Page 13 of Moon Destiny
I hovered near the bed’s footboard as a new set of questions popped into my mind. “How big is your territory?”
“I’m the alpha of the Pacific Pack. Our boundaries vary a bit from the ones you see on a US map, but they’re roughly the same as the states. I control everything from southern California to the Canadian border. However, most of the pack members live here in Bosford.”
“What about Seattle?”
His expression grew shuttered. “I know you have a lot of questions.” He moved to the nightstand and withdrew a book from the top drawer. “This will answer most of them.” He handed the book to me.
“What’s this, an instruction manual for new werewolves?” I inspected the leather bound spine, which was embossed with strange symbols. There was no title. Maybe he kept a copy in every room like hotels did with Gideon bibles. When I looked up, his face was as serious as ever.
“You might say that,” he said. “But there’s more in there than just werewolf lore. You’re a part of this world now, Brooke. There are things you need to know.” He nodded toward the book. “Be prepared to answer questions about what you’ve read.”
I couldn’t stifle my nervous laugh. “There’s a quiz?” He couldn’t be serious.
“I’ll have someone bring up your dinner.” He turned and headed toward the door.
“Wait!” Panic lurched through my gut. “What about the morning?”
He faced me. “Someone will bring breakfast, too. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
“No, I meant when can I leave here? I have to get back to Seattle. I need to call my boss.” I gasped, my brain finally registering that I’d been out for three days. “Shit! I need to call my mom.” She and my stepdad had retired to Florida years ago, but we talked or texted just about every day. She was probably worried sick.
“It’s been taken care of,” Hugh rumbled.
I went totally still. “What do you mean?”
“I emailed her. I also contacted your employer. The managing editor gave you a two-week leave of absence. It’s unpaid, but you don’t have to worry about money here.”
Money was the last thing I was worried about. “You contacted my boss?”
“I had to. I couldn’t risk anyone reporting you missing.”
“So you rifled through my life? How did you know who to call?” The panic twisted through me again. “I just got promoted. I can’t afford to take two weeks off right now.”
“I own a security company. Information is easier to come by than you might think. And I didn’t rifle through your life. I saved it.”
“Well maybe you shouldn’t have.” If he thought he was going to commandeer every inch of it, he was mistaken.
His eyes had lightened as we spoke, and now they narrowed in obvious displeasure. “I’m surprised you would say such a thing to me after what just happened outside.”
Regret made me wince. “I’m sorry. Today has been…a lot. But I need to go home.” I squared my shoulders. “Honestly, I think I’ll adjust better in familiar surroundings. I’m not asking for anything. If you could just call an Uber—”
“I can’t do that,” he said flatly. “And you’re not permitted to call, either.”
My hackles rose, my panic crystallizing into bright, spiky anger. Abruptly, I’d had enough of Hugh Dalton. He was a grieving man, but that didn’t excuse his breathtaking high-handedness. With deliberate movements, I turned and placed the book on the bed. Then I looked him in the eye. “I’m so deeply sorry about Alex. I appreciate what you did for me, but you can’t force me to stay here.” I moved around him and headed for the door.
I got three steps.
“Stop,” he said, his deep voice rippling with power.
Invisible bonds whipped around my body, rooting me to the floor. It was worse this time—the force of his command so much stronger than it had been when he removed my blindfold. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even muster the will to try.
That was it, I thought. He’d robbed me of my will. And I knew with absolute certainty that he could make me do anything he wanted. Terror clawed up my spine. I would have whimpered if I’d been capable of it.
He moved in front of me, his broad chest filling my vision. As quickly as it had come, the awful pressure lifted, leaving me free and struggling to catch my breath.
I clenched my fists at my sides. “Don’t do that again.”
“Don’t give me a reason to,” he said softly. He held my gaze—and suddenly I couldn’t look at him anymore. A strange feeling came over me, like there was a hook in my gut and it was attached to a rope that ran to a corresponding hook in my head. There was a wrenching tug in my stomach, and I dropped my chin with a gasp as I sought to alleviate the tension.
