Chapter 016

Now I knew why she'd looked familiar in that file. She looked exactly like her father. I hadn't forgotten Bernard’s face, but Julian had experienced more torture at the man's hand when he started visiting regularly, so it made sense for him to remember his face more clearly. “Okay, but that doesn’t mean-”

“Recall that Gatrix-Hill had ties to the Crimson Wolves, Roman. This lady left our pack about three years ago, around the same time that they officially announced to be residing in human civilization.”

I paused. “What?”

He scoffed. “I’m the Beta. I did my homework. And everything points to the fact that she might be dangerous. Very, very dangerous.”

I said nothing for a while.

“What if she isn't?” I retorted, plastering a smile on my face as Tanya finally came out wearing an exquisite gown, her eyes twinkling.

The girl Audrey stood behind her, hands clasped and headed down, as though she was her servant. That same sweet scent appeared as she raised her head, and an odd feeling of desire washed over me.

Then again, what if she is?

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Audrey POV:

“What do you think?” Tanya asked, blushing as the Alpha looked at her.

“It's pretty.” He smiled. “You're pretty.”

His beta cringed and looked like he wanted to run out of the mall. I didn't blame him.

My stepsister blushed even harder and nodded to the mall attendant, who nodded back and followed her into the changing room, presumably to help her pick out more dresses.

Silence reigned among us for a moment. Then…

“I need to take this call,” the Beta murmured as his phone rang and left as well. It took a minute before I realized I'd been left alone with my sister's fiancé and the man I'd obviously been ogling.

Shit.

“Excuse me,” I hurriedly said. “Tanya must be wondering where I am.” I turned to join the two women, but paused when a figure stood in my path. The Alpha had an emotionless face as he towered over me, and I couldn't resist the urge to shiver.

“Um,” was all I could say.

“Can I have a moment?” he asked, his tone making it clear it was not a request.

“I…she- "Tanya really needs me,” I stuttered, my heart already pounding. I'd heard about how kind he was from Jacob, but I saw the darkness in his eyes when we were in the car.

I didn’t know why he'd stared at me like that, but if he wanted to kill me, I wouldn't stand a chance.

Then again, could he kill me in the mall? And on foreign land, even?

He blinked, and I mentally shook my head. He didn't seem like the kind to just randomly kill people. If anything, he seemed to be kind enough to effectively and efficiently plan every detail of his murders if he did do the killing.

I didn't know if that made me feel better or worse.

“It'll only take a moment.”

I sighed inwardly. If I was going to die, at least I'd be remembered as the nameless victim whose sister had been trying on reception dresses while her life was being snuffed out. By said sister’s fiancé, no less.

“Okay.”

He nodded. “I wanted to ask you a few questions.”

Well, that was unusual. “O-okay?”

“You said that you're Tanya's stepsister, yes?”

I nodded.

“Meaning that you're Bernard Gatrix-Hill's daughter?”

I paused for a millisecond, wondering where he was heading with the question. At the same time, I could faintly hear Tanya gush over a dress. “Uh…yes. Why?”

His eyes revealed nothing. “It is merely a sequel to my actual questions, Audrey. Don't be afraid.”

I was about to ask how he knew my name when I recalled that Tanya had been screaming it since we arrived at the mall.

“Next question.” A muscle in his face twitched. “Why are you truly here?”

“...what?”

“According to the records, you disappeared about three years ago, and are only just returning with luggage and no explanation as to why you're back except that you are here to attend your sister's wedding.” His eyes narrowed. “Except that's a lot of luggage for just one wedding, don't you think?”

In the background, I heard soft classical music playing. “I– well, I miss them a lot, so I plan to stay for a while. That's why I have so much luggage.” I hoped my answer was acceptable.

His expression held barely masked disbelief. “Uh-huh.”

My mouth opened to give a reply and closed back almost immediately. He took it as a sign to forge on.

“Also- and don't try to deny it - you're the one who helped me in the woods that day. I know, because I remembered. And that scent of yours drives me crazy.”

Hearing that, my eyes widened, and I whispered, “W- How can you say such a thing?! You're engaged to my sister!”

“Exactly my point.” His eyes had flecks of gold in them. “What are you really doing here, Audrey Hill? That scent isn't normal, so I know you're either spraying bottles of it on yourself, or you're trying to seduce me with a love potion.”

Dumbfounded, I can only stare at him.

“Tell me. Tell me what you want.”

When I finally find my voice, it is to say, “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You have a hold on my wolf and, by extension, on me. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to have that power over me. But here I am, waiting for your sister to come out in her next beautiful dress, and my eyes are on you instead.” He narrowed his gaze. “What did you do to me?”

I kept glancing at the dressing room, afraid that Tanya would come out at any time and misread the situation. “With all due respect, are you out of your mind? You approached me!”

Once again, a muscle ticked in his jaw. “I'm being cautious here. I would hate to find out if you had something against your sister, and I didn't do anything to stop it. Plus, your story about wanting to stay for a few more weeks after the wedding doesn't add up. Tanya told me you don't seem to like her and your stepmom that much. Why would you want to stay back so badly then?”