bed, but not tonight, and the bed hadn’t been slept in. If I have to guess, I don’t think he returned home at all today. I thought he’d be with you and that he forgot to let me know.”

Davey was already shaking his head. “He’s not here. I haven’t seen him since I closed the bakery earlier tonight.”

“And you don’t know where he is?”

“When I walked past the bakery after I had dinner with friends, I saw that the lights were still on.”

“But it’s too late for him to still be working.”

It was, but the only other alternative was that something had happened to him, which wasn’t something Davey was willing to consider.

He grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door. “Let’s go to the bakery. I’m sure he lost track of time, or maybe he fell asleep on the counter. Considering how hard he’s been working, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Perseus nodded, but Davey could see he was still anxious. He was, too. He felt like he was about to jump out of his skin, and that would only get worse if he didn’t find Orion.

He didn’t even go back to turn off the TV, instead, doing so on the app on his phone. He followed Perseus down the street after locking his door, his body tense as he looked around. He didn’t expect Orion to pop up from behind a flower bush, but at this point, anything would be better than not knowing what they were about to walk in on.

He and Perseus looked at each other. They didn’t stop at the bakery’s front door because that wasn’t where Orion was. They went to the back alley instead, and Davey knew something was wrong as soon as he saw that the back door was open.

Davey rushed forward, forgetting all of his training. He could only focus on the possibility that Orion might be inside, hurt—or worse—and he needed to get to him.

He was almost through the door when Perseus grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Davey turned, angry, but Perseus’s expression snapped him out of it.

“We don’t know what’s inside,” Perseus murmured. “My brother would never forgive me if I let you go in like this. We have to be careful.”

Davey swallowed and nodded. Perseus was right. They needed to forget their emotions and go about this the right way. They had to keep calm.

Even though it didn’t feel possible.

Davey was tired and yearned for his mate. His wolf was desperate to claw his way out of Davey’s body and find Orion, and Davey had to reassure it that soon he’d be allowed out. For now, he needed to be in his human form.

Perseus went first, stepping through the back door and looking around. Neither of them had weapons because they weren’t supposed to need weapons in the village, and Davey prayed they weren’t about to walk in on anyone except Orion. It wouldn’t be like him to fall asleep and leave the door open, though.

Deep inside, Davey knew something had happened. He might not want to believe it, but he couldn’t deny it.

They moved carefully and slowly, checking every corner of the place before moving on. Davey held his breath as they stepped into the kitchen, but Orion was nowhere to be seen. There was a sponge on the counter, and Orion’s phone was there, too, but there were no signs of Davey’s mate.

“He’s not here,” Perseus muttered.

“Let me check,” Davey said as he took off his jacket.

Perseus’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked away. Davey didn’t have the time to ensure that this was okay with him or that he wasn’t freaking out. Frankly, he didn’t care if Perseus was freaking out. He needed to find out what had happened to Orion, and he wouldn’t be able to do that in his human form.

Luckily for him, that wasn’t the only form he had. He finished stripping and quickly shifted into his wolf. Like this, he had a better grasp on scent trails, and considering how much time Orion spent in the bakery, it was easy for Davey to catch his.

He sniffed around for a moment, then moved toward the back door from which he and Perseus had come in. It was where Orion’s scent led.

They stepped outside, with Perseus right behind Davey. He was carrying Davey’s clothes, for which Davey was grateful. He hadn’t remembered to mention it, but Perseus knew Davey would need them eventually.

For a moment, Davey didn’t know how to make sense of what he could smell in the air. Orion’s trail was there, fading but still strong. There was another trail that smelled a bit like Perseus and Orion, but not quite. It was more bitter and smelled of burned plastic.

And beyond that was a third scent trail. It smelled familiar, but that sensation didn’t make sense, so for now, Davey dismissed it and focused on Orion’s scent.

He followed it down the alley until it abruptly disappeared. The scent of gas was strong, so Davey thought Orion had climbed into a car.

