Page 4 of Hansen (Mutants #7)

Davey had explained to Evan that by the time he’d managed to escape the lab, it had been too late for him.

He’d already been altered in a way that would never change.

Evan suspected the same went for him, but he’d decided not to think about it, and that was what he was doing.

He’d have plenty of time later. Right now, he wanted to focus on settling down, spending time with Davey, and talking to his family.

Davey had been vague yesterday when Evan had asked about them, so Evan would need answers.

He understood that all of this was as much of a shock for Davey as it had been for him.

They both needed a little time to wrap their mind around everything.

“What he needs is time,”

Davey declared. “He can stay with Orion and me for as long as he needs.”

“Of course,”

Rikar said with a nod. “And if any of you need anything, you know where to find me.”

Evan did because Rikar was the leader and had made sure to explain which house was his, so Evan would know.

Evan was relieved when the two finally left. Davey and Orion walked them to the front door, but Evan stayed where he was. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch, taking a deep breath, then another.

Everything was weird. He kept expecting to wake up and find himself in his cage back in the lab. It wouldn’t be the first time he dreamed of being rescued, but it was the only time he’d actually been rescued. He wasn’t in the lab anymore, and he was never going back.

He’d rather die.

He didn’t know how long it would take him to feel better about this entire situation, but he couldn’t wait.

He wanted to leave the labs behind.

He wanted to start living the life he’d been missing out on for so long.

Davey hadn’t told him how long yet—he was probably scared that Evan would freak out when he found out—but he’d confirmed it had been a long time.

For now, Evan would stay with Davey and Orion in the village.

Part of him wondered if he truly belonged here.

From what Moore and Rikar had explained, this tribe was full of people who’d been rescued from labs, but even though Evan should feel like he was home, he wasn’t sure he was.

He didn’t want to leave Davey so soon after finally finding him again, though. He just didn’t know if this was where he should settle down.

The problem was that the thought of going home terrified him.

That was where he’d been taken, so what was to say that he wouldn’t be taken again? The village was a safe place.

It was protected, and no hunter would come anywhere near Evan as long as he was here.

Maybe he should stay.

And maybe he should stop obsessing over his future and give himself time to breathe.

“How are you doing?”

Orion asked.

Evan opened his eyes to find him leaning against the doorframe, his massive arms crossed over his chest. Orion’s expression was gentle, as if he were afraid that Evan would break into pieces if he pushed.

Considering how Evan felt, he just might.

“I’m fine,”

he reassured Orion.

“Physically, sure. What about everything else?”

“I don’t know how to answer that.”

Orion nodded. “I get it.”

“I don’t know if anyone can get it.”

“Well, Davey spent time in a lab, too. Every mutant who lives in the village has.”

It was sad to think that the hunters and the doctors they worked with had hurt enough people to fill a village. “It’s not the same.”

“I agree. No two experiences are the same, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find common ground.”

“I just need time.”

“And you have it. You have as much time as you need and want.”

That was the one thing that made Evan feel better. He might not know where he belonged or where to start, but he knew that he’d always have a safe space with Davey. He didn’t have to rush into anything because Davey was there for him. Orion, too, and apparently, an entire village full of people.

Someone knocked on the door. Evan groaned, hoping that whoever was there wasn’t here for him. He’d already met Rikar and Moore. Who else did he have to meet? The local sheriff? Did the village even have a sheriff or a figure of authority who wasn’t one of the two men Evan had already talked to?

“You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to,”

Orion said. “Besides, I don’t think that this person is here for you.”

“I sure hope not. I don’t know anyone in the village.”

“No, but people will be curious about you. Word about what happened yesterday with the hunters has gone out.”

“I wasn’t there, so I don’t know anything.”

“You know that’s not going to stop them.”

Orion looked behind himself. “But like I said, Hansen isn’t here for you.”

Evan tried to place the name, but he couldn’t. “I don’t know who that is.”

“A close friend of Davey. He’s a mutant, too.”

A shiver slid down Evan’s spine. Was he a mutant, too? There was a good chance that he was, but that was a problem for the Evan of tomorrow. “I’m glad to know that Davey wasn’t alone all this time. He has the tendency of isolating himself when he feels guilty.”

And there was no way Davey hadn’t felt guilty about not being able to help Evan.

