Page 57 of Evan and the Alpha

I grunt in reply.

Scott sighs, then folds his arms. “Listen, you gotta understand, this is a little weird for us.”

I don’t know what his point is. What does how they feel about it have anything to do with me or Evan?

“So, uh, you’re gonna have to give us a bit,” he says.

I squint, trying to discern the hidden messages in his expression. It’s no use; I can’t decipher them, even though I know Scott means more than he’s saying.

He offers me a disingenuous smile, with all his bright, straight, blunt teeth, and claps me on the shoulder. “Okay?”

Fear. I can smell it on him plain as day. Scott is afraid of me. Why? I haven’t done anything to him.

Perhaps my reputation as a warrior precedes me. But then, Scott should be proud, pleased, that I am his brother’s mate.

I wonder, then, what Scott has to hide. If he has nothing to hide, why be afraid? I can’t fathom it.

The doors of the med bay slide open, and Evan steps into the hall. “Hey,” Scott says, too cheerfully for my liking, “how’d that go?”

Evan rolls his eyes. “Passed with flying colors,” he snorts. “First time I’ve ever passed anything.”

“Aw, c’mon.” Scott lands a hand on Evan’s shoulder, and Evan almost flinches. “It’s not the first time. Maybe the second.”

Evan gives him a dark look but says nothing. Instead, he just shakes him off and stalks up to me. I glance him over. Despite all the strange things Min did, Evan seems just fine.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, because it seems like a smart thing to ask.

Evan looks surprised for half a second. Then he wilts a bit. “Yeah, a little.”

I nod, then land a hand on his shoulder, intent on taking him into one of the town squares to find a vendor—and away from Scott.