Chapter Six

Davey tapped his foot and glared at the people gathered in the kitchen. They’d already decided they needed to go out there and find Orion, so why were they still sitting here, talking about what they might find when they got there and what to do about Orion’s father? Davey didn’t care what they did with the guy. They could kill him as far as he was concerned. The world would be a better place without the asshole in it, and he was pretty sure that both Orion and Perseus would agree with that.

“We need to go,” Perseus snapped, getting everyone’s attention.

Davey had been about to do that, but Perseus had beat him to it. He was as worried about Orion as Davey was, maybe even more because he knew what their father was capable of. Davey could only imagine it, and even that was enough to give him nightmares.

“I understand why you’re impatient, but I won’t lose any of my people to this mission.”

Perseus crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “But you’re ready to sacrifice Orion.”

“I’m not sacrificing him. We are going out there to rescue him, and I’m not changing my mind about that. But I don’t think Orion would want you or Davey to get hurt because we didn’t think about what we’d do once we get there. We don’t know what we’ll walk into. Teddy can shimmer us straight to Orion, but that means shimmering us to your father, too. What if he’s with a group of hunters?”

“Then Orion is in even more danger than we thought.”

“Yes, but we won’t be able to help him if we get caught, too. We won’t be able to help him if the hunters hurt or kill us. We don’t know what your father wants from Orion, but it might be a trap.”

Davey swallowed and leaned harder against the counter. He hadn’t even thought about that, which was probably why he’d never be the leader of the mutants. It was a good thing he didn’t want to be. It was way too much responsibility, and it was clear he didn’t have it in him to shoulder it.

He didn’t want anyone to get hurt, but rescuing Orion was still his main goal. He’d go alone if he had to, but when he glanced at Perseus, he realized he wouldn’t have to. Perseus was as focused as Davey was on getting Orion home.

“It might be one,” Perseus agreed. “But that won’t be enough for me to leave my brother behind.”

“Again, I’m not asking you to do that. We don’t leave people behind, ever.”

“He’s not one of you.”

“He might as well be. He’s Davey’s mate, isn’t he? Davey is one of us, and that extends to the people he loves and of course, his mate.”

Davey’s mouth went dry. He didn’t love Orion just yet, but Orion was his mate. It was a question of time before he did.

If he got to have the time. If they got to Orion in time and rescued him before he got hurt.

Moore pushed away from the table and got to his feet. “I think we have everything hammered down,” he said, still looking at Perseus. “I won’t ask you to stay behind because I know what your answer would be if I did, but you need to let us handle this.”

Perseus bristled. “Why should I?”

“Because this is our job.”

“Protecting my brother is my job, and I won’t let anyone stop me from doing it, not even you.” He hesitated. “I like you, Moore, and I’m grateful for the opportunity you gave me and Orion. You and Rikar welcomed us into your family and into your home, and it meant a lot for both of us, but especially for my brother. He never thought he’d have a home, and you gave him that. I’ll always be grateful, but Orion comes first. If I have to disobey your orders to save him, I will. If I have to fight my father and kill him, that’s what I’ll do.”

Moore stared at him for a moment, possibly to understand he was being serious. Davey didn’t have to think about it. He knew that Perseus was. Before he’d met Teddy, Orion had been the center of Perseus’s world. In a way, he still was. He was Perseus’s little brother, and that meant everything to Perseus. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d sacrifice himself and everything he had to save his brother.

Teddy squeezed Perseus’s shoulder, possibly to let him know he would support him. Davey wasn’t surprised. Teddy was a mutant, and Moore and the rest of them were important to him, but Perseus was his mate. He’d always be on Perseus’s side, just like Davey would always be on Orion’s. Nothing would ever change that.

Moore sighed. “I won’t try to stop you if you have to deal with your father. It’s not my business, and frankly, it would probably help our cause if you did. Just don’t put yourself in danger.”

“You almost sound like you care.”

“I do. Teddy loves you, and I love Teddy.”

Teddy’s cheeks went pink. “You didn’t have to use those words.”

