The room was silent save for Jesse’s uneven breathing. The faint smell of antiseptic hung in the air from whatever Bryce had done to Jesse’s wound. Beneath that, the scent of a stranger—not pack—set Matt’s teeth on edge.
Jesse was practically vibrating with adrenaline. If Matt kept pushing, he’d only get more lies. He’d try a different tack. Not least because that corporate catered lunch had beenhoursago, and the scent of food had made its way in from the hallway until Matt wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into a juicy steak.
He’d get Jesse to let his guard down, to lose that snarky defiance he clearly used as a defense. Then, it would be easier to wrest the truth out of him.
“I’ve only just gotten in, and I need to eat,” he said casually. “You can join us for whatever Jason’s cooked up tonight before you go.”
He hoped Jesse would agree. Otherwise, he’d have to make him, and after a long and frustrating day dealing with shifter bureaucracy, he didn’t want to go to the effort.
“Think he’s doing steak and baked potatoes,” Bryce said. His voice was just as casual as Matt’s, but he knew what he was doing. “And cheesecake for dessert.”
Jesse’s stomach gurgled. They all pretended not to notice.
“Reckon I could stay just a while longer,” Jesse said, after due consideration, as if he were doing them a great favor.
“Do you want a shower before you get dressed?” Bryce asked.
“You sayin’ I need one?”
“Hell, yes,” Matt said, before he could stop himself.
To his surprise, Jesse suddenly grinned. Without the strain in his face, and with a smile like that, he was a goddamn heartbreaker.
Matt turned away.
“Ten minutes,” he said. “We eat in the kitchen. Bryce will show you.”
He left. If he stayed, he might just do whatever it took to see that smile again, and Matt didn’t get to want things like that anymore. Not when he still tasted blood in his dreams.
Chapter Two
JESSE
Jesse refused to get out of the bed until the man, Bryce, had given him a robe and left the room. He hadn’t missed that alpha’s comment about Bryce’s ulterior motives. For all he knew, these shifters were a bunch of perverts who’d kidnapped him for reasons he didn’t want to think about. He knew bad shit happened all too often to drifters because no one would miss them, and the way that alpha had looked at him… yeah, he had no intention of letting Jesse leave anytime soon, that was clear.
On the other hand, save for that red wolf jumping him, they hadn’t hurt him. Not yet. But Jesse had learned long ago that kindness was just a prelude to control. His wound throbbed, and an antiseptic smell clung to the air, too clean, too clinical—like they were preparing him for something.
There wasn’t much in the room to give away what this place was. The twin bed he’d been in had a blue comforter, there was a wooden dresser with empty drawers, and a bedside cabinet with alamp on it. A lamp with a tasseled pink shade. Not exactly the kind of interior design he’d expect from an alpha dressed all in black. An alpha who’d looked set on tearing him apart.
He froze at a knock on the bedroom door, his heart rate ratcheting up when nothing more happened. The knock came again.
“Yeah?” He had to clear his throat and repeat the word because it came out a bit squeaky.
The door opened to reveal Bryce carrying Jesse’s stuffed duffel and his boots. “Figured you’d want something to wear after your shower,” Bryce said, placing them on the carpet.
Well, yeah. But Jesse got the feeling Bryce had said it just for something to say. He was looking at Jesse, eyebrows raised. “Is that okay?”
“Sure,” Jesse said with a shrug. He didn’t know what Bryce was trying to do.
Bryce came further into the room, and Jesse stepped abruptly backwards, heart thudding. He’d been right. Strangers were a threat.Everyonewas a threat.
“Just checking you’ve got body wash and a towel,” Bryce said on his way past, opening the door to what was evidently a bathroom. “You’re good, so long as you don’t mind smelling like jasmine. I think Tristan’s girlfriend left it behind.”
He turned to look at Jesse, a sympathetic grimace on his face. “I don’t know if I can actually call her his girlfriend, seeing as they only had three dates, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
Bryce sure talked a lot. About nothing much, as far as Jesse could tell.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” Bryce said.
