Wade had seen something similar a long time ago. Only the key would remove it, which he didn’t have. He ran his fingers along the razor-thin collar, wishing like hell that he could remove it.
“Drew’s debt isn’t yours, and his death was self-defense, Alex.”
“Tell that to the demon after me,” his mate said. “I saw him tonight. Floating eyes in the woods. It was his way of reminding me he hasn’t forgotten.”
“How much did Drew owe?” Wade rubbed Alex’s arm in slow, gentle movements, almost bracing himself for the answer.
“Drew never told me,” Alex confessed. “I asked him repeatedly when he said he told Valcore half the debt was mine. He refused to tell me, and I was too terrified of the demon to ask. I don’t even know what Drew owed him money for.”
Wade closed his eyes and breathed deeply, dreading the question he was about to ask. “Are you certain it was money Drew owed him?”
Maybe that’s why Drew wouldn’t tell Alex. Maybe it was something other than monetary value.
“What else could a debt be other than money?” Alex asked, seemingly genuinely perplexed.
“Servitude. A soul. Murder for hire. Do you really want me to go on?”
Alex paled.
“But it could be money.” Wade hated he’d put those thoughts inside his mate’s head.
“Too late,” Alex replied. “You just fed my worst nightmare. Thanks.”
Wade watched the color drain from Alex’s face, guilt twisting in his stomach like a rusted blade. He’d spoken without thinking, letting his own knowledge of demonic contracts spill out when his mate was already drowning in fear.
“Hey.” Wade cupped Alex’s face in his hands, thumbs brushing across sharp cheekbones. “Whatever Drew owed, whatever kind of debt it was, you’re not responsible for it. That’s not how it works.”
“Isn’t it?” Alex’s voice cracked. “Valcore seemed pretty convinced I’d inherited the whole mess.”
Wade’s jaw clenched. Demons were notorious for twisting the truth, for making their victims believe they had no choice but to comply. It was psychological warfare disguised as supernatural law.
“Demons lie,” Wade said firmly. “It’s what they do. They manipulate and intimidate to get what they want. Just because Valcore says you owe him doesn’t make it true.”
Alex searched his face, desperate hope flickering in those blue eyes. “But what if it is? What if by killing Drew, I really did—”
“You didn’t.” Wade’s voice came out rougher than he intended. The thought of his mate carrying this burden, believing he was trapped by some demonic contract, made his wolf snarl with protective fury. “Alex, listen to me. Debts don’t transfer through murder. That’s not how it works.”
“Then why is he after me?” Alex’s hands fisted in Wade’s shirt. “Why show up at the house tonight if he doesn’t think I owe him something?”
Wade considered this, his mind working through the possibilities. Demons operated on their own twisted logic, but there was always a reason behind their actions. Always an angle.
“Maybe it’s not about the debt,” Wade said slowly. “Maybe it’s about something else entirely.”
Alex frowned. “Like what?”
“Think about it. Drew lures you to that house, already knowing you’re a shifter, already having this collar ready to trap you in human form. That takes planning. Preparation.” Wade’s fingers traced the slim band around Alex’s throat, hating the feel of the cold metal against his mate’s warm skin. “What if Drew wasn’t planning to kill you at all? What if he was planning to deliver you to Valcore?”
The idea hit Alex like a physical blow. Wade felt him go rigid, saw the moment understanding dawned in his expression.
“As a slave or something?” Alex whispered.
“Maybe.” Wade’s hands tightened on his mate’s face. “Drew might’ve been trying to pay off his debt by handing you over. When you killed him instead, Valcore lost his prize.”
“But… They why did Drew try to kill me?”
Alex’s breathing quickened, panic edging into his voice. “So now he wants to collect directly.”
“I didn’t say my assumption made sense.” Wade pressed his forehead against Alex’s, trying to anchor him with touch and proximity. “But demons can’t just grab whoever they want and claim ownership. There are rules, even in the supernatural world. One of them being that you can’t interfere in a mating.”
