Page 37 of Seduced Wolf

I walk toward her, reaching out to rub the goosebumps on her arms. “None?”

"None of Peter’s fingers were missing."

My lips thin as Aria unerringly gets to the crux of the issue. Aria’s brother had all his fingers intact.

Aria looks up at me. “So whose finger was sent to me?”

A chill runs down my spine as my mind drifts back to the pictures Bane sent of his previous victims, including the ones in the red room. Why would Bane spare Peter from harm?

Unless kidnapping him wasn't his idea, and Peter’s a means to an end for someone else.

Aria bites her lip, her lashes fluttering as if she’s hesitating. I wait, remembering she said there were things she hadn’t told me.

“The red-eyed man. I met him.” A shudder ripples down her spine. “He wouldn’t have let Peter go unscathed.”

Stilling, I stop my hands from tightening around her shoulders. If I move, I might take her far away from here. Make us both disappear.

Aria pulls back enough so she can look me in the eye. “I followed the masked man from the club. He and the red-eyed man cornered me. Demanded money.”

My insides have turned to ice even as my blood pounds through my veins, as hot as lava. Aria was trapped by Bane and the masked man.

“The masked man wanted money in exchange for time. I gave him what I’d put together so far, five thousand dollars. He said that was enough for now, then let me go.” She lets out a breath. “I should’ve told you, but I wanted to protect you from all of this.”

My wolf is practically shredding me from the inside out. Aria was in mortal danger and I wasn’t there.

Because she was keeping secrets.

“Chase?” Aria asks, her hands reaching out to settle on my chest.

My gaze focuses back on her. On her beautiful face. On her trusting eyes. On the vulnerability she was brave enough to show me.

And I know I have to do the same for her. The time for secrets is over.

“The red-eyed man’s name is Bane,” I say in a low voice, a little stunned I’m speaking at all. “He’s a cold-blooded killer with a penchant for fucking with people’s minds.”

The color washes from Aria’s face. But then her brow furrows. “He needs to be stopped. Which means we need to find who that finger belonged to.”

“Bane is known for brutalizing his victims and mutilating them.” I squeeze her arms, trying to soften the harsh truth. “Even if we do discover who that finger belongs to, chances are they’re already dead.”

“But that means…”

I nod. “He never would’ve let Peter go unscathed.”

“So it was someone else…” Aria blinks as her body stiffens. “The man in the black mask.”

I nod again. “I’m starting to suspect he’s in this deeper than anyone else.” Drawing Aria in closer, I sigh. “He might even be pulling the strings of the entire thing.”

“He was terrifying, but not like Bane. He was…cold. Soulless.” Aria tucks herself against my chest and I breathe her scent in, appreciating the way she fits. “What’s next?”

I still, realizing this is my moment of reckoning. Aria isn’t asking whatwe’redoing next. She’s telling me she wants to face this together.

Not standing behind me. Not hiding behind platitudes and half-truths.

But beside me.

My eyes squeeze shut as the animal within me demands to be released, to end this conversation right now. The Big Bad Wolf would never let his mate face danger. He protects her at all costs.

But there’s a price it refuses to consider.

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