Full Moon Foretold (Full Moon Werewolves Book 3) Page 3

  Hunter went through the options the doctor discussed with him. “Please, man. I trust you.”

  “What if I make a mistake and kill you? Do you know how strong werewolves are at my age?” Gary was nearly shouting.

  Hunter had only seem him shift once when he was saving them from Elise’s mom, who was trying to kill them. “It’s still worth it.”

  “Maybe that risk isn’t worth it to me.”

  “Would you do it for Tori? For Van?”

  Gary shook his head. “Unfair.”

  “So I’m not your family?”

  “Dammit, Hunter, you are my family. Of course you are.”

  “Gary, you’re the only one I can ask, who I trust. Tori and Elise might not be able to turn me — it doesn’t always work on the opposite sex. And Rex — well I can’t ask him, can I? It’s illegal. And how would anyone know?” Hunter could see that Gary was wavering and continued. “You kept it a secret from all of us all those years.”

  “We were kids! You all had your own lives and were self-involved. I didn’t shift that often. I’m a lot stronger now. I have to talk to Tori.”

  Tori stepped into the room. “You two have been shouting, and I was in the kitchen. I heard.”

  “You mean you were listening.” Gary gave her a wry smile.

  “Hunter, are you very sure about this?” Tori sat next to him on the couch and held his hand. “This is forever. Some people won’t work with you if they know you’re a shifter.”

  “Fuck them. I don’t need more money. In fact, I made some deals this week to keep the Full Moon franchise going a while.”

  Tori and Gary exchanged a long look.

  “I want a fucking contract,” Gary said. “I trust you, but what if someone else like your studio finds out and sues me?”

  “They won’t. I’m going to say I was attacked in my office. Hans is recovering from the wound, and I’ll have a replacement for him and Tim tomorrow. I should be able to leave here tonight, sleep and get to work tomorrow, right?”

  “How should I know?” Gary asked. “I’ve never turned anyone before. Man, it’s a full moon week right now, too. I don’t even know how that will affect it.”

  Hunter shook his head slowly.

  “Changing your mind?” Tori put a hand on his arm. “It’s a lot to think about.”

  “No, I was realizing I had a vision about this last week, before any of this started, that I was bitten in the shoulder by a wolf, and was really happy about it. I think I even know what color wolf I’ll be.”

  “You saw yourself shifting? That shouldn’t happen right away. I think you have to recover from being turned, first.”

  “Hey, guys, where are you?” Rex’s voice sounded from the hallway. He came in the room. “What’s going on? I came by to see if Gary wanted to work out.” He looked at everyone.

  “Hey, Rex. I’d love to, but I can’t tonight. I pulled a muscle working with my stunt double today.” Gary waved him to a chair and turned to get him a drink. “We’re just talking about Hunter’s daughter.”

  “Yeah, that’s a lot. How are you doing? I know you’ll have new security tomorrow, which is good because I understand there’s going to be a big protest there tomorrow.”

  “There’s always protests,” Hunter said. “But I got a memo from the studio about this one. Apparently it’s better organized than the others.”

  “Maybe you three should avoid the studio tomorrow,” Rex said.

  Hunter was already shaking his head. “I can’t. Things are really moving on Full Moon Foretold. I have to get in there.”

  “I have to finish meeting with the writing team about the changes Hunter wants.” Tori stood.

  “I’m not sure I’m scheduled tomorrow but I will be there if Tori might be in danger.”

  “Are you three even listening to me?” Rex blew out a breath. “Fine. My wife will not be there if I have to tie her down.” He stalked out of the room.

  Gary followed him to see him out and check with the guard at the door.

  “The protest is perfect. Bite me near the back patio. People go back there to smoke because it’s off the cameras. Then you run and get help for me.” Hunter knew this was the right thing to do. He could feel it.

  “Hunter… I don’t know about this. I’ll have to lie to the police. They’ll see that no one else was nearby.”

  “You’ll be in wolf form.”

  “And that’s not noticeable?”