“He does. He’s in a good place right now, though, especially with you back in his life.”

Evan got to his feet and stretched. He was glad that Davey had friends, but right now, Evan’s best friend was the pillow he’d used last night. “I’m going to go upstairs.”

“Do you want me to call you when dinner is ready?”

“That would be great.”

Orion patted Evan’s shoulder as Evan walked past him. The casual movement startled Evan. It had been so long since anyone had touched him like that—easily, friendly, with no painful purpose. That was something else he’d need time to get used to again.

He stepped into the entrance and smiled at Davey, who was talking to a man Evan vaguely remembered seeing yesterday. The man’s blond hair was cut short, and his brown eyes were warm as they stopped on Evan. The man smiled, and Evan grinned back at the sight of his canines. They were pronounced, almost like a vampire’s. It shouldn’t be adorable, but it was, and Evan had to resist the urge to poke at one of them.

“I’m going upstairs to take a nap,”

he told Davey.

“Of course. Let me know if you need anything.”

Evan moved to walk past the two, only to freeze when a scent he’d never smelled before reached his nose.

His wolf howled in the back of his head. It was happy because they’d found their mate, but Evan didn’t know how to react.

So, of course, he panicked.

HANSEN COULD TELL THE moment everything went wrong. This wasn’t what he’d planned, but then, he hadn’t really planned anything, had he? He’d been dying to know how Evan was doing, and instead of calling Davey to check in on both of them, he’d decided to show up at Davey’s house. He’d hoped to get a glimpse of his mate, and he had.

He hadn’t expected his mate to come anywhere near him, though, which was where the problem started.

Evan’s eyes widened, and he stumbled back, hitting the railing. He paled so quickly that Hansen expected him to faint, but when Davey reached for Evan, Evan slapped his hand away, shocking all three of them. Evan sucked in a breath, then stopped breathing entirely as he continued staring at Hansen.

“What’s going on?”

Davey asked, panic coloring his words.

Hansen wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Should he tell Davey that he was Evan’s mate? It didn’t matter that Evan was panicking at the thought of meeting him. Hansen wasn’t offended, nor did he believe that it meant that things between them couldn’t work. He’d wanted to give Evan time for a reason.

He’d messed up.

He should’ve stayed away, but it was too late for that. Hansen needed to act, and while he should probably think instead of doing what his instincts were pushing him to do, he didn’t resist.

Evan wasn’t breathing. Davey was panicking. Hansen had no idea what Orion was doing, but right now, he didn’t care.

When he reached for Evan, Evan didn’t push him away. He allowed Hansen to pull him into his arms and hold him close. Hansen tucked Evan’s face against his own neck, hoping that his scent would calm down his mate enough for him to breathe. It might not be the best idea since Evan had started panicking when he’d realized that Hansen was his mate, but Hansen couldn’t think of anything else.

He finally felt Evan suck in a deep breath. He allowed his shoulders to slump and held Evan more tightly against his chest, knowing he couldn’t let go of his mate until Evan told him he was ready for it. Thankfully, Davey didn’t interrupt. He was watching them with wide eyes. His mouth was slightly open, and his skin was almost as pale as Evan’s.

Hansen rubbed his hand up and down Evan’s back. It was good to feel his mate breathe. It was good that everyone was relaxing and that Evan wouldn’t be running out of here screaming.

“Do I want to know what’s going on?”

Orion asked.

Hansen blinked at him. Orion was standing next to Davey, but Hansen hadn’t noticed him come closer. He was too distracted by Evan.

“I want to know,”

Davey said. Now that he could see that Evan would be okay, he appeared worried rather than shocked.

“We’ll explain,”

Hansen promised. “Just give him time.”

“Time for what? Why did seeing you send my best friend into a panic? What did you do?”

“He didn’t do anything,”

Evan muttered, his face still pressed against Hansen’s neck.

“It doesn’t look like it to me. What’s going on?”

Evan sighed so heavily that Hansen felt his chest move. Evan leaned away, and even though Hansen didn’t want to, he had to let him go. Thankfully, Evan didn’t go far. He just turned into Hansen’s arms so he could look at his best friend. Hansen took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Evan’s waist. He didn’t miss the way Orion’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead or the fact that Davey looked like he wanted to shake him.

“Hansen’s my mate,”

Evan said, going straight to the point.

