Page 16 of Seduced Wolf

Zayn meets my gaze head-on. "Do you know why we, as shifters, chose to hide from humanity? There was a time when we didn't," he begins, taking a deep breath. "But we were hunted down like animals, targeted and persecuted. We had to vanish from the world's eyes. Night Fang was created to keep us safe. They weren't always this corrupt and twisted, but something changed."

"What are you getting at?"

"I believe this goes deeper than we realize, beyond Aria and her brother," Zayn explains. "There's someone lurking in the shadows, someone benefiting from our chaotic scramble to find any shreds of a plan."

I nod, mulling over his words. With terse goodbyes, we part ways, heading to our respective cars.

As I slide into my vehicle, a thought crystallizes. There's one lead I haven't pursued yet—Holly.

During the attack by the red-eyed man, she’d been on the cusp of revealing something crucial about Night Fang. Thanks to Zayn's insights, I now understand that the club wasn't always this corrupt. This smacks of manipulation from an unseen hand.

I cast a long gaze at the club as I pull up.

It's time to seek answers, to peel back the layers of this intricate web.

Chapter7

Aria

My heart pounds like a drum, and my nerves quiver as I walk alongside red-eye, leaving the masked man behind. A quick glance over my shoulder reveals he’s vanished, leaving behind an oppressive silence that hangs in the air. The payment has offered me a brief reprieve, and for the time being, Peter's safety is secured.

Except the respite is fragile. The danger is still far too close.

The vile man escorting me away is proof of that.

We turn a corner and we’re surrounded by a throng of oblivious pedestrians, going about their daily business. It’s a culture shock to my senses, but also one to my whirling mind. Life was going on yards away as I bargained for my brother’s life. Each person who passes, never glancing at me, is blissfully unaware of the secret I carry.

Of the life I’m responsible for.

The masked man has temporarily vanished from sight. To my relief, the red-eyed man remains ominously silent. For the first time, I let myself think of Chase. I left him home alone, naively thinking I could dig a little deeper.

That I could handle what I unearthed.

He must be worried out of his mind. The urge to check my phone, to send him the lie that I’m okay is overwhelming, but the unstable individual tailing me stops me.

He must notice my furtive glances, because he casually falls into step beside me, a wicked grin creeping across his face. "See something you fancy?"

Rather than dignify his mockery with a response, I avert my gaze.

My act of defiance only seems to amuse the bastard as he bursts into unsettling laughter. “You've got spirit, Aria. I can almost see why my boss is keeping you around.”

I hunch my shoulders, wishing I could block out everything about him. The faint scent of blood that clings to him. The sinister threat that laces every one of his words. The faint protrusion under his jacket that’s no doubt a blade.

He leans in just a fraction. “Although you ruined my fun. I was so close to sending you a gruesome message today.”

A shiver skitters down my spine. It’s not just his sick excitement that disturbs me; it’s the realization that he finds pleasure in such violence. My anger flares, fueled by an overpowering disgust.

"You're repulsive," I snarl.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “That seems a tad unfair, considering I haven't done anything particularly repulsive.” He slides me a look. “Although, if you're offering to watch…”

I turn away, my heart aching and my gut churning. Something catches my eye, and for the first time in my life, I’m glad to see the club. For once, it will mean safety. A refuge.

A glance to my side reveals the red-eyed man has vanished. Relief courses through my veins as I do the one thing I’ve wanted to since I stumbled across Holly speaking to these dangerous men. I check my phone.

As expected, Chase had called and sent multiple texts, his worry obvious. I should never have snuck out. I should never have kept this from him.

I step into the club, my decision made. I’m going to tell him everything.

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