Page 45 of Seduced Wolf

And hopefully he’ll talk…

“Want to watch a movie?”

I look up to see Holly’s wrapped herself up in a thick cardigan that reaches her knees. She’s holding it closed with her crossed arms, her face guarded as she waits for my response.

She doesn’t want to talk anymore.

She wants to disappear into mindless entertainment and forget the unanswered questions circling us, ominous and wary. They won’t be giving their answers up easily. Someone is too invested in keeping them silent.

I nod, smiling. “Great idea.” Patting the couch, I move over to give her room. “You pick.”

Holly looks so fragile. So far from the robust, cheerful girl I know. I can’t be the one to tip her over the edge. So I nestle into the couch as she puts onPaddington, of all things. I suppose a teddy bear roaming London is certainly escapism.

I zone out as soon as it starts, mulling over Peter’s texts just as much as what Holly’s told me. I try to call Chase when I duck to the bathroom, but it just goes to message bank. I suppress a frown as I make myself comfortable on the couch, but I can’t stop myself from glancing toward the window and registering the sun’s slowly sinking into late afternoon.

Where is he?

And why do I have an uneasy feeling coiling through my insides like a black serpent?

Chapter18

Chase

The Wild Heart building sits at the edge of the forest. I always thought it was so we’re away from prying human eyes. As close to nature as a shifter can be, here in the city.

But now that I know it was likely the first Night Fang building, I see it in a different light. This was the first step in the transition from the wilds. Yet also the only line of defense from any humans who could be a threat. It was a place where shifters could safely be both wolf and human.

All signs of the ball are gone now, the front doors closed and locked. The windows gracing the two storeys dark and curtained. I walk past it to the trees beyond, thinking about my conversation with Zayn. He’s the reason I’m here, clutching at straws. Our conversation once I reached the precinct filters through my mind.

“Anything?” I’d asked Zayn the moment he answered.

He’d huffed. “Peter’s not talking. He’s mostly just been crying. Saying he can’t believe Aria betrayed him like this.”

My hand had tightened around the cell and I had to consciously unwind so I didn’t break it. Aria has gone to extreme lengths to help her brother.

He’s being an ungrateful ass.

“Maybe he needs time,” I’d ground out, trying to be diplomatic.

“The only thing he said is he was kept in a dark room in an unknown location, no one spoke to him. Yesterday, they gave him a burger and he fell asleep, then woke up outside the club.”

“Which is plausible. Night Fang are smart enough to cover their tracks.”

“They’re slippery bastards, that’s for sure.”

“I’m still on their tail though,” I’d said. “Andre discovered they used to be linked to Wild Heart. They were the original owners of the pack building.”

“Wow…” Zayn had breathed.

As I heard the way he drew out that one word, as if he was mulling over all the ramifications, I got an idea. “I’m going to check it out.”

Gravel crunches under my shoes as I make my way around the building, Zayn’s parting words to be careful echoing in my mind. I fully intend on doing that.

Just like I fully intend on getting to the bottom of this.

The forest behind the Wild Heart building stretches out and I walk toward it, wondering about the first wolves who left the wilds. Did they realize civilization is just as dangerous, possibly more? Probably not. And when they discovered the truth, Night Fang was there for them.

The organization’s roots were well meaning. Good, even.

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