Chapter 142: The Plan
Chapter 142: The Plan
Rebecca’s POV
I took a slow breath and nodded to the maids. After a quick bath, I slipped into the beautiful blue dress they had brought. It fit my body perfectly.
Once I was ready, one of the maids walked ahead of me, leading me down the quiet, carpeted hallways.
We stopped in front of a pair of heavy oak doors. The maid knocked softly, pushed the door open, and stepped aside to let me pass.
I walked into the room and froze.
Alpha Kane was standing by the large window, dressed in a sharp black shirt and black pants. For a terrifying second, my heart skipped a beat, and my breath caught in my throat. Damn, he looks so much like Kaden.
They were identical twins, sharing the same strong jaw, the same length of hair, and the same tall, imposing frame. Just looking at his face instantly brought back the memories of the man who had tormented my dreams all through the night. I felt a sudden wave of panic, my body tensing up as if I were standing before Alpha Kaden.
"Come inside, Rebecca," Kane said, turning around to face me.
Hearing him speak broke the spell. His voice, his aura, and his eyes made me realize completely that this was not Kaden. Even though they shared the same face, they were entirely different. Kaden’s aura was always heavy, suffocating, and dripping with an angry, dark pressure. Kane’s aura was calm, smooth, and calculating.
I forced my legs to move, walking over to the leather couch across from his desk and sitting down.
"How was your night?" Kane asked, his eyes scanning my face.
"It was fine," I lied smoothly, keeping my voice level.
Kane nodded, a small, friendly smile playing on his lips. I could tell he didn’t believe me for a second, but he didn’t push the matter. Instead, he leaned back against his desk and crossed his arms.
"I want to help you," Kane started, his tone becoming serious. "But to do that, you need to play along."
I frowned, looking up at him. "Play along with what?"
Kane took a step closer, his eyes locking onto mine. "Kaden is my brother. We grew up together. I know him like the back of my hand. I know when he is angry. I know what drives him into a rage. I know when he truly hates someone... and I also know when he has fallen in love."
I let out a cold, breathless laugh, shaking my head in confusion. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because," Alpha Kane said, his voice dropping into a quiet whisper, "I know my brother is in love with you. He just hates himself too much to admit it."
The words felt like a sick joke. I instantly sat up straight, my hands gripping the edge of the couch. "In love with me? Yeah, right. If you say he loves to fuck me, I’ll take that. If you say he loves to torture me and treat me like a broken object, I’ll believe you. But love? No. He hates me. He thinks I’m a murderer."
"I know what I am talking about, Rebecca," Kane countered calmly, ignoring my outburst. "And I am going to help you. First, I am going to help you prove your innocence. Second, I am going to make Kaden finally realize his true feelings for you. And third, I am going to get that magic choker off your neck. But to make all of this happen, I had to lie to my brother."
My brow furrowed. "What lie?"
"I told him that I feel you are my mate," Kane revealed.
"What?!" I gasped, my eyes widening in pure shock.
Kane nodded smoothly. "I have been pushing Kaden to take off that choker so I can know for sure if you are truly my mate. But my brother refused. You know why? Because he is terrified of losing you. Even after I threatened him, even after I took him in front of the elders and the royal council, he still refused to unlock that collar. He claimed it was about the law, but it’s not. He hides behind the slave laws because the moment that choker comes off, you’ll be free to leave him. And that terrifies him more than he’ll ever admit."
I sat there, completely stunned. My mind was spinning, trying to process everything Kane was throwing at me. Kaden... scared of losing me? Kaden... in love with me? It didn’t make any sense. The man who had bruised my skin, ripped my clothes apart, and shattered my heart couldn’t possibly know what love was.
"My brother loves you," Kane repeated firmly. "And I have a strong suspicion about something else—something huge—but I can’t tell you what it is until I am proven right. For now, Rebecca, I need you to act out a part with me."
"What act?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
"I want you to act like we are mates," Kane said immediately. "I want you to act like we want each other. Just trust me, Rebecca. That is all you have to do. Play your part, and I promise you that before this one month is over, I will find the evidence to clear your name. I will make sure that choker is gone from your neck forever... and my brother, Kaden, will be on his knees, begging you for forgiveness."
I stared at Alpha Kane, my mind spinning with doubt.
Act like we are mates? The idea made me shiver with fear. Kane was asking me to play a dangerous game with the scariest beast in the whole kingdom.
"I... I don’t know, Alpha Kane," I whispered, shaking my head. "This is crazy. Kaden is the Alpha King. If he thinks I am betraying him with his own twin brother, his anger will destroy everything. He won’t just be mad. He will tear this whole place apart. He will kill us both."
I remembered Kaden’s jealousy when he caught Kane leaving my room... this time it will be more feral.
Kane did not move. He stood still, watching my panic with a calm face.
"He won’t touch you, Rebecca. Not while you are safe under my roof and the elders are watching us," Kane said, his smooth voice trying to calm me down. "But think about it. Look at what he has done to you. Are you going to spend the rest of your life hiding from him, waiting for him to punish you again? Or are you going to take your life back?"
His words hit me right where it hurt.
I looked down at the beautiful blue dress I was wearing, then at my shaking hands. I was so tired. I was tired of this life, tired of crying, and so tired of being blamed for Helen’s death when I didn’t do it. If I went back after thirty days without proving I was innocent, nothing would change. Kaden would still see me as a killer. I would go right back to that cold bedroom, right back to the torture of his touch.
Kane was offering me a chance. It was scary, and it was a big risk, but it was the only hope I had.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I thought of my life... this wasn’t the life I had envisioned for myself... this wasn’t me. If I don’t do something, I will forever remain a murderer and a worthless breeder.
No!
I opened my eyes and looked straight at Kane.
I drew in a slow, shaky breath and lifted my chin. "Fine," I whispered. "I’ll do it. I’ll play the part."
Kane’s smile grew wide and victorious. "Good choice, Rebecca. Good choice."