“We’re about to find that out, too.”Matthew turned fully toward Evan.“Hell, maybe you should go home.You’ve had a bit to drink.”
Evan glared.“I’m not drunk.I’m just happy.”
Happiness was something Evan hadn’t had for a long time.If he wanted to get drunk on beer for one evening, Matthew wasn’t going to say anything.Hansen was keeping an eye on his mate, anyway.He’d put a stop to it if things got out of hand.
“Hi,” Franklin said as he came to a stand next to their table.
“Why don’t you sit with us?”Matthew offered.“Unless you were looking for someone?”
Franklin shook his head and hesitantly took one of the empty chairs.“I just wanted out of the house for a bit.”
“Oh, I get that.I love that I have a place to call home now, but sometimes, it’s too big and empty.”
Matthew kind of wished the village had apartment buildings.He loved the little house he’d been given, but sometimes, it was way too big for him.He wished he could find a way to fill it, but he didn’t think he could have a relationship right now.Too much was still happening.
They might have closed many labs and saved a lot of people, but they weren’t done yet.There were more labs and hunters, and until Matthew felt he was completely safe, he didn’t think he’d be able to relax and trust someone enough to have a relationship with them.It might have been different if he’d fallen in love with a fellow mutant or if he’d met his mate, but so far, he hadn’t done either of those things.He doubted he’d fall for a mutant anytime soon, either.He knew everyone who lived in the village, and he considered the ones he was closest to like family.He’d never wanted anything romantic with any of them.That wouldn’t change, which left him meeting his mate, but how was he supposed to do that?He was always either at the village training or out there raiding labs.
He glanced at Hansen and Evan, who were leaning close to each other.Hansen was checking in on Evan and pushing a glass of water in his direction.
Maybe Matthew still had a chance of meeting his mate.Evan had been in a lab before they found him and brought him to the village.He wasn’t the only one, either.Matthew couldn’t say that was his dream when it came to meeting his mate, but it meant he still had a chance.He wasn’t drawn to anyone in the village, but he didn’t have to be if he met people through the labs.
“Living here has been an experience,” Franklin said softly.
Matthew frowned.“Has anyone given you any trouble?”
Franklin shook his head.“Not trouble, exactly.Everyone just keeps their distance, which is fine.I don’t expect anyone to be comfortable with my presence here, but it gets a bit lonely.”
“Well, a lot of the people in the tribe have spent time in labs.They know you were working there as a guard.”
“Only because of my siblings.”
Matthew nodded in agreement.“I know that, you know that, and everyone knows that, really, but it doesn’t make it any easier.Most of us have been through too much to be fully comfortable with it.”
“I know, and I understand.It’s why I’m doing this.I don’t want my siblings to have to live through what some of the people here have lived through.”Franklin glanced down at the table.“I’ve seen things while I worked in that lab.I wanted to help, but I knew that if I did, I’d lose any chance I had of finding my siblings.I know what some people have lived through, though.I’ll always blame myself for not doing more, especially since I haven’t even found my brother or my sister yet.”
Matthew wanted to tell him that he would, but how could he?He couldn’t make promises.No one could.None of them knew what would happen or if Franklin would be able to find his brother and sister.No one even knew if they were still alive.
For Franklin’s sake, Matthew hoped they were.For their sake, he wasn’t sure.It all depended on what they’d been put through while they were in the labs.
Matthew had been one of the lucky ones.He’d been tortured and hurt, but in the end, he’d say it had been worth it.It had left him with an ability he could use to help and defend people.He’d seen many of his fellow prisoners die, though.He’d seen what had happened to them before they did.Sometimes, death was more welcome than life.
And easier to deal with.
* * * *
ALAN ONLY REALIZEDhow late it was when his head started hurting.He blinked at his computer screen, his vision a little blurry.His phone was on his desk, so he glanced at it, surprised to see it was almost nine in the evening.
He’d lost himself in his work again.It happened often, but he didn’t think he’d ever stayed at the office so late.Victor was going to be angry if he found him there.He always told Alan to take it easy and to go home to rest, yet here Alan was, about to fall asleep on his desk.
He groaned and saved what he’d been working on.He could finish it in the morning.That was, if he managed to wake up tomorrow morning.It was late, and it would be even later by the time he got home.Then, he was supposed to shower and eat dinner.He didn’t know what time he’d go to bed, but it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
Sometimes, he wished he had an easier job, but he loved working for Victor.The man was a shifter and an activist.He’d been campaigning for new laws to protect people—shifters and other supernatural beings, and even though Alan was as human as they came, he was proud to say he worked for the man.
He was less proud to say he worked so much that he didn’t have a social life, but he’d have time to get one later.For now, his job as Victor’s assistant took most of his time.If he wasn’t at work, he was thinking about work, and he liked things that way.He liked feeling like he was doing what he could to help people.
He turned off his computer and got to his feet.Since it would take him a while to get home, he decided to use the bathroom before leaving the office.He turned off the light in the office and grabbed his things, then headed to the bathroom.There, he splashed his face with cold water, hoping it would make the headache fade.Even if it only lasted an hour, he’d be grateful for it.
He was thinking about dinner as he left the bathroom.That was why it took him a moment to see that there was a light on in Victor’s office.It had been off earlier.Alan frowned, wondering who it was.Maybe someone from the cleaning crew?
