Page 69 of Fur & Money

“Airport, here I come,” I said with a heavy sigh.

Why did my sigh feel so heavy rolling off the tip of my tongue?

Out of nowhere, a shadow darted into the road. I slammed on my brakes and screamed at the top of my lungs as I skidded to a grinding halt. Burnt rubber filled my nostrils as I sat there, white knuckling the steering wheel. My seatbelt cut into my chest, threatening to slice me in half as I struggled to catch my breath.

But when I looked in the rearview mirror, a pair of eyes stared back at me.

A pair of familiar eyes that I hadn’t seen all damn day.

“Hudson?” I asked breathlessly.

Immediately, as if I had been snapped out of a dream state, I slammed my hands against the steering wheel. I unbuckled my seatbelt and kicked the door open, ready to throw down at a moment’s notice. What in the actual fuck was that man doing all the way out here in Portland? There was no way in hell he knew I had come out here. There was no way in hell he had followed me.

“What the fuck, man!?” I exclaimed as I tossed my hands into the air.

He tilted his head as if he were witnessing a child’s tantrum. “I could ask you the same thing.”

I stalked toward him. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

He chuckled. “It’s cute that you think you can kill me by hitting me with a tin can.”

“Tin ca— Hudson, what the fuck is going on? Why were you in the middle of the road an hour away from the pack?”

He slid his hands into the pockets of his black jeans before he walked toward me. “To catch up with you, of course.”

“No, no, no. I’m not buying it. There’s no way in hell you knew I was coming into Portland tonight.”

“You’re right,” he said as he stood in front of me, looming over me with his height, “I didn’t know you were coming out tonight. I figured you’d be coming out tomorrow, so I got a head start on you.”

I balked. “You have no right.”

“I do when the life and security of the pack is at stake.”

“Yeah, because I’m part of it.”

He shook his head. “You’re no more a threat to us than a baby bird trying to fly out of a nest.”

“So, what?” I asked as I flopped my hands at my sides. “You here to convince me to come back or something?”

He nodded plainly. “Yes.”

“Well, it’s not going to work. I don’t want to go back. I’m not my father. And even if I wanted to go back, I have an entire life waiting for me back in L.A. A life I can’t just abandon because it’s convenient for you guys.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“So, why come out here? Why take the time when you knew you couldn't convince me?”

He slid his hands out of his pockets. “My words won’t convince you, that much you’ve proven. But I think my powers will help in this particular situation.”

I furrowed my brow tightly. “If you even attempt to manipulate me—”

He snickered. “Nothing so stereotypical, I can assure you. May I?”

“No.”

He sighed. “Your father cared about you a great deal, you know. Not a day went by that he wasn’t telling stories of you. Or proclaiming how proud of you he was. He kept up with every shred of your life. He had clippings of every news article you wrote. He recorded every live television moment you had.”

I took a small step back. “You’re lying.”

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