Moore arched a brow at him. “Why not? You do love him. He’s your mate.”

“There was no need to say it in front of everyone.”

Davey didn’t have time to wonder what the fuck was happening, and honestly, he didn’t care. “Are we going?”

Moore nodded once. “We are. And all of this goes for you, too, Davey. I know you want to save your mate, and I won’t try to stop you, but you need to be careful. Orion would never forgive himself if something happened to you while you’re rescuing him.”

He was right, which was why Davey had no intention of doing anything stupid. This wasn’t his first rodeo, though. He’d raided dozens of labs and had fought even more guards. He was trained, he could shift into a wolf, and he could use water manipulation. Whatever happened, he’d be able to face it.

“Are you willing to shimmer all of us together?” Moore asked Teddy.

“Of course.” Teddy’s expression was set. He was probably eager to get to Orion and shimmer him back home.

“Let’s go, then, and be careful,” Moore ordered.

They couldn’t shimmer from inside the house, so they all filed toward the front door. Moore stayed behind for a few moments, no doubt to say goodbye to his mate. Jolyn would be waiting for him at home, worrying and wondering what was happening. Davey wasn’t sure how he did it, but he was glad he wouldn’t have to.

Teddy didn’t go far. He was just out of range of the Nix blockers when he held out his hands for everyone to grab. Davey crowded close to Perseus, and they exchanged a glance when they both grabbed onto Teddy. Whatever happened, they were in this together. Their only goal was to bring Orion home safely.

Davey couldn’t care less what happened to Orion’s and Perseus’s father. If the man was killed, it would be good riddance. If he wasn’t, he’d get what he deserved eventually, even if it didn’t come from Perseus.

“Ready?” Teddy asked.

“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Olga answered.

Davey kept his eyes open, even though it felt weird. He wanted to be ready to defend himself and his friends when they arrived. They had no idea what they would find when they did.

He let go of Teddy as soon as the ground felt steady under his feet. He looked around, ready to suck the water out of anyone who stood in his way. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to be a trap because there were only two people standing there.

Orion was facing his father. He had his back toward a van with open doors. His father was threatening him, and Davey had to work hard to keep his wolf in because they both wanted to kick the man’s ass.

“Olga, Teddy, take a look around,” Moore ordered. “Make sure there are no people hiding in the bushes.”

They nodded and vanished into the darkness, but Davey stayed where he was. Orion didn’t seem to be in danger at the moment. He was talking back to his father, standing up to him, but even if his father snapped and tried to attack him, Orion should be able to have the upper hand. He was taller and broader. He had less experience, but brute strength would probably be enough.

And if it wasn’t, Davey would step in. He could tear Orion’s father apart and ensure that nothing was left of him except pieces no one would be able to put back together.

Perseus moved forward, but Moore clamped a hand on his shoulder. Davey wasn’t surprised when Perseus tried to pull away, but Moore shook his head.

“We’re close enough to intervene if we have to, but I think your brother needs to confront your father.”

It tore Davey’s heart apart to stand there without doing anything, but Moore wasn’t wrong. Orion’s father was a dark cloud over Orion’s otherwise bright future, and it would be better if Orion could deal with him now. Maybe once he did, he would finally be free of his father and the hunters.

This wasn’t a battle Davey could fight for him, unfortunately.

* * * *

Orion had noticed the people who’d just arrived. He hadn’t looked their way because he didn’t want to be distracted, but he was sure it was Perseus and Davey.

Knowing they were there, ready to help him if he needed them to, made him feel stronger. His father had always told him that he was weak and that because of that, he should’ve gotten rid of him when he was young, but Orion knew that wasn’t the truth. He wasn’t weak. He was strong enough to admit when he needed help, to allow others to step in when he couldn’t do something, and that was something his father would never understand. He didn’t know what being a family meant. They might be related by blood, but they’d never been one.

Orion watched as his father glanced sideways. He paled, and Orion wondered who had made him react that way. Beyond Perseus and Davey, Orion didn’t know who was there, although he could guess that Teddy had been the one to shimmer them here. Maybe seeing the three of them there, ready to help Orion, was enough to get Orion’s father to freak out.

