CHAPTER ELEVEN: HUDSON

HUDSON SAT in his lawyer’s office, staring out the window of the massive skyscraper. He’d just signed the paperwork the humans needed that would assure Kit was taken care of… just in case.

After that, he got in touch with Isadora. Oddly enough, she had not been hit, although she had certainly helped in the attacks against the hunters. Hudson wasn’t sure what to make of that, but he was glad they hadn’t since she was basically a loner.

He then sent a mass email to his court about Queen Abigail’s death. Then he called Kage. Finding out he was already downtown at the Dominion, Hudson headed that way. Several blocks had been shut down for safety reasons, so Hudson had to park a little distance away. But he knew Kage was there, so he started making his way toward the building.

As he drew closer, the unmistakable scent of a hunter snagged his attention. He discreetly looked around, but he couldn’t pinpoint where the smell was coming from, which was understandable.

The area was still marked with the aftermath of destruction from the bomb, and there was debris scattered around and shattered windows. The once vibrant street was now littered with rubble and ash, creating a desolate and eerie scene.

His dragon’s hiss cut through the air like a sharp blade, its anger palpable and its scent a warning of its dangerous presence lurking under Hudson’s human skin.

Slipping his phone out of his pants pocket, he called Kage again.

“Hey, Hudson, I’m just finishing up the meeting with the police and then I will—”

“I’m coming up on the police barricade. We have company of the muted were variety.”

“Understood,” Kage said. “Where exactly are you?”

“Fifty-ninth and Anderson.”

“On my way.”

Barely five minutes passed before he saw Kage standing in the shadows of a doorway.

As Hudson passed by, Kage stepped out and joined him. “I smell it too.”

“Taking chances there, my friend,” Hudson said quietly as they walked.

“I was careful,” Kage said.

“I—” Hudson caught a glimpse of a very familiar face. “Son of a bitch. It’s him. It’s Don.”

Hudson took off at a sprint, with Kage close on his heels. They zoomed down an alley, both of them determined to catch up to Don. The smell of the werewolf was overwhelming, a mixture of wolf and wrongness . There was a sharp tang of sweat and adrenaline, along with the scent of fear, adding a layer of sharpness to the overwhelming musk.

People stopped and stared as they ran past, two well-dressed men in expensive suits running through the grimy alleyway, but Hudson didn’t have time to worry about what these humans thought. He was certain Don was just ahead, and he couldn’t let him get away this time. Not again, dammit.

Their shoes slapped against the hard pavement, echoing off the walls of buildings. Bright sunlight bounced off skyscrapers. Hudson glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning for any sign of pursuit, but nothing and no one followed them. Hudson remained watchful. This was entirely too easy.

As they rounded a sharp corner, Hudson nearly collided with a stack of overflowing trash bins. He sidestepped at the last moment, his focus unbroken.

Kage wasn’t so lucky. He stumbled slightly, causing a clattering that echoed off the worn brick walls. “By the dead gods!”

Just as they emerged from the alley onto a busy street lined with cute little shops and high-priced cafes, Hudson caught a glimpse of Don disappearing into an old bookshop.

Without hesitation, Hudson veered toward the entrance, pushing the door open with such force that it slammed against the inner wall with a loud bang. The shop was musty and cramped, rows of shelves packed tight with books, giving it a cave-like feeling. It looked nothing like Kit’s.

A bell above the door jingled frantically from Hudson’s forceful entry. The shopkeeper, an elderly man, looked up in alarm.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” he asked uncertainly.

Hudson inhaled discreetly. Human. Kage stumbled to a stop next to Hudson and also scented the person.

“Did you see the man who just came in here? Brown hair? About six foot tall and wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt?” Hudson asked.

The shopkeeper nodded slowly, pointing to the back of the shop. “Yes, just now. He went toward the history section.”

Hudson nodded curtly and rushed in that direction, Kage following. As they navigated through the narrow aisles, the scent of old paper and leather bindings filled the air.

Hudson noticed Kage kept his eyes peeled on every shadow and corner, wary of any sudden movements. Funny how the shadow daemon was watching the shadows.

They reached the history section, a cramped space with towering bookshelves filled to the brim with dusty volumes. Hudson paused for a moment, taking deep breaths to steady himself, his nostrils flaring as he searched for the distinct scent of wrongness among the musty odors of the books.

“There!” Kage whispered urgently, gesturing at a small gap between two bookcases.

Hudson caught the flash of sweaty brown hair. He charged forward, pushing aside books and scattering papers in his haste. Kit would probably have a hissy fit if he ever found out how Hudson was treating the books, and he made a mental note to never mention that.

Don turned abruptly, a look of surprise flashing across his face before it settled into a grim mask of determination. He honestly did not look well. His skin tone was a sickly pale.

Don darted toward the back of the bookstore, then slammed his hand against the wall. Hudson swore loudly as a damn hidden side door swung open.

“The hell?” Kage yelled, chasing after Hudson.

“That proves he didn’t just randomly pick this place.”

The door slammed shut just before Hudson got there, but Hudson punched his fist through the wall where he saw Don’s hand land earlier. Feeling a lever, he jerked violently, and the hidden door swung back open, revealing a narrow staircase winding downward into darkness.

Hudson and Kage exchanged a quick glance before plunging in after Don. The stairwell was dimly lit by flickering bulbs, casting long shadows that danced on the walls as they descended. The sound of their footsteps echoed loudly in the confined space, mixing with the distant rumble of city traffic above.