  “Come from makeup,” Tori spoke up. “Less noticeable there. You and I will be seen making out near the dressing areas where we’ve been doing stills and training lately. Then you shift, and head to the back patio. It’s not that far. Snarl if anyone approaches. Hunter, pull the fire alarm. I read somewhere that the residue won’t stay on fingers after you shift. I was going to use it as a plot point.”

  “What if another shifter confronts me?” Gary sighed. “I’m doing this. I know you’ll find someone else if I don’t do it. But don’t like it.”

  Hunter went to hug his friend, and Tori put arms around them both.

  Hunter didn’t eat breakfast the next morning. He was afraid he’d throw up after the bite, and he didn’t want to be seen with vomit all over himself.

  An hour before the protest was scheduled, he gave up on trying to get work done and walked down to makeup. He knew Kat was going to get measured today so they could start her costumes and werewolf conversion outfits for the beginning shooting. They would do more when she was feeling better, but he was excited to see her working at the studio.

  Hunter had a conversation with both her and Corrine the night before. It was awkward, and it was all he could do not to talk about what he was going to do. Yet Corrine could still make him laugh.

  He pushed open the door of the makeup area and stopped. Kat was in front of the mirror, wearing the fringed top and long skirt her character would wear at her supposed music audition before she got turned into a werewolf.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said quietly, meeting her eyes in the mirror. He was picturing her mother, wearing something oddly similar for her first day as the teacher on the show. He’d been hyper aware of Corrine’s every move. He brought her tea at the break, after hearing her ask for it, and talked to her every chance he could get. He loved being with Corrine intimately, but he was happy just to be around her.

  “Hunter?” Kat was asking him something.

  “Sorry, I was thinking how much you look like your mother.”

  “You know, she said you were the one that got away.”

  “Got away?” That struck a nerve. “She left.”

  “Yeah, well, I know that now.”

  “How did you figure out who I was?” He nodded at the artists, who went to get materials to start on her hair.

  “She had materials about you in a safe, in case something happened to her. She just said you were another actor who abandoned her. So I looked you up, and watched all the shows. And I thought there was more to it.”

  “There was. But we can’t keep thinking about the past,” he said. Maybe he’d believe it if he kept saying it. He wanted to say more, but knew he had to get moving. “I’m glad you came,” he said, before hurrying to the back patio.

  Tori had shown him a picture of what Gary looked like as a wolf just in case someone else shifted. Hunter thought it was unlikely that someone else would be a huge black wolf with green eyes but he was glad he’d looked at the picture.

  He’d left his phone in his office on purpose. It was a bit smoky on the patio, and he heard raised voices in chants outside.

  He was shaking by the time he heard the growl behind him. Why did he want to do this again?

  The wolf seemed to be waiting.

  “Yes, I still want to do this. Hurry up.” Hunter wanted this done. He pulled the fire alarm on the nearby wall.

  The wolf shook his head and made a sighing noise much like one Gary would actually make in human form. Hunter started to move to sit on the patio when a shot rang o
ut.

  Gary looked around then sprung towards Hunter.

  Hunter had been shot, though it seemed to have grazed his shoulder. If he hadn’t been moving, it would have it something else, in his chest or torso. The wolf was looking him in the eye.

  “I’m okay — do it.”

  He felt teeth where his head and neck were joined, and closed his eyes, as the bite went deeper. It hurt a lot.

  Then he heard another shot, and Gary released him, making an odd sound.

  “You’re shot,” Hunter said weakly, seeing blood run down into his shirt. “I’ll get help.”

  Gary made a sound like a sharp bark.

  Hunter pulled one of the heavy chairs between them and the window where he thought the shooting was coming from. He was losing feeling in his shoulder but he got his shirt off, then his t-shirt, ripping off a strip as best he could and tying it around Gary’s leg.

  There was no movement at the corner window, just the two holes to let him know someone shot at them.

  A scream told him Tori found them.

  “Get back!” he yelled. “Someone shot at us!”

  The wolf was trying to move, to get to Tori.

  “She went the other way; don’t worry.”