Orion didn’t care. He was done with all of this. He wanted to go to his mate and tell him he’d found Evan. He wanted to reassure his brother that he was fine and that their father would never hurt either of them again.

“Where are your friends?” he asked. “How many are supposed to arrive? Will there be enough of them to beat me and my friends?”

“We won’t allow you to take over the world,” Orion’s father snarled. “It belongs to humans, not these—these animals.”

Orion grinned. “Want to know something? Turns out, I’m a wolf shifter’s mate.”

Orion’s father gaped for a second. Orion had always tried not to provoke his father because he hadn’t wanted to deal with the consequences, but he’d seen Perseus do it time and time again. He knew what his father would do. He knew what always happened when his father got so angry that he couldn’t think anymore.

Orion’s father screamed and ran toward him. He probably wanted to shake some sense into Orion and make him see that being with a shifter wasn’t what he was supposed to do. Maybe he’d even kill him for being a shifter’s mate, but Orion wouldn’t allow him to do any of that. He was done with this. He was done with bowing to his father and begging for scraps of affection he’d never get. His father was out of his life, and he’d never been happier.

Once Orion’s father was close enough, he swung his arm back to punch Orion. He was still fast, even though it had been years since he’d last fought, but he wasn’t as fast as Orion. He also wasn’t as strong, and when the punch came toward Orion’s face, Orion caught it easily. He squeezed his fingers around his father’s fist, then twisted his father’s arm. His father had to move with it if he didn’t want Orion to break it, but he struggled to get away.

Orion kicked his father’s legs from under him, and when he went down, he pressed him against the ground with his knee. His father was face down in the dirt—where he belonged.

Orion had always been terrified of the man wriggling under him, and maybe initially, he’d been right to be. When he was a child, his father had always seemed larger than life. It would have been easy for him to hurt Orion and Perseus, and he had. He’d tortured them for years, had brainwashed them, had made them think that they were nothing more than weapons and that they would never be loved.

But they were loved. Perseus had Teddy, and even though Orion and Davey hadn’t known each other long, Orion was sure that was where they were headed.

He couldn’t wait.

His father wasn’t scary anymore. He was just an asshole who would die alone. He’d had a family, but he’d hurt them instead of cherishing them, and he’d lost them.

Orion didn’t feel sorry for his father. He never had, and he never would.

Orion pushed his father harder into the dirt one last time before releasing him. His father stayed where he was for a moment, panting, but Orion was done. “I hope I never see you again,” he murmured as he turned.

He desperately wanted to go to Davey, but he felt the need to check in on Evan first. The poor man was still in the van, his eyes wide as he stared at Orion. Orion raised his hands, hoping Evan would understand that he wasn’t about to attack him. Orion hoped he’d never have to do that ever again. He didn’t want to hurt people. He wanted to feed them cupcakes and make them happy.

“Are you all right?” he asked Evan.

Evan quickly nodded, but he was still staring at Orion’s father.

“You think you can come out of the van?”

Evan hesitated. “I don’t know. I’m scared.”

“It’s all right to be scared.”

“You weren’t.”

“Oh, I was. I was terrified, Evan.”

“You didn’t look scared.”

“I knew what my father would do. I was prepared, and besides, I had to protect you. No matter how scared I was, I couldn’t listen to the fear.”

Evan was still hesitant. He wasn’t looking at Orion’s father anymore, his gaze skittering from Orion to the area around the van instead. He had to have seen that people had arrived. Maybe that was why he was so hesitant.

“These are my friends, so you don’t have to be afraid of them,” Orion said soothingly. “Remember I told you they would come for me? Well, they did, and they’ll help you, too.”

“Really?”

Evan sounded so fucking young. Orion didn’t have to ask him to know that he’d been through hell over the past years, and it was a miracle that he was still alive and had so much fight in him. Anyone else in his place would have been reduced to a puddle of fear, but not Evan. He still had the courage to reach out to take Orion’s hand when Orion offered it to him.

