Chapter 11 · The Door She Hid

"Hands off the girl."

Aiden's voice cuts through the dark before I even see him. I'm still on the concrete floor, blood drying under my nails, and Cain's already moving. Rex is faster. Both of them plant themselves between me and the stairs like I'm something that needs a wall.

"Easy." Aiden steps into the low light, alone. No pack scent. No backup. Just him in a black coat that's seen too many fights, holding a file folder like it might explode. "I'm not here to start something."

Cain doesn't drop his hand. "Thirty seconds. Tell me why I don't rip your throat out."

"Because I'm the one who hid the curse."

Everything stops.

I shove to my feet. My legs shake but I don't care. I walk past Cain, past Rex, right up to Aiden, and I slap him so hard the crack echoes off the tile.

His head snaps sideways. He doesn't block. Doesn't even flinch.

"You knew." My voice comes out raw. "Three years. You knew what he did and you said nothing."

Aiden touches his jaw. Red spreads across his cheek. "I didn't know the whole thing. Not at first."

"Bullshit."

"I knew he cursed you."