Davey wanted to howl in anger. Instead, he shifted. “We need to get Moore,” he said as he took his clothes from Perseus. “I can’t be sure of what happened, but I think your father was here.”

* * * *

Orion had no idea where his father was. He’d parked the van behind a closed grocery store about ten minutes ago, had glared back at Orion and Evan, and had vanished. He hadn’t told Orion where he was going or how long it would take him, but Orion hadn’t expected him to.

The air in the van was tense. Evan was curled onto himself, his back pressed against the side of the van. He’d been silent since they’d climbed in. He never looked toward the driver’s seat. His focus was entirely on his knees, but he jumped a little every time Orion shifted this way and that because he was uncomfortable sitting on the van floor.

Finally, Orion had enough. He knew that nothing he could say would get Evan to trust him, but he had to try. “What happened to your leg?”

Evan turned wide brown eyes toward him. “I’m fine.”

“I don’t think you are. There’s a bruise on your face, and I noticed you were limping.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Orion supposed he would be unless his father decided to do something stupid. He still hadn’t told Orion why he’d grabbed him. Orion knew it wasn’t because he loved him, which meant he had to want something from him. What that something was, Orion had no idea. He doubted that even if he could, he’d be able to give his father what he was here for. Whatever it was, his father would take it, and that was that.

Orion wanted to help Evan, but he didn’t know how to get him to trust him enough to do that. After all, Orion was his father’s son. Evan probably thought he was like him.

Once, Orion had been. He still hated that part of his life, but he was planning on doing everything he could to live a better life from now on. He had a second chance, which wasn’t something most people got. He wouldn’t waste it.

“I was a hunter once,” he said.

Evan blinked at him and inched away. That probably wasn’t the right thing to say to a man who might have been captured by a hunter.

“I’m not anymore,” Orion quickly reassured him. “I never wanted to be one in the first place, but I was born into it. You know what hunters are, right?”

Evan gave a bitter laugh. “How do you think I got here?”

“I’m really sorry. My father forced me to become a hunter, and I didn’t feel I had a way out. For a long time, I didn’t. I was a kid, and I would have died out there on my own.”

“So you hurt people.”

“I did. I also tried to help as many of them as I could. I got hurt in the process, which is how I ended up with the tribe.”

Evan blinked. “The tribe?”

“They’re a bunch of supernatural people who help guys like you who were captured and hurt. Mostly, they raid the labs and help the survivors.”

“I was in a lab once.” Evan licked his lips. “I was there for a long time. They moved me around, but the facilities were all the same. They hurt me every time.”

“If I’d met you sooner, I would have helped you get away.”

“To your tribe?”

It was clear Evan didn’t believe Orion, and Orion didn’t blame him. He’d admitted he was a hunter, so why would he have a tribe? Why would the supernatural beings Orion had hurt so badly welcome him into their family?

“Yeah. I know it sounds weird, but the village became home after they helped me and my brother. My brother found his mate there.”

“And that was all it took? They didn’t care that you were hunters?”

Orion wiggled his butt a little to try to get more comfortable, but he’d lost all sensation in the muscles by now. “Oh, it hasn’t been easy, and I don’t expect it to be in the future. Most tribe members don’t trust us, and I don’t blame them. Some do, though. Some believed us when we explained that we were forced into it. I know you think it’s an excuse, and it probably is a bit, but when you’re fourteen and your father tells you that you have to kill someone because it’s your duty and that the people we’re fighting are monsters, you do what you’re told.”

Evan was silent for a moment. “You’re not fourteen,” he pointed out.

“I’m definitely not. I used to do everything my father told me because I was terrified of him and what would happen if I didn’t, but as I grew up, I tried to help more people than I hurt. Sometimes, I didn’t have a choice, but when I did, I always chose to help people. I still do.”

