The Fox-Wolf Bride

Chapter 25 — The Plan That Failed

Kevin entered his room long after the banquet had ended.

The celebration had gone well. The hall had been filled with laughter, music, and the low hum of political conversations. Important wolves had attended. Alliances had been strengthened. Rivals had been watched carefully.

Everything had unfolded exactly as Kevin had planned.

Or almost everything.

The corridor leading to his private chambers was silent now. Most of the guests had retired for the night, and the servants had already cleared the last of the banquet tables.

Kevin pushed open the door to his room and stepped inside.

Then he stopped.

Someone was sitting on his bed.

Stephanie.

She sat near the edge of the mattress, her back slightly hunched, staring straight ahead as if she had not noticed the door opening.

The lantern on the bedside table cast a dim golden light across the room. In that light Kevin could see her clearly.

Her hands were trembling.

Her fingers were clenched tightly around the blanket beneath them.

Her shoulders shook slightly.

For a moment Kevin simply watched her.

Then he quietly closed the door behind him.

The sound made her flinch.

She slowly lifted her head.

Her eyes were red.

She had been crying.

That alone surprised him.

Kevin walked toward the bed and sat beside her.

His movements were calm.

Controlled.

He slid his arm around her shoulders as if comforting a frightened child.

"My guards told me you handled the little informant quite well," he said softly.

Stephanie didn't respond.

Kevin studied her face.

Her eyes looked unfocused.

Distant.

Her lips moved slightly before any sound came out.

"You didn't see her."

Kevin tilted his head.

"See who?"

"Florence."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Kevin watched her carefully.

Stephanie's hands tightened around the blanket again.

Her fingers trembled violently.

"You didn't see what they did to her."

Kevin took her hand gently and pried her fingers loose from the fabric.

Her skin was cold.

"What frightened you so much?"

Stephanie finally looked at him.

Her eyes were filled with something Kevin did not expect.

Not guilt.

Not anger.

Fear.

"It wasn't normal," she said quietly.

Kevin waited.

"No one could survive that," she continued.

Her voice trembled again.

"No one."

Kevin's lips curved into a faint smile.

He reached out and brushed his fingers across her cheek.

"My dear Stephanie."

His voice was calm.

"So the sight of blood disturbs you after all."

Stephanie swallowed.

"You don't understand."

Kevin leaned back slightly against the headboard.

"Oh?"

Stephanie's breathing quickened.

"They beat her until there was nothing left."

Her voice cracked.

"I thought she would die."

Kevin nodded slowly.

"That was the idea."

Stephanie blinked.

"What?"

Kevin studied her expression with mild curiosity.

"My guards received very clear instructions."

Stephanie stared at him.

"What instructions?"

Kevin's smile widened slightly.

"To finish the matter."

Stephanie's stomach tightened.

"You told me to beat her."

Kevin leaned forward and placed a light kiss against her temple.

"I told you to beat her," he said softly.

Then he pulled back.

"But I told them to make sure she died."

The room went completely silent.

Stephanie slowly pulled away from him.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"You what?"

Kevin shrugged lightly.

"I grew tired of hearing about that pathetic little creature."

His voice was almost bored.

"So I gave them a simple order."

Stephanie shook her head.

"No."

Kevin raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"You told me this was about humiliating her."

Stephanie stood up suddenly.

Her hands were shaking again.

"You said it would break her."

Kevin watched her calmly.

"And it would have."

Stephanie took several steps away from the bed.

"You set me up."

Kevin's expression didn't change.

Stephanie laughed nervously.

"You were at the banquet."

She pointed toward the door.

"In front of everyone."

Kevin said nothing.

Stephanie's voice grew sharper.

"There are dozens of witnesses who saw you there."

Kevin folded his hands in his lap.

"Yes."

Stephanie stared at him.

"And I was the one with her."

Kevin nodded.

Stephanie's voice dropped.

"If Florence died tonight, everyone would believe I killed her."

Kevin tilted his head slightly.

Stephanie ran a hand through her hair.

"You gave yourself an alibi."

Kevin smiled.

"Stephanie."

His tone carried mild amusement.

"You volunteered."

Her eyes flashed.

"To scare her!"

She slammed her hand against the wall.

"Not to murder her!"

Kevin's smile faded slightly.

"You are being dramatic."

Stephanie shook her head violently.

"No."

Her voice trembled.

"Love or not, Kevin… this was a trap."

Kevin's expression changed.

Not anger.

Something colder.

More dangerous.

Stephanie's hands twisted together again.

"You used me."

Kevin slowly stood.

The shift in his posture made the room feel smaller.

"I gave you an opportunity."

Stephanie backed away.

"Opportunity?"

"To prove loyalty."

Stephanie's voice broke.

"You planned for her to die."

Kevin's eyes darkened.

"Of course."

Stephanie stared at him.

"But she didn't."

The words hung in the air.

Kevin froze.

For the first time that night his expression changed completely.

"What did you say?"

Stephanie swallowed.

Her throat felt dry.

"She didn't die."

Kevin took one slow step toward her.

"What do you mean?"

Stephanie forced herself to speak.

"Someone found her."

Kevin's jaw tightened.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Stephanie shook her head.

"But they took her to her parents' house."

Kevin felt a cold anger begin spreading through his chest.

"And?"

"The healer is already there."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Kevin cursed quietly.

"I gave clear orders."

Stephanie took another step backward.

"I didn't want to kill anyone."

Kevin moved faster than she expected.

His hand shot out and closed around her throat.

Stephanie gasped.

His grip tightened.

"You didn't want to?"

His voice had dropped to a whisper.

Cold.

Dangerous.

"I don't particularly care what you wanted."

Stephanie clawed at his wrist.

"You are responsible."

His eyes burned with fury.

"If Florence dies, it will be blamed on you."

Stephanie struggled to breathe.

"And if she lives?"

Kevin leaned closer.

His breath brushed her ear.

"Then you will correct the situation."

He released her suddenly.

Stephanie stumbled backward, coughing violently.

Kevin turned away and walked toward the window.

Outside the night was quiet.

But his thoughts were not.

Someone had interfered.

Someone powerful enough to stop his guards.

Kevin's fingers tapped slowly against the wooden frame.

Stephanie rubbed her throat.

Her voice shook.

"Who would do that?"

Kevin didn't answer immediately.

But his mind was already calculating.

There were not many wolves in the pack who would dare interfere with his plans.

Not many at all.

Slowly his expression darkened.

"Anthony."

Stephanie looked at him in shock.

"The alpha?"

Kevin turned back toward her.

His smile returned.

But it was colder now.

"If Anthony saved her…"

He paused.

Stephanie felt a chill run down her spine.

Kevin's eyes gleamed.

"This just became very interesting."

Stephanie shook her head.

"You can't fight the alpha."

Kevin walked toward her slowly.

"Oh, I don't intend to fight him."

He lifted her chin with two fingers.

"But you will help me solve our little problem."

Stephanie's stomach twisted.

"And if I refuse?"

Kevin smiled again.

The smile of a wolf who already knew the answer.

"You won't."

The lantern flame flickered slightly as a cold wind slipped through the window.

And somewhere in the pack territory—

Florence Drake was still alive.

A fact Kevin had never planned for.

And one he now intended to correct.