by Juniper Hart
Consternation threatened to choke Audrey. “How?”
“We are looking into it, I assure you,” Schultz said quickly, clearly trying to placate her mounting upset.
“Looking into it? I had guards stationed everywhere! How did he just sneak by?”
“Fräulein Crane, there is much more happening here than we know,” he told her gently. “We will not understand what is happening until we meet with Herr Fowler face to face.”
“He clearly doesn’t want to be found!”
“The Federal Police are not accustomed to giving up, as you Americans say. We will find this man and learn what his intentions are with you.”
Jesus. And what am I supposed to do in the meantime? The phone rang again, and Audrey scowled at it. Not now, Alex!
“I will leave you with your friend. Your guards are nearby, yes?”
“Yes,” Audrey sighed, nodding toward the two hired bodyguards she’d managed to find over the past few hours. She loathed that she needed them, but until she could figure out what was going on, what some insane billionaire might want from her, she had little choice in the matter.
“We will be in touch, Fräulein Crane. May I recommend you stay surrounded by people? In my experience, men who do this kind of thing are often deterred by others.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Schultz nodded stiffly and spun to leave her alone in the corridor. Blankly, Audrey watched him leave, the throbbing in her gums almost insurmountable. A part of her wanted to run after him and tell him to stay back, too, that she needed all the help she could get, but the desire to be left in peace overcame all of that.
“Are you all right, Ms. Crane?” Julian, one of the bodyguards, appeared at her side, and she stared at him, wondering if he was dumb. Of course she wasn’t all right. She wouldn’t be until this madman was stopped.
“I’m going to the cafeteria for a coffee,” she said instead of saying what was really on her mind. “Just stay here with Carrie. I’ll be right back.”
“Are you sure, Ms. Crane?”
“We’re in a hospital, Julian. Nothing is going to happen here.” She wondered how she’d made that inference. She wouldn’t have thought that anything could happen in the middle of a closed set in the forest, either.
Audrey sauntered toward the elevators, her head spinning from all the information she’d just learned from Detektiv Schultz.
Was I wrong about Hudson? she asked herself. He couldn’t have been the shooter if he wasn’t in the country. But what if the shooting had nothing to do with my stalker? What if Hudson is still my stalker and Carrie was injured by someone else altogether? It would be quite a coincidence, wouldn’t it?
Audrey made her way to the cafeteria, and despite her dark mood, she had to marvel at the spotlessness of the hospital. It was rare to find something as efficient and clean in the States. She had been raised in a middle-class neighborhood in Nebraska, and she’d certainly never been treated in such a facility during her youth.
There was no one in the cafeteria, and Audrey quickly saw why: it was a “serve yourself” concept where people were not required to take payment. It had been a day since she’d last eaten, but she wasn’t hungry. Her stomach was understandably in knots.
The phone rang for the third time, and as she helped herself to a coffee, she realized that she’d better answer it or smash the phone because Alex wasn’t going to stop calling.
“Alex, I’m at the hospital,” she groaned. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, thank God!” the actor exhaled. “I was just worried about you. There was a big problem at the set. They found some guy lurking around, and then he tried to run over two officers. I wasn’t able to get in touch with you, so I freaked out!”
“Yeah, I heard about all that,” she sighed. “I’m fine. I’m just with Carrie.”
“Oh. Any change?”
“Not yet, but these things can take time.”
“I suppose. You shouldn’t be alone. I’ll come to hang out with you for a bit.”
“No. Thank you for thinking of me, though.” The last thing Audrey wanted was Alex’s company, well-meaning as it was.
“I don’t mind,” Alex said, sounding hurt at her almost violent response.
“I know, but I’m not staying,” she fibbed. In truth, she had no idea where she was going. She couldn’t go back to the hotel, knowing that Hudson Fowler had a room there now. She would need to make other arrangements. The hospital certainly seemed to be the safest place for her.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Alex. I appreciate the offer, honestly, but I’ve got my bodyguards with me. It’s getting crowded over here as it is.”