He hesitated. Evan was a common name, and considering how long Davey had been looking for his best friend, what were the odds that the man was with Orion right now? But from the way Evan spoke, it was clear he’d spent years in the labs, being moved around and hurt every time he landed in a new facility. It was a miracle he’d survived and that he was still sane. He might be a completely different Evan, but he might also be Davey’s Evan, and Orion wanted to know for sure.

“You wouldn’t happen to know someone named Davey, would you?” he asked.

Evan’s eyes widened. “You know him?”

“Well, I don’t know if it’s the same guy. He’s my mate.”

Evan opened his mouth, then closed it. “I don’t believe that.”

“You don’t have to. Honestly, most days, I don’t believe it, either. I feel like I don’t deserve a mate, you know? I probably don’t, but I met Davey anyway, and I want to make the most of that. He’s been looking for you.”

Evan quickly blinked as if he was trying not to cry. He probably was. Orion’s eyes burned, and he wasn’t even that involved in that situation.

“He’s all right?”

“He is. A lot of things happened to him after he escaped the lab, but he found a family and a home. He never stopped looking for you.”

A tear rolled down Evan’s cheek. He looked down at his feet, and Orion gave him a moment to gather his thoughts. It was clear he was overwhelmed. They were in danger. Evan probably expected to die soon, and he’d just been told that his best friend was alive and looking for him.

“He’s really your mate?” Evan asked.

“I swear I’m not lying to you. He’d kick my ass if I did.”

Evan stared at Orion before nodding. “Then you have to be a good person. Davey wouldn’t have a bad person as his mate.”

Orion rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know if I’m a good person, but I’m certainly trying not to be a bad one. I won’t deny I’ve done a lot of damage in the past, but I like to think I’ve also done a lot of good. I saved people. I put my life in danger to do so, and I’d do it again. I’d sacrifice myself for you if it meant you could get back to Davey.”

Evan shook his head. “I don’t want him to lose his mate.”

“We haven’t been together long. I’m sure he’d be hurt, but as long as you were back in his life, he’d be fine.”

Evan’s expression turned fierce. “No. You’re not sacrificing yourself for me, and you’re certainly not dying on me. We’ll both get back to Davey.”

Orion grinned. He was surprised at the fire in Evan, but it was good to see. There was still some fight in him, even after years of being tortured. “We will,” he promised.

It looked like the fight leaked out of Evan. He suddenly appeared so tired that it was a miracle he managed to stay in a sitting position. “I don’t know how we’ll make it happen, though. We’re kind of stuck.”

“We are, but someone will come for us.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because my brother will realize I never came home. He’s a bit anxious, so every night, he has to say good night. He can’t sleep if he doesn’t. When he sees I’m not home, he’ll look for me at the bakery and maybe at Davey’s home. That means Davey will know something’s wrong, too, and they can grab a Nix and come to us.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Orion hoped so, too. He wasn’t sure what he and Evan would do if no one came for them.

* * * *

Davey wanted to grab the closest Nix and force them to shimmer him to Orion, but it would be the worst thing to do. He needed to go to Moore and Rikar, get their approval, and hopefully, their help.

Davey wasn’t an idiot. He knew that a lot of people in the tribe and many of the mutants didn’t trust Perseus and Orion. They’d been hunters, and even though they’d been forced into it, it didn’t change their past or what they’d done. Davey didn’t blame the people who didn’t want anything to do with them, but he hoped Moore and Rikar would help anyway. If they didn’t, well, Davey was sure that Teddy would.

He prayed they wouldn’t have to go against Moore’s orders, though.

He pounded on Moore’s door, even though the windows were dark. He didn’t care if he woke him up or interrupted his alone time with his mate. He needed Moore’s help now .

“I should call Teddy,” Perseus said as he took out his phone.

“Tell him to join us here. Don’t go on your own.”

Perseus glared. “Why shouldn’t I? Why should Moore help us?”

“Why has he helped you until now? He’s a good man, and once he knows what’s happening, I’m sure he’ll want to be involved.”