For a few seconds, nothing happened. Orion and Davey stared while Hansen wondered if Davey would be angry.

Hansen didn’t know why Davey should be, but he was protective of Evan. Maybe he didn’t think that Hansen was good enough for his best friend. If that was the case, Hansen would show him that he was wrong.

“I don’t know what to say,”

Davey eventually said.

Evan snorted. “How about congratulations? How about I’m happy for you?”

“Well, of course I’m happy for you. I just didn’t expect it.”

“You think I did? I spent years in a cage. The last thing I expected was to meet my mate as soon as I stepped out of it.”

He turned his head to look at Hansen. “It’s a lot.”

Hansen couldn’t help but smile. Even though Evan sounded confused, he wanted Davey to congratulate him. That had to mean that he was happy, right? “I know. I realized yesterday, but I wasn’t sure what to do.”

“You didn’t tell me.”

“Considering everything that was happening and the fact that more hunters were coming, I thought it would be better to give you space.”

“I want to argue that, but I’m pretty sure that finding my mate would’ve been the thing that drove me to the edge. You were right not to talk to me right away, but I can still feel disappointed.”

“You can feel disappointed by whatever you want. I’m sorry if I overstepped, but I’d do it again if it meant keeping you safe and happy.”

Hansen wasn’t kidding. He wanted Evan to be happy, even if they were never together.

He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

“Well, congratulations,”

Orion said as he put a hand on Davey’s shoulder. “You two have things to talk about, so Davey and I will head to the kitchen to get started on dinner. Yell if you need anything, all right?”

“You can’t force me to leave,”

Davey grumbled, but he allowed Orion to turn him in the direction of the kitchen.

“I’m not forcing you to do anything.”

Orion grinned at Hansen. “I’m assuming you’ll stay for dinner?”

Hansen didn’t know. He wanted to stay, and not only because of Evan. He wanted to spend time with Davey. What if Evan didn’t want him here, though? He seemed more relaxed now, and he was still in Hansen’s arms, but he might change his mind after they talked.

“He’ll stay,”

Evan confirmed.

“Good. We’ll see you two later. Evan, you can use the living room if you don’t want Hansen in your bedroom.”

Evan waited until Orion and Davey were gone—although Hansen could still hear Davey grumbling—to step out of Hansen’s arms and turn to face him. Hansen let him go, even though he didn’t want to.

“I don’t want you to get offended, but I’d like to do this in the living room.”

“I’m not offended.”

“Good.”

Evan rubbed his face with a hand. “I’m not gonna lie. This is a lot.”

“I know, and we can take this as slowly as you need. My main goal here is to keep you happy and safe.”

“Considering what happened to me over the past few years, it’s hard to believe I can be either of those things.”

Hansen knew how that felt. He followed Evan into the living room and made sure not to sit too close to him. He and Evan might have been through something similar, but Hansen had been out for longer. He remembered how life was right after he’d regained his freedom, and he wanted Evan to feel that he was in control.

Evan was in control.

“I don’t know anything about you,”

Evan started.

“We’ll get to know each other over time.”

“But you’re like Davey, right?”

Hansen wasn’t sure what he meant. “You mean that I’m a mutant?”

Evan grimaced. “I don’t know if I like that word.”

“It takes a bit to get used to, but it’s what we are. We mutated into something different, something that’s not quite human and not quite shifter. Yes, I’m like Davey. I have a cloaking ability that means that I can hide in plain sight.”

Evan hesitated. Hansen desperately wanted to know what was on his mind, but he wasn’t about to push.

“What do you think I would be able to do if I were a mutant?”

Hansen’s stomach dropped. “You think you’re a mutant?”

Evan’s eyes were wide when he looked at Hansen. “I think it’s a possibility. I don’t know how to feel about it. I barely even remember who I was before the labs. How am I supposed to deal with the knowledge that they changed me so much that I now have abilities no one else has?”

Even though he didn’t know how Evan would react, Hansen reached out to take his hand. He was relieved when Evan didn’t push him away. “Whatever you are now, we’ll deal with it. You won’t find a better group of people to help you through this. We know how it feels. We understand.”

“Plus, you’re my mate,”

Evan said with a tearful smile.

“I’d support you through this even if you weren’t, but yes. You’re my mate, and that matters to me.”

“It matters to me, too.”