Chapter 11

**Chapter 11**

**Aria’s POV**

I halted abruptly, my heart lurching in my chest as if it had encountered an unexpected obstacle.

“What is it, Mr. Curt?” I inquired, striving to maintain a facade of calm, even as my wolf stirred within me, sensing the tension in the air.

Kevin Curt leaned casually against one of the supply boxes, a greasy smirk etched onto his face that made my skin crawl. The glint of his gold chain caught the afternoon sun, shining obnoxiously like a trophy awarded to a man who had far too high an opinion of himself. The scent that clung to him was a nauseating blend of oil, stale beer, and an overwhelming sense of arrogance. I fought the instinct to wrinkle my nose in disgust.

He regarded me with a predatory gaze, as if I were a cornered animal—small, vulnerable, something he could toy with before deciding whether to strike. The way his eyes roamed over me sent my wolf into a restless pace within me, a warning that something wasn’t right.

“Someone did us a good deed,” Kevin drawled, his voice smooth and slick, almost syrupy. “Shouldn’t we show a little appreciation?”