Perseus didn’t look like he believed that, but the door swung open before Davey could insist. Moore stood there, wearing only a pair of jeans and a scowl.

“What?” he snapped.

Davey didn’t care that Moore sounded angry. He pushed past him and started pacing the entrance. “Orion is gone.”

Moore crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you mean?”

“He didn’t come home tonight,” Perseus explained. “I tried to call him, but he never answered, so I decided to look for him. I went to Davey’s house first, but he wasn’t there, either, and when we got to the bakery, we found the lights were on and the back door open.”

“I think I smelled Orion’s father in the alley,” Davey said. The smell had been familiar but different from both Orion’s and Perseus’s. Davey was glad for that because he didn’t think he’d be able to stand it if his mate smelled of burned plastic.

That got Moore’s attention. “Where?”

“In the alley. I’m guessing here, but from what I was able to smell, Orion stepped into the alley, and somehow, his father forced him into a car.” Davey hesitated. He wasn’t sure he wanted to tell Moore this last bit. He didn’t want Moore to think he was delusional or imagining things. “There was a third person. I think I recognized the scent, but I can’t be sure because it’s been years.”

“Who?”

Davey sucked in a breath. “Evan. I know it’s ridiculous and that there’s no way it can be true, but I know what I smelled. But even if Evan wasn’t there, we need to get to Orion.”

“Our father is going to hurt him,” Perseus said in an urgent tone. “We can’t let him. Please. I know Orion was a hunter, but he’s my brother and my only family.”

“Not your only family,” Davey told him.

He still wasn’t quite sure what to make of Perseus, but right now, they shared the same goal—dragging Orion back home. Even if something were to happen to him, Davey and Perseus would always be brothers-in-law. The bond they shared with Orion would never vanish.

Perseus looked surprised but nodded. Both he and Davey turned to Moore, who thankfully looked like he was taking this seriously.

“I’m going upstairs to finish getting dressed,” he told them. “Get in the kitchen and start coffee. I’m calling Rikar and Olga.”

Davey didn’t have anyone to call, so he obeyed while Perseus called Teddy. Davey was anxious and felt like they were wasting time, but he told himself that it was necessary. Moore knew what he was doing, and Davey and Perseus couldn’t just barge in without support. They didn’t know what they would find, and Orion would never forgive them if something happened to them.

Davey had already drunk an entire cup of coffee by the time everyone arrived. They gathered around the kitchen table, looking grim.

“Davey, Perseus, why don’t you tell us what happened again?” Moore said.

Davey and Perseus glanced at each other and obeyed. They had nothing new to say, and by the time they were done talking, it felt like they were at a funeral. It was clear these people thought it was too late, but Davey wouldn’t allow anything to happen to Orion. If there was any way for him to rescue him, he would.

“You’re sure it was your father?” Olga asked Perseus.

“I’m not sure of anything. I’m not a shifter, so I can’t sniff my father. Davey says the scent smells like me and Orion, but different. He explained it’s usually a sign of family, and I have to take his word for it.”

“I think it’s safe to assume that Davey’s right,” Moore said. “If we do, it means that Orion’s been with his father for a significant length of time. There’s also someone else with them.”

“An accomplice?” Rikar offered.

Davey’s first instinct was to say no, even though he wasn’t sure that he’d actually smelled Evan. Maybe he’d been looking for his best friend for so long that he’d imagined it. Maybe it was because of what had happened recently and how guilty he felt. Whatever the reason, he wouldn’t allow this to sidetrack him. If he had smelled Evan, he would rescue both him and Orion. If it hadn’t been him, Davey couldn’t afford to be distracted.

“Or another victim,” Olga said.

“What do you know?” Moore asked her.

“Not a lot, but I think I can confirm that the person who took Orion is a hunter. I saw a van and Orion with a blond man.”

Evan was blond. That still didn’t mean it was him, but between that and Evan’s scent, Davey was starting to believe he’d found his best friend.

