Page 52 of Alphas Never Hide

Ishook my head.Ididn’t want the guy to feel bad about the place. “Itlooks great andIbet it’ll be fantastic when you’re finished.”

Jakenodded. “Isaachas been amazing.He’soverseeing most of the renos.We’rejust doing what he says.Anyway, here we go, your rooms are on the second floor.Theyshould be stocked with all the various common toiletries from shampoo in the shower to lube in the nightstand, but if you are looking for something you don’t see, let me know.Doyou want help with your bags?”

Iglanced at my backpack andHayden’splastic bag and shook my head.

“We’refine,Jake.Thanksfor letting us stay here,”Haydensaid. “Iappreciate it.Anddon’t worry.Wecan find our own way.”

Consideringhow gruff he’d been withVanand some of others, he was surprisingly gentle withJake.Iwonderedwhat that meant, but beforeIcould figure it out,Haydenscooped up the keys from the counter and turned to the stairs by the desk.Heseemed to know where to go, soIfollowed behind him.

Thestairs dumped us into a wide hallway.Anotherset of stairs continued up, butHaydenignored them and marched all the way down the hallway like he owned the place.Hishand clenched around the old-fashioned keys as he turned to the last door on the right.

Itwas only then that he glanced at the numbers on the keys.Heswallowed and checked the sign on the door.

“Right.”Hisvoice cracked. “I’llstay in this one.”

Heoffered the other key to me.Itook it, butIdidn’t retreat down the hall to find my own room.Istayed atHayden’sside.Hedidn’t seem to notice as he pushed the key into the lock and opened the door.Heswallowed hard as he looked inside the room without entering it.

“Somethingwrong?”Iasked.

Hejolted like he’d forgottenIwas standing there.

“Huh?”

“Issomething wrong with the room?”Istudied his face. “Youlook like you saw a ghost or something.”Giventhe age of the place,Isuspected more than a few ghosts lingered around the place, butIdidn’t think werewolves could see them.

Heshook his head, then his gaze darted back to the room. “Nothing’swrong.Thisused to be my room.Yearsago.”

“Yourroom?Youlived at an inn?”Hadhe been homeless?

“Thisused to be the pack house,” he said. “Mydad was the alpha.”

Oh.Thatwas good to know.People’sdeference to him made so much sense now.

Ipeered into the room.Everythingwas new, from the paint to the sturdy furnishings to the fluffy cream-colored blankets and crisp white sheets on the bed.IfIsaachad really made all the decisions, he had a good eye.Theplace was cozy and comfortable, but still elegant.

Comparedto the hallway and the staircase, which showed decades of wear, the room looked brand new.Idoubted the space had looked like this whenHaydenhad lived here but, based on the wayHaydenwas staring at it,Iwondered if he was even seeing what was here or if he was caught up in his memories.

“Comeon, let’s get settled,”Isaid.

“Yourroom is next door,Ithink.”Hisface contorted with pained emotion as he glanced down the hallway.Hecovered his emotions quickly, butIfigured his memories were still getting the better of him.

Islipped his hand in mine and guided him into the room.Oncewe were inside,Ishut the door and dropped my backpack on a luggage stand.Whenhe did nothing but stand frozen whereI’dleft him,Ipulled the plastic bag that held his clothing from his clenched hand and set it on a little table by a window.ThenIapproached him cautiously, making sure he could see me coming, not stopping untilIwas standing right in front of him.Ipushed my glasses up and tilted my head back to look at him.

“Areyou okay?”

HisAdam’sapple bobbed as he worked his throat.Heopened his mouth like he was going to speak, but he nodded instead.Exceptit was obvious he wasn’t fine, and he was shit at hiding it.

“Doyou want me to show you where your room is?” he asked.

“Nah.I’mgood staying here with you.”Iprobably should have asked him if he was comfortable with that before making my decision, butIwasn’t leaving him alone right now, no matter how he might have answered.

Hisforehead furrowed. “Theygave you your own room.”

“Meh.”Ishrugged. “I’vedecidedI’mstaying with you.”

“Why?”Hisconfusion was turning into suspicion.Atleast he wasn’t frozen in place anymore.

“Doyou want a list?”