and I found Shoeshine wandering around. Just like you.”
“Just don’t put a leash on me.” Shane smiled.
“I also know you’re not supposed to leave Alejandro’s bedroom.” Elijah entered the kitchen.
Shane was impressed. He’d never seen a kitchen this big, modern, and decorated so nicely.
“I was hungry,” Shane lied.
“So you decided to carry your shoes with you?” Elijah went to the cupboard and came back with two breakfast bars. “So, Shane. Be honest with me. Were you in on the sale of preternatural creatures?”
The guy didn’t kid around. He went straight for the throat. Shane sat at the large table and sighed. “No, and I keep telling Alejandro that, but he doesn’t believe me.”
Shane explained the whole situation, of how he’d ended up at the cannery and how he had nothing to do with anything that had been going on there.
“I believe you.” Elijah sat down with him. “You don’t have a grimy look about you.”
“Gee, thanks.” Shane ripped open the wrapper and took a bite. It was good, and he hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he started chewing.
“Then again, I’m more trusting than the other wolves,” Elijah said. “I tend to try and find the good in people. Whereas Alejandro only sees everyone as a suspect. I would say it was his military training as a sniper, but he’s been like that for as far back as I can remember.”
Great. Shane was dealing with a damn sniper. No wonder Alejandro had a closet filled with weapons. Shane just prayed he was never in Alejandro’s crosshairs.
“Just give him time,” Elijah said. “Let him get to know you so he can trust you.”
Shane didn’t plan on sticking around long enough, but he’d already broken what little trust Alejandro had for him by sneaking away. That was if Alejandro had any trust toward him at all.
He started to ask Elijah where Alejandro’s bedroom was, but the hairs on Shane’s nape stood on end. He slowly turned and found Alejandro standing in the doorway, and god he looked sexy with nothing but jeans and tight T-shirt on.
The guy even had sexy feet.
“We were hungry,” Elijah said. “I like Shane. He seems like a nice guy.”
Alejandro didn’t say a word. He simply studied Shane with narrowed eyes.
“Well, that’s my cue to take Shoeshine outside. Don’t kill each other. Rosa will have a fit if you mess up her kitchen.”
Shane wanted to beg Elijah not to leave but kept his mouth shut. The look on Alejandro’s face said he wouldn’t believe anything Shane had to say.
“Bedroom, now.” Alejandro turned but looked over his shoulder. “Bring your sneakers.”
Busted.
Angry that he was being treated like a prisoner, Shane chewed the rest of the breakfast bar as he followed Alejandro from the kitchen.
* * * *
After watching Shane sleep for a little while last night, Alejandro had decided to give his mate the benefit of the doubt. But now, seeing Shane with his shoes, knowing full well that he’d tried to run away, Alejandro wasn’t sure what to think.
His mate just kept looking more and more guilty, and Alejandro couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to trust the enemy.
“Why were you trying to run?” he asked when they reached his room.
“Why?” Shane spun, giving Alejandro a scathing look. “I’m tired of trying to convince you that I had nothing to do with that fucked-up situation. You basically kidnapped me and are forcing me to stay here. I haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t deserve to be treated like a prisoner.”
“And maybe you should try seeing things from my point of view,” Alejandro shot back. “Those were my kind in those jail cells. My kind being sold or killed, and I find you there with everyone else. A brother to one of the criminals. Would you trust me if the shoe were on the other foot?”
“I…” Shane curled his lips in. “I guess we’re both suspicious of the other person. I don’t know what to say or do to change either of our minds. You think I was in cahoots with those deranged men, and I think you’re going to kill me the first time I truly piss you off.”
Alejandro took a step back. He was shocked at how much that statement hurt. He was pissed, sure. It had gutted him seeing those men and women locked away, abused, with no hope in their eyes.
But he hadn’t given Shane any indication that he would harm him. He would never harm his own mate.
“You’ve got an