Haven 1: Caution: Contents Under Pressure by Gabrielle Evans Read Free Book Online Page B

Kendall. “What do I do?”
    “I can’t decide that for you. I will say this, though. You have a real shot at being happy. No one can force you. It’s something you have to want.” He rose to his feet and crossed the room to wrap Jory up in a gentle hug. “Do you want it bad enough?” He did. He wanted it more than anything, and he wanted it with Stavion. “What happens when he finds out what I am? I mean, I have to tell him, right?”
    Kendall released him and cupped his cheeks in both hands. “Yes, you have to tell him, and the sooner the better, my friend.”
    “What if he hates me?”
    Kendall smiled and kissed his forehead. “He won’t hate you. Just tell him.”
    Jory didn’t think it would be that easy. Kendall, Galen, and Aslan were the only ones who knew his secret, just as he was the only one who knew theirs. They hadn’t even confided in Willow.
    “Hey, it’s going to be fine.” Kendall released his face and took a step back. “I hope one day I find my mate and can be happy. We so deserve it after the shit we’ve been through.”
    “We do deserve it. You more than anyone.” He loved Kendall like a brother and hoped he would find his happy-ever-after. “I’m going to try to sleep. Do you know when everyone is supposed to be back?”
    Kendall shook his head. “Cassius said they’d be back by the end of the week. He didn’t give an exact date, though. I have his number if you want to call and talk to Stavion.”
    Jory shook his head. While he wanted his mate home, he still had some thinking to do and some courage to find. “Thanks for cheering me up. I’ll talk to you later, okay?” He waited for Kendall to exit the room before moving back to his bed. He ate quickly to appease his snarling stomach but didn’t really even taste the cooling food. Then he sat his tray outside his door for the staff to pick up. After stripping out of his clothes, he crawled into bed and snuggled under the blankets.
    He wanted Stavion home, but part of him hoped he had a few more days to figure out what to do.

    * * * *
    “Damn, it’s good to be home.”
    Stavion smiled and slapped Demos on the shoulder. He couldn’t agree more. The wedding had been nice. He enjoyed talking to his friends. While Malakai hadn’t worked everything out with his new mates, he’d agreed to stay and give them a chance. Stavion couldn’t be happier.
    He’d missed Jory, though. Maybe the time away had allowed Jory to process and think about his new life and what he wanted from his future. Maybe he’d even missed Stavion…just a little.
    “Go check on Jory.” Varik chuckled as he walked up behind them. “I know you want to, man.”
    Stavion grinned. “Yeah, I do.” Jory was probably sleeping, but he needed to see his mate and make sure he was safe.
    Hurrying through the hallways, he traveled the same path he’d taken a hundred times since the night he’d met Jory. Sometimes in the beginning, he’d find himself just pacing up and down the hallway in front of Jory’s door, just happy to be that close to his mate without the man jumping out of his skin. How damn pathetic was he?
    He lifted his hand to knock, but a loud cry had him barging into the room, crouched low and prepared for an attack. There was no one there, though. An amber glow filled the room from the small bedside lamp, but the corners remained dark. Rising from his defense stance, Stavion darted his eyes about the room and lifted his head to sniff at the air.
    He caught a lingering trace of Kendall’s scent, a smell he was becoming very familiar with. The only other scent in the room was Jory’s, and it made Stavion want to purr. His cock twitched in interest, the gums around his canines itched as his fangs threatened to elongate. He held them back by sheer will. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten his mate.
    Once he was satisfied that they were alone in the room and there was no threat, his eyes focused on the bed. Jory whipped his head back and