Chapter 26

The crackling fire in the hearth cast dancing shadows on the walls of the opulent study. The rhythmic pops and hisses were the only sounds that disturbed the tense silence. Ivan's gaze drifted from the flickering flames to the crystal wine glass on a stool, the pale liquid reflecting the firelight. He watched, almost hypnotized, as a maid poured another glass with practiced ease.

His attention then shifted to his sister, Imogen, and Emmeline, who sat primly on the plush couch. Their faces, usually alight with youthful curiosity, were uncharacteristically serious, mirroring the somber mood of the room. Their gazes were fixed on their father, who stood tall and rigid before the expansive glass doors. His silhouette was etched against the twilight glow descending upon the estate, his back ramrod straight as he surveyed the manicured gardens below.

Ivan hesitantly reached for his glass, the cool stem a stark contrast to the warmth of the fire. He took a tentative sip, the sweetness of the wine spreading across his tongue. A bittersweet pang shot through him, the taste unexpectedly reminding him of a certain someone, Dolores.

The memory of their encounter last night flared in his mind – the unexpected kiss, the warmth of her body pressed against his. His cheeks flushed a tinge of crimson at the recollection. He had wanted to tell her, to explain what had happened, but something held him back. A gnawing guilt gnawed at his insides, a feeling he couldn't quite shake.

He knew Imogen wouldn't be pleased if she found out. Dolores, after all, was her project partner.

A heavy silence continued to hang in the air, broken only by the occasional crackle of the fire. Outside, the first stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky. As Ivan stole another glance at his father, he saw a flicker of worry cross his father's face.

A deep rumble echoed through the room, startling Ivan from his thoughts. It was his father's voice, laced with concern, cutting through the crackling fire.

"Ivan? Are you alright, son? You seem flushed. Do you have a fever?"

Ivan fought back a scoff. The question, while seemingly innocent, felt loaded with unspoken meaning. A blush crept up his neck, not from illness, but from the unwelcome heat that bloomed in his cheeks at the mere thought of Dolores. He lifted his head to meet his father's gaze, the worry etched on his face a stark contrast to the usual stoicism.

Everywhere he looked, concern seemed to be radiating towards him. His sister, Imogen, mirrored their father's anxiety, her perfectly arched brows furrowed in a way that spoke volumes. Emmeline, usually boisterous and carefree, wore a mask of unease. Even the staffs.

It felt like they were all treating him like a fragile porcelain vase, one that could crack or shatter at any moment. It hadn't always been this way. The overprotectiveness had started after the accident, an invisible shield erected around him, suffocating and isolating. They seemed to forget that Imogen had been involved too, yet they coddled him, convinced he was the one on the verge of breaking.

He hated it. Hated the constant concern, the watchful eyes, the endless stream of therapists who seemed to offer little in the way of help. His current one, a portly man with an air of forced cheer, was just another name on a long list of well-meaning but ultimately ineffective solutions. His father, bless his heart, threw money at the problem, hoping to buy back a normalcy that seemed to have slipped through their grasp forever.

"I'm fine, Father," Ivan finally managed, his voice strained. He pushed the untouched wine glass away, the sweet taste suddenly cloying in his mouth.

"Are you sure? Perhaps we should call Dr. Harris-"

"No!" The word burst from Ivan's lips, surprising even himself. He took a deep breath, forcing his voice back to a semblance of calm. "I said I'm fine. Just a bit tired, that's all."

Ivan groaned internally. This was nothing new. If he missed a meal, it was a doctor's visit. If he couldn't sleep, a doctor's visit. Countless hours had been spent in therapy sessions, each one a monotonous rehashing of the accident, a constant reminder of the past he desperately wanted to outrun.

His father let out a heavy sigh, the sound echoing through the tensely quiet room. "There's something else I need to discuss," he began, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "It concerns the company."

Ivan exchanged a wary glance with Imogen. Their father's updates on business ventures were a regular occurrence, a way, perhaps, of grooming him for a future he never truly desired. The weight of the Cavendish legacy, with its vast holdings and ruthless reputation, felt like a millstone around his neck.

"As you know," his father continued, clearing his throat, "we've been looking for ways to expand our reach, to secure a stronger foothold in the market." His gaze flickered towards Ivan, searching for a flicker of interest, of understanding.

Ivan schooled his expression into one of polite attentiveness. He knew the drill. His father, a man of ambition and boundless energy, dreamt of turning Cavendish Enterprises into an empire. Today's announcement would likely be another step in that direction.

"Well," Lord Ashcroft announced, a hint of triumph in his voice, "I'm pleased to say that I've reached an agreement with an old friend. We'll be merging our companies, creating a force to be reckoned with."

A wave of unease washed over Ivan. Mergers, acquisitions – these words were as familiar as his own name, yet they held little meaning for him. He longed for something more, something beyond the boardroom battles and ruthless negotiations.

"This merger," his father continued, oblivious to Ivan's internal struggle, "will allow us to bypass the Vynce Conglomerate's stranglehold on… well, let's just say a certain lucrative sector."

Ivan rolled his eyes internally. His father's obsession with outmaneuvering the Vynces was a long-standing one. It was a rivalry fueled by ambition, yes, but also by a personal animosity that stretched back generations.

And speaking of Vynces, a particular Vynce flashed through Ivan's mind. Axel Vynce, the smirk etched on his face as he stumbled upon Ivan and Dolores… A wave of guilt washed over him, hot and unwelcome. He had a lot to explain to Dolores, about the kiss, about everything. He just hoped Axel wouldn't breathe a word of it to her, wouldn't add to the already tangled mess of their situation.

He forced himself to focus on his father's words, the weight of the family business pressing down on him like a suffocating cloak.

The rivalry wasn't just about business; it ran far deeper, a festering wound passed down through generations. He and his family, the Cavendish, were werefoxes, creatures of cunning and agility, locked in an ancient struggle with their werewolf counterparts, the Vynces. This merger, then, wasn't just a financial maneuver; it was a declaration of war, a way to show the Vynces they wouldn't back down.

"It will show them," his father growled, his voice laced with a primal anger that sent shivers down their spine, "that we foxes also have the power. They won't be able to control everything forever."

The air crackled with unspoken truths. The town they lived in, seemingly idyllic on the surface, was a secret battleground. Humans, oblivious to the supernatural war raging beneath their noses, lived their lives while werewolves and werefoxes clashed in the shadows.

He was a fox, yes, but he was also a reluctant heir, a boy yearning for normalcy in a world of fangs and fur. Dolores, with her fiery spirit and captivating human scent, had been a welcome distraction, a glimpse into a life beyond the boundaries of their secret world.

Ivan's gaze drifted back to the crackling flames in the hearth, their mesmerizing dance a stark contrast to the storm brewing within him. He'd tell Dolores about the kiss, tomorrow. Maybe during art class, where they could find a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos, or perhaps while working on their Founders Day project – a project that suddenly felt heavy with unspoken truths.

His feelings for Dolores were a tangled mess. He didn't dislike her, that much was certain. Yet, hate was far too strong a word. He was drawn to her fiery spirit, a stark contrast to the life he was expected to lead.

A deep sigh escaped his lips, a plume of warm air rising towards the ornate ceiling. The weight of his heritage felt heavier than ever. He was caught between two worlds – the one he was born into, with its secrets and ancient rivalries, and the one he yearned for, a world where Dolores' laughter filled the air and their biggest concern was the color palette for their Founders Day masterpiece.