“All right.” Alex sounded disappointed, but Audrey couldn’t be bothered to worry about his ego.
“I’ve gotta go, Alex. I’ll see you on set, okay?”
“Well, do you want to grab dinner or something?”
“Alex, really, I want to be alone and gather my thoughts.” There was a long silence.
“I’m just trying to help, you know.” An uncharacteristic hardness touched his voice, and Audrey’s brow raised at the sound of it.
“I know,” she replied with just as much firmness, “which is why I already told you I appreciated it.”
“Sorry,” Alex said quickly. “I sound whiny. I think I’m just stressed out about all this.”
“That’s understandable.”
“You know, maybe I should find someone to talk to.” Audrey gritted her teeth, his transparent neediness grating on her nerves.
“Well, I hope you do. I really have to go, Alex. Thanks for checking in.” She disconnected the call and stared at the phone for a long moment, the waft of black coffee assaulting her nose. Alex certainly fit the profile of a stalker, didn’t he?
It was a terrible thought to have of her co-star, particularly when Alex had always been kind to her, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t hiding a dark side.
When did my life become so messed up that I’m suspecting everyone in my life is up to no good? Alex isn’t smart enough to cover his tracks, and Hudson Fowler may as well have been wearing a sign that said, “Hey, it’s me!” Suddenly, Audrey just wanted to go home. Being on foreign soil didn’t help matters at all, and she wanted to get on surer footing, something she couldn’t do in Germany. We’re almost done shooting the movie, and then I will see about having Carrie transferred home if she hasn’t recovered.
Audrey reached for her cup and took a long sip, feeling the burn of the bitterness down her throat. The clock over the entranceway read four-twelve, and she only had another forty-five minutes to spend with Carrie before she figured out where to go. Maybe she should have borrowed Alex’s assistant after all. She had to find a new place to stay, and she had to do it discreetly. She didn’t even want Mike to know where she was until Hudson Fowler was caught.
Audrey rose from the hard-plastic chair, coffee in hand, and moved toward the threshold, almost colliding with someone else entering.
“Oh!” she gasped as the coffee spilled between them both. “Es tut mir so leid—”
Her choppy German apology was abruptly cut short when her eyes rested on the brilliant emerald orbs of Hudson Fowler’s.
“You’re fine,” he said flippantly, casting her a boyish grin. “I don’t injure easily.” Audrey whirled backward, her mouth falling open in shock. “Hi,” he continued, walking toward her as she stepped back. “I’m Hudson Fowler, and you’re a hard woman to get a hold of.”
Audrey screamed.
6
Hudson had not expected that reaction, either, and he was beginning to learn that Audrey was filled with the unexpected.
“Stop that!” he growled, freezing in his spot. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Audrey paused midscream and gaped at him, her mouth hanging open. Slowly, she backed away further.
“W-what do you want with me?” she breathed, her eyes darting around as if seeking an escape. “Money? I can give you money.” He snor
ted and shook his head.
“I have money, Audrey,” he replied. “Why are you freaking out?”
“Why?” she demanded, indignation overcoming her fear. “You’re stalking me!”
Offense slammed through Hudson, and he scowled deeply.
“Stalking you?” he echoed. “I’m trying to protect you!”
Audrey opened her mouth to shout something out but seemed to reconsider her action and instead pursed her lips.
“Well, thank you,” she said softly, sliding to the side and turning her wide, captivating eyes on him. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me.”
Hudson’s brow furrowed. “What have I done?” he asked in confusion.
“You know, all the emails and what you did to Carrie,” she choked. He could see she struggled with the words.
“Audrey,” he said with some impatience. “I didn’t shoot your assistant, if that’s what you’re thinking, and I’ve never sent you an email.” More consternation flooded her face, and she didn’t seem to know which way to go.
“Okay,” she muttered simply. “Okay, I believe you.”
