Page 24
“And what about family? Isn’t it a bit unusual for omegas to do anything alone, especially move across country?”
Doc wrinkled his nose, and his eyes welled. Oh fuck, he’d put his foot in it again.
“I’m sorry,” Royce said. “It seems that’s something we have in common.”
Doc glared at him. “I have nothing in common with an alpha.”
“I’m sorry, I really am,” Royce said in earnest. “About your family, whatever happened to make you start running, about bringing you here. I just want to make you safe, and I don’t know how to do that when you won’t tell me what it is that’s hunting you.”
Chapter thirteen
Theodore
Theodore listened to the alpha’s words. They seemed genuine on the surface, but appearances were deceiving.
Now that he paused to consider the alpha, he noted he was a handsome man. The bitter part of Theodore thought that made him less trustworthy.
“Like I said last night,” Royce said. “I don’t want you to feel like a prisoner here, Doc. I know what I did took away your choice in all this … but just because I haven’t been able to properly scent you doesn’t mean my protectiveness hasn’t kicked into high gear.”
Royce set his bowl down, then ran a hand over his face. “What if, what if I drive you around town? Have you gotten a proper tour of Elk Cove yet? I can take you to the bakery. We could get some groceries to make dinner of your choosing. We could even get lunch out.”
Royce was talking as if the two of them had already bonded, as if they’d known each other for years. Theodore didn’t like that. Just because he smelled good to some alpha’s inner animal didn’t mean they could kidnap him and it would all magically work out through the power of rainbows, pixie dust, and unicorn farts.
However … could Theodore use this offer to his advantage? If he said yes and let the imbecile drive him around like a little prize princess, perhaps he would let his guard down enough for Theodore to escape tonight?
On the other hand, Theodore didn’t want to risk so much exposure in the town. He had to think of a better compromise. Something to placate the alpha that allowed Theodore to remain unseen.
“No,” Theodore said. “I’m tired, and as I mentioned last night, I haven’t been feeling well.”
“Do you need me to call a doctor? My neighbor is a nurse.”
“No!” Theodore almost knocked the oatmeal to the floor in his panic. “No, I’m fine. I-I don’t like hospitals. But, if you’d like, I can make a list of things from the store, for dinner.”
Theodore added in that last part on a whim. Alphas were predictable when they found their mates; they wanted to be the big bad providers. Sending Royce on a side quest would keep the stupid dog happy and entertained. Maybe this new plan was better …
As expected, Royce’s face lit up, and he sat up straighter at the mention of the side quest. Theodore internally rolled his eyes. Escaping this moron might be easier than he’d anticipated.
“I can do that.”
After picking at the oatmeal more, Theodore gave up and got up to go downstairs. It wasn’t that the breakfast was bad, his stomach was now in a constant cramp, and his appetite went from minuscule to nonexistent.
Walking through the alpha’s house, with him hot on Theodore’s heels, it was hard not to feel like an animal in a zoo. It was exposed and uncomfortable. That is until he walked into the kitchen, opened the empty fridge, then the freezer, and his mouth fell open. He was too flabbergasted to be uncomfortable.
“Do you eat anything other than meat?”
Royce grumbled unintelligibly, then said, “I really do know how to cook. Why should I do anything other than the basics when it’s just me?”
Theodore thought if he’d heard anyone else utter that sentence, he would feel bad for them. But since it was an obnoxious bore who’d kidnapped him, Theodore decided he didn’t care. In fact, he was a bit smug at this new discovery.
Perhaps the dog’s simple-minded love of eating animal flesh would drive a large enough wedge between them that he’d leave Theodore the heck alone and not go looking when he bolted.
Then again, perhaps not. Alphas were idiots.
Theodore made a quick list of basic items for soup. He didn’t pay much attention to it; he just wanted the alpha out of the condo so he could skedaddle.
“The bakery is by the grocery store,” Royce said. Of course it was by the grocery store, the whole town could fit on a darn coin. “I know the owner. I can stop by and get you anything you’d like, or request for them to make you something for me to pick up tomorrow.”
“Sure. I like any pastry without eggs or dairy.” Theodore smirked to himself. Most bakeries had zilch in the egg-free, dairy-free department. Those two ingredients tended to be important when making pastries.