Evan’s gaze flickered to something behind Orion, and he scrambled back. Orion swiftly turned around, not surprised to see that his father hadn’t stayed down. Orion had known better, but once again, he’d wanted to hope.

He shouldn’t have.

And his father shouldn’t have tried to attack him again. He might not know who the people who’d joined them were beyond Perseus, but he had to have known that Perseus wouldn’t let him hurt Orion. Maybe he’d thought he could be fast enough before Perseus kicked his ass.

But Orion didn’t just have Perseus. He had Davey, too, which was why his father was encased in what looked like a box made of water.

“Do you know how much humidity there is in the air right now?” Davey asked as he stepped toward Orion’s father. “Enough to surround you with water. Enough to drown you.”

Evan sucked in an audible breath behind Orion. He’d probably seen Davey.

“Is that what you want me to do?” Davey continued as he stopped in front of Orion’s father. “I wouldn’t regret it. I know what you did to your sons, and one of them is my mate. I’d do anything to have you out of Orion’s life, including killing you. You don’t deserve to live, anyway.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” Orion’s father said. His voice trembled as if he was afraid, and maybe he was. For the first time, he’d finally encountered someone who fought back. Orion had, but his father had never thought Orion and Perseus were good enough to take him down. He’d always underestimated them.

But Davey wasn’t Orion or Perseus. It was clear he wouldn’t hesitate to kill, and for a moment, Orion hoped he would.

“He was going to attack you from behind,” Evan murmured. He’d moved closer again, and Orion could feel the heat of his body against his back. They weren’t touching, but it was a close thing.

“Good thing my mate stepped in, then,” Orion murmured back.

“You weren’t lying. You really are Davey’s mate.”

“I am, and he’ll be over the moon to find you here. He’s been looking for you. He never stopped.”

“I never expected him to stop.” Evan hesitated. “I’m just not sure what to do. It’s been so long, and I feel like my life back then doesn’t even belong to me. It’s like it was a dream.”

Orion turned to look at him. “Well, if it was a dream, you’re still living it. You’re free, Evan. You’re free, and you have Davey back.” And if he was okay with that, he’d also have Orion and the rest of their family. He was going to need all the help he could get.

Luckily for him, he wasn’t alone anymore.

* * * *

Davey wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt Orion. It was taking everything he had not to just drown the asshole without asking Orion what he wanted, but he didn’t want to risk his mate hating him because he’d killed his father. Orion’s heart was soft, so Davey wouldn’t be surprised if he decided it was okay to let his father go.

There was no chance of that happening. Even if Davey didn’t kill the guy, Moore wouldn’t let him return to the hunters. Davey doubted that Orion’s father would give them any kind of information about the hunters, but that was all right. They didn’t need any more information, not if it came from a man like him. They could defeat the hunters without him.

“Don’t kill him,” Moore cautioned Davey.

“I don’t know. I’m feeling particularly bloodthirsty today.”

Moore stopped in front of Orion and Perseus’s father. He stared at him for a moment, and Davey noticed his eyes widening just a bit. “Mitchell. I bet you didn’t think you’d ever see me again.”

Davey’s eyes went wide. Moore knew the guy? Orion’s father said something, but Davey couldn’t hear it since the asshole was surrounded by water. He’d left him a bubble of air so he wouldn’t die, but he lowered the water until Mitchell’s head poked out. “I should have killed you when I had the chance,” Mitchell snarled.

For some reason, Moore seemed to find that hilarious. “You? You wouldn’t have killed me. You weren’t strong enough to do so when I was in a cage, and you’re certainly not strong enough to do it now.”

“What’s going on?” Perseus asked. “How do you know my father?”

“You’re aware that he worked in a lab before he became a hunter, right?”

Davey blinked. He hadn’t expected that, but he supposed it made sense.

“Did he work in the lab you were in?” Perseus asked.

“He did. He was one of the cruelest guards. He pushed us around, never hesitated to use force if we dared resist, and when the scientists didn’t need us anymore, he took great pleasure in killing us. He’s a monster.”