“Good.” Hudson didn’t believe her, but that was irrelevant now. He had time to convince her. “We should probably get you away from the public,” he told her, extending his hand toward her. “I’m not sure if Gabriel is responsible for what’s happening, but you should come back to the States with me just in case.”
Audrey’s eyes widened. “Who is Gabriel?” Their eyes locked again, and dismay filled Hudson.
Why is she looking at me like that? he thought. Shouldn’t she know who Gabriel is? Or is she playing dumb? There was only one way to find out—he was going to have to ask.
“What do you mean, who is Gabriel?” he questioned, unsure of how else he could phrase it. “He’s— You’re a— Gabriel is the one who turned you.”
More shock flowed over Audrey’s face, and her fair skin was almost opaque. Hudson could clearly see the wheels in her head turning as she fought to form more questions.
“Turned me?” she squeaked. “Into what?”
Oh, no. This isn’t good. Despite her renowned acting talents, Hudson had no doubt that she was sincere in her ignorance about what was going on. How could that be? Had she been wandering around for eight years without knowing she was a Lycan? Could that happen? Women respond differently to being turned than men. Is it possible that she’s experiencing some kind of memory loss?
“Do you remember Gabriel?” Hudson asked quietly, careful to keep his distance, even though he could see Audrey was still trying to figure out a means of escape. He was weighing the cons of letting her go, but not before she understood what she was up against. After all, he couldn’t very well keep her against her will—how would that be any better than what Gabriel would do?
“I-I think you have me confused with someone else,” Audrey offered, hope coloring her face, like everything could be explained away by writing it off that way. Hudson couldn’t help chuckling, but the expression did nothing to alleviate the stricken look on her face. He quickly smothered his grim amusement.
“It’s kind of hard to mix you up with someone else, Audrey.” She shook her head, but a perplexed shine filled her eyes.
“Well, you must have. I don’t know any Gabriel, and I don’t know who you’re talking about. Maybe I met this guy in passing, but I promise, I don’t know him personally.”
“Should we sit down?” Hudson suggested, gesturing toward one of the nearby tables. “I’m not going to do anything to you. In fact, I’m sorry I startled you so badly. It was poor planning on my part. My intention was only to speak with you.”
Audrey eyed the table warily, and Hudson knew he’d have to take the first step if he wanted to get her to follow. He ambled toward one of the long tables and plopped unceremoniously onto a chair, trying to look as unthreatening as possible. It was no easy feat for a man of his stature, he knew, but he leaned casually on his arms and gave her a wan smile.
“See? I’m not doing anything. I just want to talk to you.”
Once again, Audrey’s eyes traveled between him and the door, but her inquisitiveness seemed to be winning the battle over her concern. Hudson waited for her to make her decision and silently willed her closer, his eyes trained on the bridge of her nose.
There are freckles. I was right. The knowledge filled him with unexpected warmth.
Cautiously, Audrey perched on the chair across from him, her slender body ready to spring forward at the slightest indication of danger.
“Why are you following me?” she asked before Hudson could even think of how to explain what he was doing there.
It had never occurred to him that Audrey didn’t know she was a Lycan. Then again, how much did Hudson really know about her or the others? All he had been told was that Audrey, along with three others, had been turned at Gabriel’s hand. But how could they not know?
There was a reason, he assumed, that mortals shouldn’t be turned. In his two-hundred fifty-six years of life, Hudson could not recall a time when he had ever encountered a mortal turned Lycan. And that was because, if that should ever happen, they would be eliminated. What was so special about these women? Why were they allowed to live?
Hudson had to admit that he was thankful that Audrey had been given that chance. Losing her would be a disappointment to anyone who had ever been captivated by her eyes. Or those freckles on the bridge of her nose.
“If you’re not going to answer me, I’m leaving!” Audrey snapped, making Hudson realize he had zoned out in his own thoughts.
