Page 14 of Seduced Wolf

“To be honest, his whining is getting bothersome. Last time we did something to him, he wouldn’t shut up for the full night.” The masked man angles his head in thought. “Although, that might just be because his finger was lopped off. Who am I to judge why a man screams?”

“If it’s that annoying, then why don’t you just give my brother back!” I snarl.

The masked man sighs. “Despite how this must look, I truly do pity you. Honestly,” he says, his voice softening again. “It wasn’t my intention for you to whore yourself out for the money. But whatever it takes. You do what you have to do.”

I focus on the anger trying to gain life. This man is cold and calculating in ways that makes me furious. I’ve been forced to endure everything I’ve been through, all for money and greed.

He leans forward again, making my heart stutter. “Tell you what, seeing I feel sorry for you, here’s what I can offer. Your earlier message said you’re working on getting me the money soon. Give me what you have now, and I can defer Peter’s punishment.” He pauses. “For now.”

I blink. I have five thousand on me right now, far, far less than the number the organization is asking for. I wish I could see the masked man’s face to know what he’s thinking. He’s being this unpredictable on purpose, to throw me off.

“Don’t misunderstand, Aria,” he says. “I will be expecting payment soon, but something else needs my attention, and a screaming banshee isn’t something I need on my plate right now. So, what will it be?”

He's planning something—he definitely has some sort of motive in mind for approaching me with this deal. But it doesn’t matter right now. I have no choice. This is the easiest decision I’ve had to make so far. It may not buy Peter’s freedom, but it buys us the time to find him and set him free.

Without saying a word, I dig into my purse and place a stack of bills in his hand. The masked man straightens and starts counting, giving a small chuckle as he motions towards the red-eyed man to take the cash from him. “Five-thousand? You have quite the way to go, Aria… And although it’s not my place to judge how you plan to raise the rest, it’s going to mean either getting on your back again or your dear Big Bad Wolf is going to bankrupt the company for your sake.”

I glare at him. “How do you know about the company?”

The masked man stares at me for a few seconds, and although I can’t see his features through the mask, I get the feeling he’s amused.

“Oh, you sweet, sweet child,” he mocks. “Youreallyhave no idea what you’re getting into.”

Chapter6

Chase

My head pounds like a war drum, each sound a sharp dagger through my skull. As I slowly come to my senses, I find myself in an unfamiliar room, bathed in the soft morning light of Aria's house. She's nowhere to be seen, and that realization sparks a flicker of panic.

My eyes scan the room, I spot a glass of water and a few Motrin pills on the bedside table. Relief washes over me; she was here, but now she's probably off to Wild Heart. She was excited to start fleshing out the concepts for the shifter compound.

As my brain kicks into gear, I reach for my phone, only to be greeted by Aria’s voicemail. I send a message, and then another. They’re both delivered, but not read.

A nagging feeling creeps in; like this is more than just dedication to her pack. Something doesn't add up. I could easily track Aria down, but I decide against it. She doesn't need my obsession, not when a simple message should suffice. She's a shifter in her own right, and I need to acknowledge that.

I’ve just finished getting dressed when my cell rings. It’s Zayn.

"Yes?”" I say, gut already tightening. After the way we finished after the chat with Aria, Zayn wouldn’t be ringing without a reason.

"Hey, are you coming to the precinct? The autopsy results should be ready in forensics now."

I’m already striding to the door. With Zayn also heading there, it's a chance to kill two birds with one stone. I need to speak to him, and maybe the autopsy will provide vital clues about what happened in that unfortunate hotel room. Maybe it’ll provide clues leading to the true identity of the red-eyed man.

Perhaps, if I'm lucky, it might unveil the identity of the mole within our ranks.

"Yeah, I'm on my way there now."

* * *

Zayn's arrival coincides with mine, and shortly thereafter, our police chief, Gail, joins us. Her exhaustion is palpable, and Zayn, though less irked than when he left the bar that day, still maintains a hint of aloofness as we step inside.

"How are things looking?" Gail asks as we enter.

We don’t get to answer, because one of the forensics team is already walking toward us.

"If you'd like to follow me," he offers with a smile.

Gail nods curtly, and we make our way into a white lab-like room where two lifeless forms rest under white sheets. A woman with a tablet walks between them, occasionally lifting the sheets covering their faces to scrutinize the grim scene.

---