Perseus nodded. “I agree. Are you going to kill him?”

“I’m tempted. You think he’d give us information about the hunters?”

Perseus snorted. “I doubt it. But even if he did, I don’t think you’d get anything interesting or useful. He might have been a good hunter before, but he’s an old man now. No matter how much he boasts about being in charge, he’s not.”

“How dare you?” Mitchell snapped while reaching for Perseus. “I made you who you are. Without me, you would’ve died a long time ago.”

Perseus sniffed. “In some ways, it would have been better. I have to thank you, though. You didn’t kill me, which meant I lived long enough to meet my mate.” Perseus smiled, showing Mitchell his teeth. “Isn’t that ironic? You’re a hunter who hates all supernatural beings, and both your sons found their mates.”

Mitchell tried to get to Perseus, and Davey increased the pressure of the water around him. He wasn’t above getting Mitchell’s head back in and letting him drown. He didn’t even care if Moore stared at him with his disappointed-dad expression.

“How long can you go without breathing, Dad?” Perseus asked, leaning forward. “Because I wouldn’t mind watching Orion’s mate kill you.”

Mitchell’s eyes were wide as he glanced at Davey. Davey gave a little wave, his smile widening when Mitchell looked like he wanted to kill him. He probably did.

“You see what your labs have been doing to people?” Davey asked. “They gave us extra powers. They made us even stronger and more dangerous. Your hunters will be decimated sooner rather than later, and I kind of hope that you’ll be alive to see it. It’s a good punishment, isn’t it? You wanted to kill your sons, but in the end, you’ll be the one to die.”

“This is getting creepy,” Moore muttered. He squeezed Davey’s shoulder. “Let go of him. I’ll have Teddy take him back.” He turned to Teddy. “Lock him up.”

“He said that more hunters were coming,” Orion warned.

Davey’s attention snapped back to him. He’d been so focused on wanting to keep them safe that he hadn’t checked in on him yet. He’d been about to do that when he’d seen Mitchell move toward him, and he hadn’t thought before reacting and stopping him. Now that he wouldn’t have to keep Mitchell in his water coffin, Davey would be able to focus on his mate.

Moore nodded, and Davey let go of the water. He stayed where he was for a moment just to be sure that Mitchell wouldn’t do anything stupid, but Teddy was on him in seconds. He grabbed Mitchell’s arm, wrinkled his nose in what appeared to be disgust, and vanished.

Davey turned to Orion. He was hovering by a van that had no doubt been used to bring him here, almost as if he wasn’t sure it was safe for him to step away. Davey rushed forward, not wanting to waste one more second. Orion beamed when he saw him and opened his arms, and Davey dove into them.

Orion wrapped himself around him, and everything was good in Davey’s world again. He had Orion back, and Orion was safe. There was nothing more Davey could have asked for.

But the universe had apparently decided that after everything Davey had been through, he’d earned himself some happiness. He’d only been hugging Orion a few seconds when Orion gently pushed him away. For a moment, Davey wondered if maybe Orion had changed his mind about being with him. He’d wait for years if he needed more time. He didn’t care how long.

“There’s someone here for you,” Orion said.

Davey frowned and cocked his head. “What do you mean? Someone other than you?”

Orion grabbed Davey’s shoulders and turned him so he’d face the van. The doors were open, and a lone figure stood there, staring at Davey.

Davey’s knees buckled. He grabbed Orion’s arm to keep himself upright, thankful that his mate was there. Orion didn’t let go of Davey. He pulled him closer and wrapped an arm around his waist, holding him up. “Evan didn’t believe me when I first told him I was your mate,” Orion said softly. “But he does now.”

Evan made a wounded sound that Davey knew would haunt his nightmares, but he didn’t care. When he stumbled forward, Evan scrambled out of the van and threw himself into his arms. The force of the impact made Davey stumble back, but once again, Orion was there. He caught both of them, wrapping his big arms around them as if shielding them from the world.

Davey had found Evan.