And he might have lost his mate at the same time.

He squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t think like that. He had to keep hope, to believe that he could save Orion and Evan and that he wouldn’t lose either of them. It was almost impossible, but he had to compartmentalize his feelings. He couldn’t risk losing it while they were looking for Orion.

“Our main focus will be Orion’s father,” Moore said, looking around the table. “We’ll have to keep an eye on the man with him, but Davey thought he recognized his best friend’s scent, so I think we can assume he’s on our side.”

“It really depends on what happened to him and how much he suffered,” Olga murmured.

Davey couldn’t afford to think about that, either. He’d only ever wanted to protect Evan, and he couldn’t think about what had happened to him after Davey had run. If he did, he’d go down the guilt spiral again, and this was the worst moment to do that.

“Let’s assume he’s friendly and keep an eye on him in case he attacks,” Moore said. “I suppose you’re all coming with us?”

Everyone nodded. The sight of Teddy holding Perseus close made Davey yearn for Orion, but he told himself that he was getting him back. He’d be home soon, and when he was, Davey would never let him out of his sight. He didn’t care if he had to tie Orion to the oven in the bakery, or even better, the one in his house. Orion wasn’t going anywhere without Davey from now on.

“Good,” Moore said. “Assuming that Orion’s father is taking him back to the hunters, we have to stop them before they get there.”

“What are we waiting for, then?” Davey asked.

“We’re not waiting. It’s time to go and get Orion back.”

Sometimes, Davey still had a hard time believing that Moore actually cared about a hunter. He suspected it was mostly because of him and the fact that Orion was his mate, but right now, he didn’t care why Moore felt the way he did. He just cared that Moore was finally ready to move and that he was about to get his mate back.

* * * *

Orion’s father had returned, and they were on the move again. From where he was, Orion couldn’t see much, just the road in front of them. He had no idea where they were going, but he knew that once they arrived, he and Evan would be in trouble.

Keeping an eye on his father, he slid closer to Evan. Evan tensed but didn’t move away. Orion hadn’t been sure that their little chat earlier had been successful, but if they both wanted to get out of here in one piece, Evan would have to trust him. Hopefully, his not moving away was a step toward that.

Orion didn’t want Evan to know that he was terrified. Between the two of them, Orion was the only one who had a chance to fight his father and win. The problem was that when he was with his father, he still felt like a thirteen-year-old who’d just started learning to fight and whose father beat him up every night because he wasn’t good enough. Orion was taller and more muscular, he had ten years of experience, yet the little boy was still there.

Orion shoved that fear to the back of his mind when the van finally stopped. He tried peeking outside when his father slid out of the driver’s seat, but he couldn’t waste time. He quickly placed himself in front of Evan, ready to defend him by any means necessary.

He got up, planted his feet, and waited.

The back door creaked as it opened. Orion swallowed, knowing he was about to face his father again. He hadn’t been able to do anything when he’d been forced into the van, but his father didn’t have Evan to threaten Orion with anymore. Evan was here, safely behind Orion, which meant Orion could act.

He was startled when he felt a hand press against his back, but he didn’t turn. From the feeling of it, Evan had gotten up, too, and he seemed to want to face Orion’s father with Orion. The guy was really fucking brave, because if Orion could, he’d run the other way. It would have been easier for Evan to curl up at the front of the van and wait until this was all over, but he was here, and Orion took courage from that.

If Evan could stand up to Orion’s father, so could Orion.

Orion’s father took in their positions and sneered. “I should have known this would happen. You really can’t help yourself, can you?”

“What do you mean?” Orion still hoped taking his time would mean that his friends and family would get to him before he had to fight his father. He’d do it if he had to, but he’d rather not get hurt. He also didn’t really want to hurt his father, but he wouldn’t hesitate to do so if it proved to be necessary.

Something told him it would.