  “Hunter.” It didn’t sound like Elise this time as he realized he was in the hospital again. “Oh, Hunter, what did you do?” It was Corrine.

  “Did I get turned?”

  “You fool man. You could have been killed! I knew you did that on purpose. So you could match Katrina, right?” She was nearly hissing in his ear. “The police suspect something, too.”

  “Gary?”

  “Your wolf friend is fine. He’s saying he wanted to protect you from the shooting, and changed, and accidentally bit you.”

  “That is exactly what happened. Gary would never bite me.”

  “I remember what you all were like, remember? Family. I think you got him to do this on purpose. But why have someone shoot at you?”

  “Did anyone else get hurt at the studio? Kat? Tori?”

  “No. No sign of the shooter.”

  Hunter stayed quiet, Corinne gripping his hand, as the doctor came in. He didn’t recognize the room he was in, he realized.

  “Mr. Gladson, I’m Dr. Alice Okai. You are at the Shifter Hospital. Do you know why?”

  “I was turned?”

  “We don’t know. You’re under observation. Your adrenaline was high when you were bit, more so than usual likely due to the shot, and with it being the full moon part of the cycle. Chances are you could turn more quickly than usual.”

  Hunter tried to look worried. “What will happen now?”

  “The place where the bullet grazed your shoulder took some muscle damage, but from what I can see here,” she lifted the pad on his shoulder, “you are healing quickly. You definitely have shifter properties now.”

  She sat back. ”We have materials for you on shifting, and a support group for those who have been turned. The police would like to speak to you, but I know you’ve been through a lot.”

  “Police?” He didn’t know if he could lie to Rex.

  “A Detective Oson?”

  He should get an Academy Award, he thought, for acting concerned and confused. “I don’t remember much. I know Gary rushed to save me, and I saw him change. I think he bit me by accident when he pushed me out of the way of the bullet.”

  Hunter kept repeating that as the detective asked him questions. The man wasn’t as intense as Rex, and didn’t know Hunter as well, so it made it a bit easier.

  When the doctor came back, he asked her how soon his DNA would change.

  “I’d say no more than a week for your bones and blood to change. If you shift, it could be faster.”

  Hunter kept nodding, trying not to show excitement.

  Corrine came back in the room, with Katrina.

  “Don’t go too close, Kat,” Corrine warned. “She started treatment this afternoon, and has to stay away from germs.”

  “Hunter, I know you must be upset. But when you’ve been a wolf for a while, you may be a match for my marrow.”

  He smiled. “That’s wonderful, honey. I’m glad something good came out of it.”

  When she left, Corrine stayed behind. “I’ll be right there, Kat. Go back to the treatment room.”

  “You were always a talented actor, Hunter. But I know you did this,” her voice broke. “You wonderful man. I didn’t want you to change your life for me. And now you’ve still done it.”

  “Corrine. I would have done it back then for you,” he said softly. “Knowing you were sick and that you chose to leave me rather than let me help, that hurt the most.”

  Tears rolled down her face. “I know. I didn’t know if my treatment was going to work. I couldn’t see keeping you with me if I wasted away. You were a rising star; starting your life.”

  “I wanted to be with you.”

  She hurried from the room, and Detective Rodriguez came in, holding Elise’s hand.

  Elise walked up next to where he was sitting in the bed and gave him a big hug. “I’ll help you through this,” she said.

  Rex stood at the end of his bed, holding his gaze. “You should come to the support group with Marcus, Elise, and I, but it’s really more for those turned against their will.”

  “Gary didn’t do it on purpose, but it wasn’t something I’d planned in my life.”

  “Your life is full of surprises lately. Your new security guard is outside the door now, Gladson. And your studio is working on new insurance for you so they won’t even allow you on property for a while.”

  Hunter wasn’t acting at the distress those words cost him but the detective wasn’t done.

  “Plus everyone who works with you, or used to work with you, is now under investigation.”

  “You don’t think this was a protestor?”

