Chapter 16 - A Quiet Plan for Revenge
1322 Words
Stephanie pushed open Kevin’s bedroom door without knocking.
The room was dim, lit only by the lamp near the bed and the pale silver light of the moon slipping through the half-open window.
Kevin stood in front of the mirror fastening the last buttons of his dark patrol shirt.
His broad shoulders moved slowly beneath the fabric as he adjusted the collar.
Even before he turned, he knew she was there.
He always knew.
Their wolves recognized each other long before their eyes did.
Kevin looked at her through the mirror.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
“Not tonight,” he said finally.
His voice was calm, but there was tension beneath it.
Stephanie lowered her gaze.
She had expected that answer.
Since Alpha Elliot punished Kevin, something inside him had changed.
The punishment had not been brutal.
It hadn’t needed to be.
Elliot’s punishments rarely involved violence.
What he had taken from Kevin was something far worse.
Pride.
Authority.
Respect.
For two weeks Kevin had been reduced to nothing more than a patrol wolf.
No voice.
No influence.
No command.
And Kevin Tate had never been good at swallowing humiliation.
Stephanie walked slowly into the room and closed the door behind her.
Kevin turned back toward the mirror.
He reached for his belt.
“You should sleep,” he said without looking at her. “I’m leaving.”
Stephanie didn’t answer.
Instead she walked toward him.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like approaching a restless wolf.
She had known Kevin for years.
Long before they became lovers.
Before the late nights.
Before the stolen moments.
Before the kind of kisses that made it impossible to think clearly.
Kevin could be cruel.
Arrogant.
Dangerous.
But with her…
Sometimes he was something else.
Something warmer.
Something real.
Stephanie stepped behind him.
He was taller than her by almost a head.
She could feel the heat radiating from his body.
The faint scent of leather, soap, and forest air clung to his skin.
She leaned closer.
Her lips brushed the warm place behind his ear.
Kevin froze.
Stephanie smiled faintly.
Then slowly—
deliberately—
she ran her tongue along the sensitive skin beneath his ear.
Kevin inhaled sharply.
For a moment he stood completely still.
His hands tightened against the edge of the dresser.
Stephanie pressed closer, letting her chest rest lightly against his back.
Her breath warmed his neck.
“You still have fifteen minutes before patrol,” she murmured softly.
Her fingers slid slowly across his stomach and beneath the open edge of his shirt.
Kevin’s muscles tightened under her touch.
“You don’t have to be gentle tonight.”
That was all it took.
Kevin turned suddenly.
His hand closed around the back of her neck.
His mouth crashed against hers.
The kiss was hard.
Hungry.
Not patient.
Not careful.
Stephanie gasped softly against his lips, but she didn’t pull away.
Instead she kissed him back with equal intensity.
Their kisses were never shy.
Never delicate.
They had learned each other too well for that.
Stephanie’s fingers slid beneath his shirt, tracing the familiar lines of muscle across his chest.
Kevin lifted her easily and set her on the edge of the desk beside the window.
Papers shifted beneath her weight.
Her skirt rode higher as he pulled her closer.
For a moment they simply looked at each other.
The tension between them was thick.
Electric.
They had never been a fated pair.
Their wolves had never howled in recognition.
There was no ancient bond tying their souls together.
But the connection between them had grown slowly.
Through late patrols.
Through shared secrets.
Through quiet conversations that lasted until dawn.
And through moments like this.
Kevin brushed a strand of hair away from Stephanie’s face.
“You’re trouble,” he said quietly.
Stephanie smiled.
“You noticed?”
Kevin leaned forward and kissed her again.
This time slower.
Deeper.
Stephanie wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer.
Her fingers slid through his hair.
Kevin’s hands moved along her waist, pulling her toward him until there was no space left between them.
Stephanie let out a soft sound as his lips moved along her neck.
“Kevin…”
He paused briefly.
“What?”
“You’re still angry.”
Kevin gave a quiet laugh against her skin.
“Of course I am.”
Stephanie ran her fingers down his chest.
She understood his anger.
The punishment had humiliated him in front of the entire pack.
And Kevin Tate never forgot humiliation.
He rested his forehead briefly against hers.
“Tomorrow,” he said quietly, “it ends.”
Stephanie tilted her head.
“Your punishment.”
Kevin nodded.
“And then?”
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“I remind people why they shouldn’t cross me.”
Stephanie studied him carefully.
“You mean Florence.”
Kevin’s eyes darkened.
“Especially Florence.”
Stephanie leaned back slightly on the desk.
The moonlight painted silver lines across Kevin’s face.
“And how exactly are you planning to do that?”
Kevin’s fingers traced slowly along her thigh.
“There are many possibilities.”
Stephanie reached for his belt.
The leather strap slid easily from his waist.
She placed it on the desk beside them.
“And which possibility are you choosing?”
Kevin kissed her again.
Slowly this time.
Thoughtfully.
“Tomorrow night everyone will be at the Clark reception.”
“Music.”
“Politics.”
“Drinking.”
“No one will be paying attention.”
Stephanie’s expression changed slightly.
“And?”
Kevin’s voice lowered.
“No one will notice if Florence disappears for a few hours.”
Stephanie felt a small chill.
Kevin noticed.
“You’re worried?”
“I’m thinking.”
“About what?”
Stephanie brushed her fingers across his jaw.
“About consequences.”
Kevin smiled faintly.
“You always do.”
The rest of their time passed quickly.
They moved together like two wolves discovering something new each time.
Curious.
Hungry.
Careless with time.
For a little while Kevin forgot his anger.
And Stephanie forgot the quiet fear that always followed her thoughts of the future.
Eventually they separated.
Stephanie slid down from the desk, smoothing her skirt.
Kevin buttoned his shirt again.
For a moment they stood close together in silence.
Stephanie glanced toward the window.
“You know something?” she said quietly.
“What?”
“Many wolves hate us.”
Kevin looked at her.
“For what reason?”
“For being Florence’s pack.”
Kevin shrugged.
“Then I’ll fix that problem.”
Stephanie watched him carefully.
“How?”
Kevin fastened the last button of his shirt.
“I’ll find a way to remove her.”
He picked up his belt and wrapped it around his waist.
The metal buckle clicked into place.
Kevin leaned forward and kissed Stephanie one last time.
Short.
Firm.
Then he stepped back.
“Patrol.”
Without another word he left the room.
The door closed behind him.
Stephanie remained standing beside the desk.
For several seconds she didn’t move.
Then she reached slowly into the pocket of her jacket.
A small white tablet rested in her palm.
She swallowed it quickly with water from Kevin’s glass.
Her throat tightened.
Even though she was Kevin’s lover…
Even though they cared for each other…
She knew exactly what Alpha Elliot would do if she became pregnant.
The thought made her stomach twist.
Stephanie walked to the window.
Outside the moon hung high above the forest.
Torches flickered along the patrol roads.
Somewhere out there Kevin was already moving through the territory.
Already thinking about revenge.
Stephanie pressed her fingers against the glass.
“Please don’t do something stupid,” she whispered.
But she knew Kevin.
And Kevin Tate had never been good at letting things go.
Somewhere in the darkness of the forest—
revenge was already beginning to take shape.
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