“You’ve always been on their side. You’re too soft, always have been. I should’ve culled you when I noticed. I hoped you would change growing up, but I see you didn’t.”

The thought of his father killing him because he didn’t want to hurt people took Orion’s breath away. He wasn’t surprised by that, but he was surprised that his father had admitted it. He supposed he felt he had nothing to lose.

Neither did Orion.

Orion had always been torn about standing up to his father. He’d wanted to do it, but he’d known that his father would take it out on Perseus if he dared, and Orion had never wanted his brother to get hurt. Perseus wasn’t here, though. Hopefully, he was coming, but if he wasn’t, he was at home, safe and sound in his mate’s arms. That was all Orion needed.

“You haven’t changed, either,” Orion said as he moved forward.

His father blinked and quickly stepped back. For a moment, he almost looked like he was afraid of Orion. Orion didn’t dare hope, but he felt better once he was out of the van and standing in front of his father. He didn’t move away from the van because he wanted Evan to be safe, and he had no doubt that his father would reach for him if it meant getting control over Orion back. Orion couldn’t allow that to happen.

“You’re still a monster,” Orion spat out. It was the first time he dared speak up and face his father, the first time he dared to tell him everything he thought about him, and it felt good .

Orion wanted his father to know how much he hated him. He wanted him to know that he’d made Orion’s life miserable. He probably enjoyed it, but he wouldn’t enjoy it when Orion beat the shit out of him.

“At least I’m not an animal,” Orion’s father snapped back.

“You’re right. You’re not. Animals don’t hurt people just because they don’t like them. They don’t kidnap people and sell them to facilities where people will hurt them. Animals don’t torture their children and threaten to kill their brother if they don’t obey every order they give. Animals are so much better than you, and so are shifters.”

“I’m your father!” Orion’s father snarled, spit shooting out of his mouth.

“You’re my sperm donor. I never had a father. Hell, Perseus was more of a father figure than you ever were. He protected me and helped me, supporting me through everything. What did you do? Forced me to hurt people. You hurt and abused me. You never cared about your children. You only ever cared about yourself and how much money you could make by kidnapping people and forcing Perseus and me to do the same.” Orion shook his head. “That’s over now. I won’t allow you to hurt anyone else ever again.”

His father snorted. “And how are you planning to stop me? You were always afraid of me.” He opened his arms. “Besides, it won’t be long until my friends get here. Once they do, they’ll take little Evan away, and I’ll be able to focus on you.”

Orion’s stomach sank. He’d known his father was planning something, and he wasn’t surprised to find that it involved other hunters. He’d hoped it would take more time, but it sounded like he and Evan needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

Where the fuck was Davey? Where was Perseus? Why weren’t they here to help Orion and get Evan to safety?

Orion tried to feel for the bond he shared with Davey, but he was human, and even though he knew it was there, he couldn’t find it. He couldn’t use it to let Davey know that he was freaking out.

But he knew Davey and Perseus were coming. He just had to waste a little more time.

“I’ll fight all of them if I have to,” he said, straightening his back. He pulled himself to his full height, something he usually didn’t do when his father was around.

His father swallowed heavily. He knew how strong Orion was, of course, but he’d always had control over him. Maybe he was starting to realize that that control was slipping and what it would mean for him if Orion got his hands on him.

“You won’t hurt me. You wouldn’t dare.”

Orion took a step forward. “Is that really what you think? After everything you’ve put me through, you don’t think I want revenge?”

For now, the three of them were alone. There would be no one to help Orion’s father if Orion attacked him. He could leave his father a broken puppet on the ground, and no one would be able to stop him.

Orion shook his head. He hated that he was thinking like this. He had to take care of his father and protect Evan, but that didn’t mean he had to become a monster to do so. He wanted to be better than his father—for Perseus and Davey, but most of all, for himself. Orion had finally gotten out of that life, and he wouldn’t allow his father to drag him back.

For the first time, Orion had something he’d never had before, something that gave him strength.

A future.