“I’m answering you!” he cried, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just trying to think of a way to explain this to you that won’t freak you out even more.”
“It will be hard to do that,” Audrey muttered. “Why don’t you just say what you need to say and let me worry about how I react? You are not responsible for how someone else responds to what you say.”
There was something endearingly tough about Audrey, and again, Hudson was struck by how she was nothing like he had expected.
She’s fiery, passionate, and shockingly brave. I wonder if she’ll lose any of that when I tell her what’s happened to her. For a moment, Hudson considered that maybe he wasn’t supposed to say anything. He didn’t want to ruin the passion in her. Maybe I’m supposed to protect her without her ever knowing the truth about herself.
“Why do I feel like you’re wasting my time?” Audrey demanded, jumping to her feet. “I’m leaving.” She turned to move, but Hudson could see her watching him through her peripheral vision. She didn’t want to leave—she wanted answers. He just wasn’t sure how to give them to her.
“Eight years ago, an alpha pack leader named Gabriel turned you and three other women into Lycans.”
Audrey paused, her eyes narrowing as she tried to process what she’d been told. After several seconds of silence, she finally managed one word. “What?”
She thinks I’m nuts, Hudson thought, but I’ve gone there. Now I’ve got to finish what I’ve started.
“I don’t know what the circumstances of your particular transition were, if you were changed with the others or if you were alone. It was done illegally and without the authorization of any governing body.”
As if she was working in slow-motion, she turned to stare at him.
“I see.” She didn’t see, that much was clear, and Hudson stifled a groan as he recognized the look on her face.
“I don’t expect you to understand this,” he continued, “but I need you to listen well and keep an open mind.” The dubiousness on Audrey’s face wasn’t going away without a fight, but she remained in place, folding her arms against her chest.
“My mind is open.” Hudson didn’t think anyone’s mind was open enough for such a revelation. Still, he had to give her credit for trying.
“Gabriel was something of an outcast among the wolves. He didn’t want to live by our codes, and he leads a life of criminal enterprise.”
&nb
sp; “Werewolves, you mean,” Audrey offered, her brows almost at her hairline. She was trying desperately to keep her face impassive, but Hudson had caught her completely off guard. No amount of acting classes could have prepared her.
“Yes. Lycans.”
“Uh huh…”
Hudson sat back and exhaled. How long had it been since he’d had to explain their way of life to anyone? It was a lot harder than one would think. At least not without sounding like a maniac. But I guess that ship has sailed.
“So, uh, then what happened?” Audrey asked nervously, fiddling with her fingers. She was looking anywhere but at him.
“Gabriel went rogue, left his pack where he wasn’t an alpha, and decided to create his own where he was. Of course, no Lycan would accept him as their leader, so he decided to turn mortals.”
“Turn mortals into werewolves.”
“Lycans. Yes. But they weren’t just any mortals. They were the worst of the worst: cutthroats, thieves, assailants.”
“Of course they were. I mean, why else would you make a pack? Am I right?” Hudson wished she’d save her sarcastic commentary for later, but he didn’t protest her skepticism. It was to be expected, after all.
“Audrey, with those men, a pack of eight of the seediest characters you can imagine, four women were brought into the fold.”
“Because every criminal pack needs women,” Audrey said, nodding seriously. “Of course.”
“Because I imagine that they want to breed,” Hudson retorted with shocking coldness. The words caused Audrey’s wry smirk to fade.
“Right. And I’m one of those women,” she snapped when she regained her composure. “Obviously, I’m a werewolf.”
“Lycan.”
“Stop correcting me,” she snapped. “Like I’m the one saying something crazy!”
Again, Hudson sighed deeply. “It’s not crazy because it’s true. Clearly, you don’t remember any of it.”
“I would think that’s a little hard to forget. But you know what I do remember? Loads of threatening emails. I remember my assistant getting shot in the middle of the night without a clue as to who her attacker could be. Are you claiming that this Gabriel did it?”