  “Honestly, Gladson, you still aren’t taking this seriously. Two of your friends have been shot; you’ve been shot and turned into a damned werewolf. Think about who could have done this to you. I want a list of possible names from you tomorrow morning, starting with that Parter you were arguing with the other day. Why would that kid suddenly want to shoot you? Anyone, anyone at all with a beef against you. I’m thinking it has to do with your work since the attacks are centered there. Someone from when you were on the TV series as a kid?”

  “You know, the timing of this bothers me too,” Rex continued. “An old flame returns, you have a daughter suddenly, and attacks on you escalate. Did someone else want to date Corrine? Aaron perhaps?”

  “You’re really reaching, Detective. He’s my best friend.”

  “Elise’s mother tried to hurt all of you. She killed her own son, Elise’s brother. I’m going to be looking at everyone.”

  “Rex!” Elise straightened from where she was holding his hand. “I can’t believe you’re talking about that.”

  “You’re taking it seriously now, aren’t you, Gladson? I want that list by morning.”

  “You’re not the detective on this case.”

  Rex snorted. “You’ll send it to me. And him. Elise? Let’s go, honey. I know you want to see Gary too. Hunter has some thinking and writing to do.”

  Hunter made notes after Rex and Elise left. He knew there were disgruntled actors, agents and others he’d done business with who didn’t love him. Tori brought his phone, laptop, briefcase, and Gary’s things to the shifter hospital, and he was so grateful, especially as he had to work.

  “Hey, buddy.” Aaron leaned against the doorway.

  “Hey yourself. They sprung you from your hospital?”

  “Yeah, although I may have better belonged here.” Aaron’s smile had an odd twist.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that my dear mother is still lying to me.”

  Before Aaron’s mother disappeared, she hadn’t been around much. She always had different boyfriends, and went through jobs and money. He’d moved in with Karen and Hunter and
worked to get acting gigs after she vanished.

  “Your father wasn’t human?”

  “Hell, I don’t know if she was. They took some marrow from the hospital to see if I’d be a match for Katrina, and when I was released, they asked me to come here for further analysis. That Dr. Alton, the head guy here, said he’s never seen a DNA structure exactly like mine.”

  “No shit. I knew you were weird.”

  “Screw you. But hey, maybe I’m a match!”

  “You always seemed like my brother. It would be cool if your DNA was close to my daughter’s.” Hunter wondered if he’d been bitten for no reason. But now at least he’d be able to live as long as Corinne. He realized he wanted her back. Forever.

  “I’m getting Corinne back,” he said to Aaron.

  Aaron came and sat on the chair next to him. “I didn’t need a vision to know that, Hunter. Now how did you get Gary to agree to bite you? And who shot you?”

  “The shooting was unplanned.”

  Aaron’s eyebrows rose into his messy dark waves. “So you did get him to bite you. And who the hell wants you dead so badly?”

  Hunter closed his eyes. He felt kind of dizzy. “I don’t know. Rex wants me to give him a damn list tomorrow.”

  He reached for his phone, and realized his hand was turning into a paw with claws.

  Aaron ran out into the hallway, calling for help. Soon Dr. Okai came in, with Dr. Alton.

  “Doctor Alton, I think he’s shifting.”

  “Yes, it’s unusual, but so were the circumstances of his turning. Let’s see if we can get him outside. He might be more comfortable.”

  Hunter felt pulling in all his limbs. He was desperate for something, but he didn’t know what. His bones burned. They hurt.

  “Hunter.” Gary was limping, leaning on Tori, over the protests of the hospital staff. “Let me help you.”

  “Okay. Let’s get him out of his clothes. Then we’ll walk him outside with his friend. It’s more private in the back on the edge of the preserve.”

  Hunter felt everything in him pause. Aaron started helping him take off his shirt, though he could tell his claws tore the fabric.

  The group got him undressed, into a loose robe and walked him outside. He could barely stay upright on his paws, but he did it. As soon as his feet hit the cool grass, his body felt relief. He could hear the muscles and bones changing and stretching, and he was wincing inside at the same time as he felt he was coming into himself, into his body, for the first time.