“True. I hope he’s actually checking into dirty-cop theory like he said he would.”
 
 He frowned. “Why wouldn’t he?”
 
 I shrugged. “He probably didn’t believe it was true, and if he doesn’t think it’s true, it must not be true.”
 
 “God, how can you guys stand living with an alpha like him in control?” he grumbled. “If I lived here, I’d probably punch him in the face.”
 
 I laughed. “He means well.”
 
 “So you say.”
 
 “Anyway, I’ll be sorry to see you go.” I hadn’t actually planned on saying that, but it slipped out. “I mean, I know you have to go.”
 
 “Yeah.” He slid the eggs onto the plate just as the toaster popped.
 
 I buttered his toast and carried it to where he’d taken a seat at the kitchen table. I sat across from him, folding my arms. He dug into his food as if he was starving, and I smiled. I’d never seen anyone’s appetite recover so quickly after the flu.
 
 “Are your parents still alive?” I asked.
 
 His fork froze midway between the plate and his mouth. But then he shoved the eggs into his mouth and shook his head. “No.”
 
 “So no parents, and your brother is gone?” I frowned. “I’m sorry.”
 
 “You’re in the same boat.” He sounded offhand, as if he didn’t want my sympathy.
 
 “I guess I am.”
 
 He mopped up the yolk on his plate with the toast, and once he’d inhaled that too, he stood and went to rinse his plate. I kind of got the feeling he did that on purpose to stop me asking questions. He really didn’t seem to enjoy talking about himself. I found that odd, seeing as alphas usually loved to brag about themselves.
 
 Once his plate was rinsed, he faced me, looking uncertain. “I don’t mean to cramp your style. If there’s something you need to do, feel free. You don’t have to babysit me.”
 
 “It’s my day off. I don’t have anything to do.”
 
 He nodded, his blue eyes enigmatic.
 
 “Do you feel up to taking a walk?” I asked.
 
 He frowned. “Am I allowed to walk around?”
 
 “We can keep to the public areas.” I smiled weakly. “Sorry. I know this is all really annoying to you.”
 
 “For now, I’m on Charles’s turf. I have to do what he says.” His lips twisted, and he had a funny look. “God save him when he’s on my turf though.”
 
 A chill shivered through me at his malicious tone. “What?” I laughed.
 
 He forced a smile. “Oh, I just have fantasies of making him as miserable as he’s made me.”
 
 “Ahhh.” I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “So, would you want to go for a walk? Get some fresh air?”
 
 “Sure. Sounds great.”
 
 “We have a clothing store here. We could stop there and grab a few essentials like underwear, or shirts?”
 
 Looking down at his body, he laughed. “I guess we can’t raid your neighbor’s closet again?”
 
 I smiled. “We could try.”
 
 He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I won’t be here long enough to need anything.”