He knew he had a lot of adjusting to do. After so many years of behaving a certain way for survival’s sake, Kade knew he wouldn’t change overnight. “I’m trying.” He gave a part of the truth that he was most comfortable with.
Cody leaned his arms on the counter, looking Kade square in his eyes. “Let me know if there is anything you need.”
Rubbing his hands down the front of his jeans, Kade cleared his throat. “As a matter of fact, I was wondering if Maverick was still giving out those loans.”
Cody smiled and tapped his fist on the counter. “I know for sure he would give you one. Do you want me to call him?”
Kade gave a nod, glancing over his shoulder to see who was at his back. There was an elderly couple sitting in one of the booths, but other than the two, no one was in the diner. He turned back around, feeling edgy.
Ever since he got out, Kade hadn’t let his leopard run free. It had been fifteen years since he had been able to shift. He knew he had to let it out soon or his leopard was going to make himself appear. It had been pure torture holding him in for so long.
Maybe when he was done here he would take a run in the woods that lined the town. His skin began to tighten at the thought, making Kade start to sweat.
“I’ll call him now.”
Taking a drink of his coffee, Kade glanced at the elderly couple once more. He couldn’t help it. Anyone—no matter their age—was viewed as a threat.
No, that wasn’t right. He needed to stop thinking that way. Kade set the cup down and ran his hands over his hair, telling himself he wasn’t in Casing Prison any longer.
He was free. The old couple posed no threat.
“Maverick’s beta wants to see you,” Cody said as he walked back toward Kade.
“I don’t have a way out there,” he said, his heart feeling too big for his chest. He knew that he needed to see the alpha, but Kade wasn’t sure why the beta wanted to see him. Kade had met Kota a few times, but they had never really talked.
“That’s not a problem,” Cody said as his brows dipped, watching Kade with concern. “He’s coming here.”
Kade needed to pull himself together. One day in town and I’m losing it. What hit him as strange was that he was extremely calm around Keaton. He hadn’t felt like a caged animal. But sitting here, Kade felt as if he needed to escape, to get away from everyone. His pants began to feel confining, his shirt itchy.
Kade still wasn’t used to wearing street clothes. He walked around Bishop’s in pajama bottoms because he was used to loose clothing. Brushing those thoughts aside, Kade began to drink the coffee Cody had given him until he heard the loud sound of a truck parking outside.
Kade forced himself to relax. He hadn’t done anything wrong so there was no need to worry about the beta coming to see him. His insides settled as he turned, watching Kota enter the diner.
The last time Kade had seen the man, his hair had been down to his waist. It was now cut to his shoulders in a stylish manner. Standing, Kade followed Kota to one of the booths and slipped in, wondering again what the beta wanted.
“Now,” Kota began. “We need to talk.”
Chapter Three
Keaton put the unused fruit in the cooler, his eyes continually watching the door of the shop. Kade had said he would be back when he was done running his errands. Dusk was falling, the light of day waning.
Maybe he got caught up in other things and couldn’t make it. Whatever the reason, the disappointment settled inside of him. He had been looking forward to spending more time with Kade.
Lingering long enough, Keaton closed the shop. Maybe he would see the guy tomorrow. It just sucked to be stood up. Shoving the shop keys in his front pocket, Keaton began to walk toward his car. He could feel the coolness of the night settling over his skin. It was eerily quiet tonight, the streets bare.
Keaton just reached his car when he heard footsteps. Hoping that it was Kade, he glanced up and saw a stranger instead. He needed to stop acting so desperate. Since when did he worry about having friends?
A niggle of unease shot through him when he saw the stranger standing on the sidewalk, just watching him. There was something wrong with his eyes. They were freaky-looking, the whites of his eyes a little too red. Was he a stoner?
“Dude, you should stop putting that garbage into your body.”
The man smirked, one side of his mouth pulling up into a tight half smile. “But it’s that garbage that keeps me alive.” He chuckled under his breath.
Keaton had no idea what he was talking about, but the lull of his voice was tranquil, setting Keaton at ease. The worry that Kade would not return seemed to melt away. The fact that he was alone with a stranger, having this bizarre conversation should have been enough to make him get in his car.
But he just stood there as if waiting for…he wasn’t sure.
“I’m hungry.” The stranger moved so fast, Keaton didn’t know what hit him. One second the guy was standing three feet away from him, the next he had his hand wrapped around Keaton’s throat, cutting off his air.
Keaton began to struggle, clawing at the man’s hand. The stranger pushed Keaton’s back into his car. He moved his face into the crook of Keaton’s neck, coming so