“That shopkeeper smelled human,” Kage said quietly.

“I know. A sympathizer perhaps?”

“I don’t know. Maybe?”

At the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a large underground chamber that looked like it had once been part of an old subway tunnel.

The air was cooler here, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the vast space. Several passages branched off from the main area, each swallowed up by darkness.

Hudson paused, trying to catch his breath and listen for any sign of Don’s movement. Beside him, Kage was scanning the area, his body tense and ready for action.

“Now what?” Kage asked, his voice low. “Split up?”

“No. Nothing good ever comes from splitting up.”

“This isn’t a horror movie.”

“I’m not too sure about that. Regardless, I don’t like the feel of this.”

“Okay, then, what do you want to do?”

“How about we go back and question that shopkeeper.”

THE SHOPKEEPER was nowhere to be found. Hudson expressed his thoughts on the matter long and loudly.

“I’m not sure if that last one is even physically possible,” Kage said, leaning against the checkout counter, watching Hudson pace.

“This has to be a front. That’s the only thing that makes sense. Those tunnels probably return to the surface somewhere in the city.”

Kage pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll have my hacker check into this business. If it looks suspicious enough, I can call in a favor from the mayor and maybe have this place shut down.”

“Might have to involve the FBI for that,” Hudson said.

The more he looked around the place, the more obvious it became no one had taken care of the business. The carpet was old, the paint was peeling, the lighting was horrible, and the place just looked neglected.

But it was a bookstore, and an idea was beginning to percolate.

“Maybe not. We’ll see. But if I can get this place closed down, we can go through it at our convenience.”

“I like it. Let’s do that.” Hudson glared at the worn counter. “If it is a front, I’m going to buy it once we close it down. Unless you want it?”

“A bookstore? This seems more like something your mate would like.”

“That was my thought.” Oh yes, if Kit wanted this place, he could take it and make it into something spectacular. “Just checking, though, since we do own several businesses together.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. So? Ready for me to make that call to my hacker?”

“Might as well.”

Kage got his cell out. “You know, this could make a lovely wedding present for Kit.”

Hudson laughed. “Great minds think alike.”

Kage dialed a number, his fingers deftly tapping the screen. “Hey, Darnell. Yeah, I’ve got something for you to dig into.” He put the phone on speaker so Hudson could hear as well.

The voice that answered was crackling with static but unmistakably efficient. “Shoot.”

“We’re at this old bookstore near the Dominion,” Kage began, his eyes flicking around the room. “The place looks rough andunkept, yet it’s still open. Can you check if there are any anomalies with its business records? Also, see if there’s anything about tunnels linked to the property. The name is Whispering Pages Bookstore.”

“On it,” Darnell replied. The line beeped as he started working in the background.

Hudson stopped pacing and focused on the conversation. His mind buzzed with possibilities—hidden rooms, secret exits, maybe even a whole network beneath their feet.

That certainly seemed like something that Lennox would make use of. In fact, Hudson could see this business being a front for Illuminacon, the company Nox and Lennox owned and that funded the hunters and their experiments.

Kit would love this place. For that matter, so would Beckett. He could see the two of them spending hours mucking around while uncovering the many secrets that were potentially sitting below layers of dust and negligence.

The store itself bore evidence of a long-forgotten glory. There were shelves burdened with books that had turned yellow with age, their spines cracked and covers dusty.

It whispered stories of days when people shuffled through narrow aisles, fingers trailing along the rows of endless adventures and forgotten histories.

“This place has potential,” Hudson muttered. “Kit would love these first editions. Look at this—” He held out a copy of Moby Dick with what looked like an original cover illustration. It was not even behind glass to keep it safe.

“Nice. Guess this place does have a few good things.”

Hudson grinned, replacing the book carefully. “Kit would turn it into a haven for book lovers.”

“I can see that.”

“Got something.” Darnell’s voice cut through Hudson’s wandering thoughts.

“Let’s hear it,” said Hudson, leaning closer.

“The property is registered under a shell company that seems to dissolve and reform every few years—classic money laundering or front activity signals. And yes, there are blueprints that show an extensive basement not mentioned in any public record since 1958.”

Hudson exchanged a knowing glance with Kage. “What about connections to other locations or mentions of tunnels?”

“Old city records mention complaints from neighboring businesses about noises and vibrations during late hours—which could be from possible tunneling activities—decades ago, but nothing concrete was ever proven,” Darnell said.

“There we go,” Kage said decisively. “We’re going to need to get back down there.”

“Agreed,” Hudson replied.

“Darnell, keep us updated if you find anything more,” Kage said.

“Will do, Elder.”

“Thanks.” As Kage ended the call, Hudson and he returned to the back of the store. The hole where Hudson slammed his fist into the wall was glaringly obvious. As was the hidden door. Hudson sighed at the rickety staircase.

Kage joined him by the door. “You know, if we don’t alert someone to what we found, and our mates find out that we just ran off into unknown tunnels while following Don, who’s a hunter—”

“We’re going to get yelled at,” Kage finished.

“Me doubly.”

Kage snickered. “Right, then. I’m calling Austin, Denisha, and Maia before I take another step.”

Hudson pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Do you want to have one of your lieutenants pop in and grab whichever one of my mates and inner circle who’s going to insist on showing up here?”

“The more the merrier.”