Caged

Chapter 7.

"What the hell did you think you were doing? I told you I didn't want you working there anymore." Cage growled.

"Cage, I need to work. I can't just sit here in this cabin all day waiting for you. I want to be here with you, but this is too much like home. This is why I left." As soon as I said it, I regretted every word.

He turned on me, his eyes wide and his nostrils flaring in anger. "Left? You want to leave now?"

I'd quit my job six months ago, but I had quickly grown restless in the cabin. It was fun at first, not having to worry about making money or paying any bills. But now it was just lonely. I felt cut off from the world. I hadn't seen Avery in over a month.

"N-no I didn't say that. I'm just saying I need to see my friends. I need to be around people. To have some sense of purpose Cage. Please try to understand."

He walked up to me and my hand instinctively flew up in front of me. His face saddened and his hands gently took mine before pulling me close to him. "Why are you afraid of me my love. You know I don't mean to hurt you. Sometimes I just get so angry. You're just so stubborn sometimes and I get carried away. I love you Thalia. You know I do."

I sighed and leaned in to him, relaxing in his hold and letting him wrap his arms around me. "I just need to have a purpose Cage. I can't just be here alone all day waiting for you."

He smirked down at me and his eyes turned dark as he nuzzled in to my neck. "Well, if you're bound and determined to go back out around unmated males, then I need some reassurance of my own."

"Cage, what do you mean? I..."

In an instant, I felt a sharp pain as his teeth sliced into my flesh at the crook of my neck, pressing completely into my skin. I let out a loud cry as tears ran down my cheeks. He pulled away and wiped my blood from his lips before running his tongue across his teeth.

"What the hell Cage! Did you just mark me? Seriously?" I yelled.

He gripped my arms as they pushed against his chest and growled. "Fucking right I did. Now anytime an unmated male comes near you he will know you're mine."

I scoffed and snapped my eyes to his. "Or...I could just tell them I have a boyfriend like a normal person." I yanked my hand away and reached up to the now heeled mark on my neck. "I can't believe you did that Cage."

His eyes went darker and he reached up with lightning reflexes, gripping in to my chin and forcing my eyes to look at him. "Listen to me because I will only say this once. If you think I'd trust a little whore like you to tell a man you're taken then you're insane. I got you to go home with me the first night. It was too easy. You're mine now and I have every right to let other males know it in whatever way I please. Do you understand me?"

I glared at him but winced as his fingers gripped harder into my skin. "I said, do you fucking understand?"

I nodded once as a stray tear streaked down my cheek. He shoved my face away and released me. I staggered back and slumped down against the arm of the chair as my hand reached up to massage my surely bruised chin. He stormed out, slamming the door and locking it behind him.

My eyes flew open and I saw my room around me, sunlight beginning to filter in through the airy curtains. I took a deep breath and shoved my hair away from my face before sitting up and resting my arms against my knees. I knew I couldn't fall back asleep to that hell again, and it was still so early. I needed space. I needed to run. I slipped into my leggings and slouchy shirt and walked out of my room. I shut the door quietly behind me and tip toed down the hall, headed out of the pack house and headed toward the woods. Once inside the tree line, I quickly slipped out of my clothes and sat them down next to the nearest tree. I focused and felt my wolf push forward in my mind, itching to break free and run too. I let her take control and quickly shifted, shaking my white fur and quickly stepping in to a run as I wove through the trees. I let my instincts guide me, leading me faster and faster through the woods. The feeling of the wind running across my fur was freeing and I began to feel the weight of the last night's nightmares lifting away from me.