poverty and shame. I knew you loved me, even when you said you did not."
"You thought I wouldn't care that you were a serial killer, a cannibal, the murderer of my family?"
"Those things were means to an end. So I could become Weendigo. So I could make us the alpha pair.
We will live forever, querida. Together."
Not.
"How did you find me?"
"Were you hiding?" He appeared amused.
" Jdger-Suchers are... I mean we - "
"Are supposed to be a secret. True. To the general public. But the werewolves know you exist. Your friend Man-denauer is something of a legend, maybe a bogeyman. So are you, Leigh. When I make you one of us, werewolves all over the globe will cheer."
"I'm so glad they'll approve," I muttered.
"Ever sarcastic. It's one of your charms."
I chose to ignore that. If he found my sarcasm charming, I was in big trouble. Oh, wait. I was in big trouble.
"I still don't understand how we ended up in the same town. At this time of year."
I needed to keep him talking until I figured out what to do or someone found me. Which could take quite a while.
"I brought you to Crow Valley." He tilted his head and the light caught his blue eyes. For an instant the irises appeared red, as if a camera flash had gone off or a demon waited inside. "I thought you knew that."
"Brought me?"
"It wasn't hard. I control this town. I am the alpha here already. I tell them who to kill. They bring the bones to this place."
Ding, ding, ding. The light went on.
"No human remains, no FBI," I murmured.
Hector just smiled.
"But dead wolves would bring the DNR at the least."
"Jager-Suchers eventually," he agreed.
"How did you know they'd send me?"
"You are the best, querida. Who else would they send?"
Gee, it paid to be at the top of my field.
"I don't understand why the other werewolves would follow you. You're murdering your own kind for power."
"Oh, they don't know it's me."
"What?"
"Any wolf that's seen me kill one of them is dead."
"How are you going to explain becoming supreme fur boy?"
"By the time they figure out what I'm up to, I'll be unstoppable, and they'll be happy about it."
"You think?"
"Of course." He winked. "Because I'll be giving them you."
"Excuse me?"
"The most successful werewolf-hunting Jdger-Sucher next to Edward Mandenauer will be the werewolf queen. You won't be killing them anymore. They'll lie down at my feet and roll over."
"And if someone figures this out before then?"
"I'll just give them Fitzgerald. He's going to have to go anyway."
My heart stuttered and seemed to stop. "W-why?"
"He touched you. He dies." Hector shrugged. "I need a sacrifice for the night of the blood moon. Damien will do nicely."
I'd wondered how much I cared for Damien; now I knew. The thought of him dying practically paralyzed me.
The entire time Hector and I had been talking I was desperately searching for, frantically trying to think of, a way out. My heart thundered and my hands shook. But at least I no longer felt like fainting.
Until Hector got off the bed and came toward me. I did not want him touching me.
"Are you ready?"
"F-for what?"
"To become."
My mouth fell open. I must have looked like a supreme idiot. "But - but the ceremony takes place on the night of the hunter's moon."
He strode closer. I took a step back. "Of course it does."
"Then what - why?"
His slim manicured hand reached out and grabbed me so fast I didn't have time to run. As if I could. His breath brushed my face and I shuddered. The black lights flashed again. So much for not feeling faint.
"Come here."
He drew me forward. I had enough sense left to hold back. Hector made an impatient sound. "I must tie you up, querida."
He tugged me to his bed and shoved me onto it. I struggled, but in minutes I was bound hand and foot.
My judo expertise was worthless. Boy, did I miss my gun.
Since the only weapon I had left was words, I used them. "You have to tie me down to do me. Pretty pathetic, Hector."
He merely smiled. I hated that smile.
"You are under the mistaken impression that I plan to do you tonight."
I blinked.
"But as much as I might enjoy it, that would be wasteful. I will take you under the full moon, as every werewolf watches. But before that happens, we must address one minor point."
"What's that?" I aimed for a strong, confident voice; what I got was near to a whimper.
"As kinky