Caged

Chapter 5.

Tears began streaming down my cheeks as that painful ache in my chest returned with full force. I couldn't believe it. It was unheard of to be buried on pack lands as an Omega. But here she was. I'd wondered more days than I could count if I'd ever be able to find her and he'd led me right to her.

"Oh my god Rhett." I breathed through broken gasps. He walked over to kneel beside me, his strong hand resting softly in the center of my back. "I thought I'd never find her."

His voice rumbled low and soothingly in my ear. "I didn't think it right to not have her here. This was her home too, regardless of her status. I thought you deserved to know where she was if you ever came back."

I turned and his arms opened instinctively as I collapsed against his chest, my tears wetting his shirt beneath me. His hands rubbed gently down my back as his chin rested against the top of my head. I finally calmed myself and managed to pull away, feeling the strong hum of the bond surging between us. My wet blue eyes peered up into his and he gave me a small smile as he pushed a stray hair behind my ear.

"You have no idea what this means to me. Honestly. Thank you." My voice broke as I spoke through strained breaths.

He nodded and before I knew it, I'd pushed up to press my lips against his. He stiffened in surprise but quickly recovered, leaning fully into the kiss as his hand pushed into my hair. After several long moments, we finally broke apart and I instantly longed for more of his touch.

He took my small hand in his and stood, gently pulling me up with him. "You ok? You want to go get something to eat?"

I nodded and let him slowly lead me out of the trees and back to the pack house. We walked down the long hall leading to his room and he paused before heading back toward my own. I couldn't help the disappointment filling my thoughts. I liked the idea of getting a glimpse into his space.

He pulled his phone out and called down for our food and it arrived within minutes. I still couldn't believe how fast the service was here. The same young girl came in, blushing furiously at an Alpha who didn't notice her attention, or at least pretended not to care. We ate in comfortable silence before I finally felt courageous enough to start the conversation.

"So who was the younger wolf to my right? Is he your beta?"

Rhett looked at me and answered absently. "He is. His name is Asher. He grew up here with us."

"With you." I muttered under my breath but quickly blushed, realizing I'd said it out loud.

Rhett's jaw ticked but he did not say anything more in response.

"I don't know that the council will ever accept me as your mate Rhett. If they won't, how could I ever expect the pack to? Those that even remember me won't see anything more than a former Omega and now even worse...a Rogue. Just like the council did." I said slowly.

My brain was still trying to process the events that had taken place over the last couple of days, and the councilman's words stuck in my thoughts like a thorn. He was right. I was a Rogue the moment I left pack lands without permission.

Rhett sighed and stood, walking toward the window and leaning against the windowsill. His finger tapped slowly against the wood as he peered out across the land below. "First of all, you may have been an Omega and then a Rogue under my father's rule as Alpha, but that is not something I would have chosen and will not be honoring. As far as I am concerned, you were always just as much a member of this pack as anyone else. You didn't deserve what my father did to you."

"And that speaks volumes to your compassion Rhett, but what about everyone else? You can't force them to see that too." My voice was soft but firm. I had the high hope that the pack could accept me, but I knew it would be difficult to sway the way they saw me after so long even for him.