08: STAY

ARIES

The moment I saw the discoloured bruises on her legs, I knew they weren't just injuries she'd brought upon herself. They had been inflicted on her by someone else. Judging from the size of the bruises, she'd been beaten for quite a while. Rage engulfed me at the thought of it.

"Strip," I said, and she frowned.

"What?"

I dragged in a sharp breath, impatient. I needed to know if she was just as bruised on every other part of her body.

"You heard me. Take off your clothes."

Her eyes widened.

"Right here?"

"If you can't do it yourself, I will."

When she stared at me, I realized why she looked so terrified. Cursing under my breath, I rubbed the back of my neck. I had given her the wrong idea.

"It's not what you think," I said, and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"It's not what I think? You're such a pervert," she hissed, her brows furrowed.

"I was concerned about the bruises on your legs. I was worried that you had more of them on your body. You said you don't have a wolf. I