Well, it was more that somehow, Orion had found Evan, but Davey didn’t care who had. He’d been looking for years, praying that Evan would still be alive but also telling himself that he needed to be prepared in case Evan wasn’t. He’d never expected to find Evan out of a lab, but here he was.

Davey gently pushed Evan away and stared down at him. “How are you here?”

Evan shrugged. He clung to Davey as if he wasn’t planning on letting go of him anytime soon, and while that might make things awkward, Davey was happy with it. It would be a while before he would let Evan out of his sight.

“He was supposed to take me to a new lab. I was getting transferred.”

What were the odds that Orion’s father, of all people, would transfer Evan? Maybe Fate really had decided that it was time for Davey to stop hurting all the time. She’d given him his mate, and now, she was giving him Evan back.

Davey had been happy in his life, even recently, but he didn’t think he’d ever felt so light. His life had gone from being a disaster to this, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He had his mate and now Evan. As far as he was concerned, that was everyone he needed.

* * * *

Once Orion was sure that Davey and Evan wouldn’t fall on their faces, he took a step back. He wanted to give them space to reunite, and he had his own reunion to attend.

He turned to find Perseus striding toward them. He opened his arms, and Perseus didn’t hesitate to wrap himself around him and squeeze hard enough to cut off circulation in his torso.

“I still need to breathe,” Orion complained.

“You can breathe once I’m done hugging you,” Perseus said, but he did loosen his hold on Orion.

He didn’t let go, but that was fine with Orion. He was having a hard time letting go, too.

They clung to each other for a while, and Orion prayed they’d never be separated again. He’d known Perseus and Davey would come for him, but it hadn’t been easy. He hoped he’d never have to deal with his father again.

Moore cleared his throat. “I don’t want to bother any of you, but Orion, you said your father mentioned more hunters?”

“Yeah. He said they were coming.”

That made Moore smile, which wasn’t the reaction Orion had expected. “Maybe it’s time we address the hunter problem rather than focus on the labs. The two of you should go home, though. I don’t want you to have to kill people you know.”

Perseus rolled his eyes. “I wanted to kill all of them when I was a hunter, never mind now. We’ll be fine, although Orion should go home with Davey.” His gaze flickered on the van. “And whoever the man Davey is hugging the hell out of.”

“That’s Evan, Davey’s best friend.”

Moore blinked, visibly surprised. “You found Evan?”

“I didn’t exactly find him. He was already with my father.”

“I don’t think that’s how Davey will see it. If he didn’t love you already, he will now.”

Orion shuffled his feet. “I didn’t do anything.”

Moore squeezed his shoulder. “Not on purpose, but you were there for Evan.”

Teddy chose that moment to reappear. Moore hurried toward him, no doubt to tell him he’d have to go back to pick up the others. If they were going to fight the hunters, they would need more fighters. Orion didn’t want to be one of them, but he would be if he had to. He just wanted all of this to be over, and getting rid of the hunters would be the best way to do that.

Moore gestured at Orion and Perseus to come closer. When they did, he nodded toward Teddy. “Teddy will take both of you and Davey and Evan back to the village. More people are coming, so he can stay with you. None of you will have to return to fight.”

“What if I do want to fight?” Perseus asked. “Some of these hunters made my life hell. I wouldn’t mind kicking their ass.”

“Even if the hunters who made your life hell arrive, I don’t want you to have anything to do with them. You’re not a hunter anymore, Perseus.”

Perseus’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded. “Fine. I’ll go home with my mate.”

Moore turned to Orion. “That’s all right with you?”

“I can’t wait to get a good night’s sleep.” Orion grimaced. “Or a few hours, anyway.”

“Take the day off. No one will mind not having fresh doughnuts, especially after they find out about all of this. Besides, I’m sure you and Davey will want to spend some time with Evan. I’d be surprised if Davey allowed you out of his sight for the next few days.”

Orion grinned. “That’s good, because I don’t want to be away from him.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. Go get your mate.”

