The Fox-Wolf Bride

Chapter 22 — The Witch

Finn watched the beating from the darkness of the bushes.

The branches scratched softly against his coat, but he didn't move. Beside him stood Matthew, silent and still like a shadow.

The two wolves had been walking through the campus on routine patrol when they stumbled upon the scene.

Now they simply watched.

Across the path, under the dim light of a dying lamp, Stephanie's small group surrounded Florence.

Justice, Stephanie would have called it.

Finn knew better.

This wasn't justice.

This was cruelty wrapped in pack politics.

But he made no move to interfere.

Matthew shifted slightly beside him.

A dull thud echoed through the alley as another blow landed.

Florence's body jerked under the strike.

Matthew exhaled slowly through his nose.

"She's weak," he muttered quietly.

Another hit.

Wood against bone.

Matthew's jaw tightened.

"But they'll beat the life out of her at this rate."

Finn didn't answer immediately.

His eyes were fixed on Florence.

He watched every movement.

Every strike.

Every moment her body trembled under the impact.

"If she dies," Finn finally said calmly,

"it might even be a kindness."

Matthew turned his head slightly toward him.

There was no emotion in Finn's voice.

No anger.

No pity.

Just a quiet, clinical observation.

Another strike landed.

Florence's shoulders folded forward, but the wolves holding her arms forced her upright again.

Matthew frowned.

He had seen beatings before.

Pack discipline was nothing new.

But something about this one felt wrong.

Too long.

Too brutal.

Too pointless.

Finn remained completely still.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Something was beginning to bother him.

A normal wolf would have collapsed by now.

Even a trained fighter would struggle to stay conscious after this many hits.

Yet Florence remained upright.

Barely.

But still alive.

Another blow.

Matthew heard a faint crack.

Bone.

He flinched involuntarily.

Florence let out a small cry this time.

It wasn't loud.

More like the sound of someone whose body had finally reached its limit.

Matthew swallowed.

"Jesus..."

But Finn didn't react.

Not yet.

Stephanie raised her hand.

The beating paused.

She stepped forward toward Florence and said something quietly.

From this distance they couldn't hear the words.

Florence's head hung forward.

Blood dripped from her chin onto the gravel.

Stephanie grabbed her face, forcing her to look up.

She spoke again.

Matthew leaned forward slightly.

Still nothing.

Then Florence slowly shook her head.

Stephanie's expression changed.

Even from here Finn could see the shift.

Annoyance.

Frustration.

Then Stephanie stepped back.

And without warning—

She struck Florence herself.

Matthew blinked.

Stephanie hit her again.

And again.

Not controlled blows like the others.

These were personal.

Furious.

Matthew looked away.

For the first time since the beating started, he couldn't watch.

But Finn watched.

Every second.

His eyes had changed.

Something sharp had appeared in them.

Something calculating.

Another strike.

Florence's body swayed violently.

Another.

Matthew forced himself to glance back.

And froze.

Florence was still conscious.

Barely.

But conscious.

Matthew frowned.

That shouldn't be possible.

Even an alpha would have collapsed by now.

"What the hell…" he whispered.

Finn didn't answer.

His gaze had grown intense.

Studying.

Measuring.

Another hit landed.

Florence's knees buckled.

The wolves caught her before she fell completely.

Her breathing was shallow.

Blood soaked through the front of her shirt.

Finn tilted his head slightly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck.

"Even an alpha would've passed out by now."

Finn finally spoke again.

Quietly.

Almost thoughtfully.

"Yes."

Matthew looked at him.

"What do you think is wrong with her?"

Finn's lips curved slightly.

"That's the question, isn't it?"

Across the path Stephanie raised her hand again.

The beating stopped.

The wolves holding Florence loosened their grip slightly.

Stephanie leaned close to her.

Florence whispered something.

Matthew couldn't hear it.

But Stephanie's expression hardened.

She lifted her hand again.

Matthew turned away completely this time.

"I can't watch this."

But Finn still watched.

Something about Florence fascinated him now.

Not the cruelty.

Not the punishment.

But the endurance.

It wasn't normal.

Not even close.

Another strike landed.

Florence's body jerked again.

Then suddenly—

Footsteps.

Multiple.

Approaching fast.

Stephanie froze.

The wolves looked around sharply.

"Someone's coming," one of them hissed.

Instantly the group scattered.

They melted into the trees and shadows like ghosts.

Within seconds the path was empty.

Florence collapsed onto the ground.

Her body hit the gravel with a dull sound.

Matthew turned back.

For a moment the only sound was Florence's breathing.

Weak.

Uneven.

Barely there.

Finn stepped slightly forward in the bushes.

Florence was whispering something.

Her lips moved slowly.

Matthew leaned closer.

"Is she praying?"

Finn shrugged slightly.

"I don't care."

Matthew looked at him again.

"You seriously don't feel anything about this?"

Finn finally looked away from Florence.

He turned toward Matthew.

And smiled.

A calm, unsettling smile.

"No."

Matthew exhaled.

"You scare me sometimes."

Finn ignored the comment.

Instead he stepped out from the bushes.

Matthew followed reluctantly.

They walked slowly toward the path where Florence lay.

Her red hair was dark with blood now.

Her body barely moved.

Finn crouched beside her.

For a moment he simply looked at her.

Studied her.

Her ribs rose and fell weakly.

But they still moved.

Still alive.

After everything.

Matthew crossed his arms.

"I thought you said dying might be a kindness."

Finn nodded slightly.

"I did."

"So why are we still here?"

Finn stood up.

His smile returned.

Cold.

Curious.

Excited.

"Because," he said quietly,

"I think we just found something interesting."

Matthew frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

Finn turned toward him.

"We're going to look for the witch."

Matthew blinked.

"What?"

Finn started walking.

Matthew followed after him, confused.

"Why a witch?"

Finn didn't slow down.

Behind them Florence lay motionless on the ground.

Her whispering had stopped.

But her chest still rose.

Still fought for breath.

Finn glanced back once.

Just once.

"Because," he said calmly,

"something about that girl isn't natural."

Matthew looked back at Florence too.

Then he hurried after Finn.

And the two wolves disappeared into the darkness.

Leaving the broken red wolf behind.

But the night wasn't finished with her yet.