Caged

Chapter 20.

"The last time you'd woken me in your nightmare, you were crying out for your baby. Screaming about someone lying. I didn't see it then, but I heard you, felt your pain." His voice was low, full of heavy emotion as he spoke.

I chuckled darkly and pushed back against the pillows as my head rested against the headboard. "Of course. Well, now you know. The wolf's out of the bag." I said, my voice tight and cold as I looked out of the window. "One more reason you can add to your list of why I shouldn't be your mate." I snapped the words out angrier than I'd intended, realizing I was still angry and hurt at his rejection. Even though I understood his reasoning better, it didn't take the pain away.

I heard him release a heavy breath as he stood from the bed. "That's not fair. You know I can't claim you Lili. He'd feel it instantly. Whoever he has will die if I overtake his mark. I can't do anything until I know if he's even telling the truth. I have to be sure."

"It's fine Rhett. I told you I understood." I said, my voice catching in my throat. 

"I will make this right Lili. I will do everything in my power to make this right." His voice was quiet, laced with pain as he walked toward the door. He looked at me over his shoulder, but I couldn't bring myself to face him as fresh tears dropped down my cheek. "I'm sorry." He opened the door and walked out, shutting it quietly behind him. 

I heard him cross the hall and go into his room before shutting his own door. As soon as I heard the gentle thud, I let the tears fall freely, quiet sobs wracking my body as I pulled the disheveled sheet up around me, shivering into the covers. 

I closed my eyes, praying that the nightmares would cease just long enough to give me a couple of hours sleep. Thankfully, no dreams came to me for the rest of the night. 

I made my way out of the room and down to eat a quick breakfast before walking toward the training center. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to release some of my pent up energy. The tension was pressing heavily into my upper back and I felt as if my shoulders had been carrying the world upon them from a night of tense sleep. 

When I opened the door to the training center, the silence surrounded me. No one was inside. I suddenly heard a quiet thud to my right followed by a loud grunt and then another series of thuds, like someone was punching something. I walked into the weight room to see a familiar dark wolf staring at me, ready to leap off of the shoulder it was occupying. Rhett was dripping sweat as he slammed his bare fist hard into the bag in front of him. A loud growl ripped from him as he punched it several more times, sending the bag rocking against its frame before splitting open with a final blow. 

I straightened and turned, trying to leave before he saw me but his broken voice spoke quietly. "I wasn't expecting anyone in here so early." He was breathing hard, but still seemed like he could go ten more rounds. Strength was radiating from him and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"I wasn't either." I replied evenly.

"Did you really think I wouldn't know you were here? I'm always aware of you, no matter what I'm doing." His breath was beginning to slow as he calmed, his voice becoming more even.

"Honestly...No I didn't. Or at least I thought you'd ignore it." I said, instantly regretting my words as soon as they came out. 

I looked over my shoulder to see him watching me, pain flashing in his eyes before he quickly pushed it away. "Do you really think I don't care?" 

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I just...I don't know what to do here Rhett." I ran a hand across my face and blinked up to see him walking closer to me. 

Sweat was glistening off of his body, emphasizing every corded muscle. I quickly pulled my eyes up to see his piercing blue eyes staring intently at me as he stopped just inches from me. "Lili, if I could, you'd have been mine already. I wanted you the moment you ran into me. I've wanted you to be mine every moment since." His voice was low, dropping lower as it became husky.

The energy between us was beginning to charge and I could feel it surrounding us, pushing us to be together. I took a step back, bumping my back into the wall as I let out a breath. He followed each step, brushing his hand into my hair as a muscle in his jaw clenched tightly. 

"What are we supposed to do Rhett? How are we supposed to navigate this? You don't want me. You have your out. I understand. But I can't think straight with you around me." My voice came out breathy and almost whining as his finger stroked my jaw. My brain was becoming fuzzy as warmth began to run through my body. 

"I just said I wanted you Lili. I wish you could accept that I just can't have you yet." He said, his face hovering closely to mine as his steel blue eyes bored into mine.

I shook my head and shoved hard against his chest, but he didn't move. "Because it's driving me crazy. I get it. I know why you can't, but it doesn't make it fair! I don't know why I'm surprised honestly. This is completely on track with the rest of my life. I can't be around you. I can't keep letting the bond mess with me like this. If I can't have you I can't have you, but I need some distance or I'm going to go insane!" 

I ducked down in an attempt to pull away from him, but his hand reached down to catch my shoulders, pulling me up to face him as my back pressed back into the wall once more. He leaned forward, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear as he spoke, sending a shiver down my spine. "Please Lili. Wait for me. I will make this right. I promise you I will find out how to get to him. But I need you to wait for me. Can you do that?"

I gasped at the warmth tingling through my ear and cheek before his mouth moved to hold just in front of mine, his eyes watching mine. I slowly nodded as my eyes fell to his lips, absently pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. His hand moved to cup my cheek, sending a tingling warmth through me as his thumb brushed across my lip, pulling it free. 

"If I'm going to restrain myself, you're going to have to stop doing that." 

My breath hitched and my eyes widened as I saw his swirl darker. A smirk crept up his lips as he leaned forward, stopping instantly as his face went hard in frustration at the sound of the door clicking shut. I straightened as he pulled away slowly, the air beginning to move back through my lungs. I hadn't realized I'd been holding it. 

I walked toward the door and opened it, seeing Ivy standing just to the right with a smirk on her lips and her eyebrows raised at the sight of me. "Well well..." she said. 

A blush crept up my cheeks and I quickly closed the door before making my way over to stand in front of her. 

"What are you doing in here so early, hmm?" she asked suspiciously. 

As if on cue, Rhett walked out of the room and headed toward the exit. "Alpha." She said with a giggle.

He grunted at her as he exited, letting the door shut loudly behind him. 

"Oh missy you've got to fill me in. Right now." she said with a laugh as she tugged me down to the turf below.