Orion left Teddy and Perseus and moved back toward the van. Davey and Evan were still standing there, but they weren’t hugging anymore. Orion didn’t fail to notice that they were still touching, though. Davey had wrapped his fingers around Evan’s wrist and was clinging to him as if he was afraid that if he didn’t, Evan would vanish. Considering that was pretty much what had happened all those years ago, it wasn’t a surprise. Orion wished his mate hadn’t had to go through all of this, but in the end, everything had worked out. Davey had Evan back, and Evan was safe. His road to recovery wouldn’t be easy, but it could finally start.

Orion cleared his throat, getting their attention. “We’re headed home.”

“What about the other hunters? You said they were coming?” Davey asked.

“They are, but Moore wants us away from the fight.”

Davey nodded and pulled Evan forward. Evan followed, but he seemed hesitant, and Orion wasn’t quite sure why he felt that way.

“Everything okay?” he asked. They weren’t friends, but considering what they’d been through together, Orion felt close to him. The fact that Evan was his mate’s best friend probably also helps.

“Where am I going to stay?” Evan asked.

“With me,” Davey declared. “I have an entire house to myself, and I want you there with me.”

It would take some time for the two of them to be comfortable with being away from each other, but that was fine. Orion liked Evan, and he wanted Davey to be happy. If that meant that Evan and Davey would be roommates for the time being or even the rest of their lives, Orion was perfectly happy with that.

Evan looked from Davey to Orion. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”

“I’m sure,” Davey said without looking at Orion.

When Evan glanced at him again, Orion nodded. “Let’s go home,” he said, holding out one hand to Davey.

Davey took it, then grabbed Evan’s hand and pulled him forward. It looked like, for the time being, Evan would be part of the relationship between Davey and Orion, but that was fine. Orion didn’t need Davey to be entirely focused on him. Besides, he wanted to help Evan, too. There was no way to know what had happened to him over the years, but it couldn’t be good, and Orion wanted to be there for him, even though he didn’t know him. No one should have to go through what he went through, and if they did, they shouldn’t have to heal without support. Orion would be around Evan so much that Evan would wish he wasn’t.

Orion pulled Davey and Evan toward Teddy. He was talking with Perseus, but both of them looked up when they got close. Orion grinned and gestured at Evan. “Guys, this is Evan, Davey’s best friend. Evan, this is my brother, Perseus, and his mate, Teddy. Teddy’s going to take us home.”

Evan looked overwhelmed, which was understandable. Still, he managed to nod, and when Teddy held out a hand, he didn’t hesitate to take it. Perseus grabbed Teddy’s other hand, so Orion squeezed Teddy’s shoulder and pulled Davey closer. It was a tight fit, but they wouldn’t have to stand like this for long.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, they were home in the village. Evan blinked and stepped away, but Davey didn’t let go of him. Orion suspected it would be a while before Davey could do that.

“We should get a healer for Evan,” he said.

Davey snapped his face toward Evan. “Why? Were you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” Evan muttered.

“You should get that bruise seen, anyway. Is there anything else?”

“He’s limping,” Orion explained.

Evan shot him a look of betrayal, but it made Orion smile. Evan didn’t seem angry, thankfully, and when Orion stepped closer, he leaned against him. It surprised Orion, considering how they’d met and the fact that Evan knew Orion had been a hunter, but maybe he trusted him.

“Why don’t you head to Davey’s place?” Teddy suggested. “Perseus and I will find Leon and send him your way. I could do it, but considering what I know about Evan’s situation, I’d feel more comfortable if someone who knows what they’re doing does this instead of me.”

“That would be for the best,” Davey agreed.

Orion looked down at Evan. “I can carry you home if you want. It’s not far, but I’m not sure how comfortable you are walking.”

Evan hesitated, then nodded quickly. He probably wasn’t used to people helping him and taking care of him, but that would change soon. Evan would have to deal with Davey’s protectiveness, and Orion wouldn’t be far behind. He might not know Evan well, but he was already part of his family, and family meant everything to Orion. Only his brother had been part of it before, but Orion had enough love for all of his new family members.

Including Evan.