Caged

Chapter 25.

I slowly released my hold on her throat, licking the blood from my canines as she crawled away from me. Her wolf leapt up shakily, snarling as she walked slowly away and out of the building. The crowd surrounding us cheered, and I could see Ivy beaming as she stood next to Rhett.

His spine was straight and his arms were crossed over his proud chest as he looked at me, his eyes swirling dark with emotion as a smile crept up his lips. He stood tall, nodding at me in approval.

My wolf loved seeing his praise, but the words from Soleil were still so fresh that I couldn't bear to be near him right now. I'd known he'd not waited, that wasn't news. But the way she described it, the image she'd placed in my head was just too much to handle in front of everyone.

I pushed my nose into the air and walked out of the building, leaving them all behind me as I made my way around the building. I couldn't stand to go back to the confines of my room, so I gave my wolf control, allowing her to guide me where she wanted. I slowly made my way through the woods, stopping to have a much needed drink at the pool, lapping up the cool water as it ran down my throat.

I felt a presence behind me and didn't even have to look up. I knew it was him. I could feel it. His scent hit my nose before anything else and it had begun to wrap around my senses, pulling my attention but I wouldn't let it. His wolf let out a low growl, trying to grab my attention, but I wouldn't turn to him.

Finally, after I'd ignored him for too long, I felt a gentle nudge in my mind and his voice pushed through. "You were amazing in there Lili."

I snorted and continued to drink.

"Don't pay any mind to what she said. She was just trying to get in your head." He said cautiously.

My head whipped around, my eyes narrowing back at his glowing blue orbs. "So she lied then?"

He stilled and watched me, walking forward to close the distance between us as he leaned down to drink.

"No." He finally said.

I snarled and paced away from him.

"But that was years ago. Lili, we've talked about this. How could I have known someone like you would be coming after so long?" His voice held a trace of emotion, but his wolf was angry that I was letting this female come between us.

"I don't know!" I screamed, snorting again as I began to walk away from him. I was heading in the direction of the cliff, but he leapt in front of me to cut me off.

"How can you be upset with me when you've been with other wolves as well? I'm sorry she said those things, but it did happen, same as yours." He growled, taking a step toward me.

My wolf backed up, raising her haunches as she growled. I didn't need the reminder. "But you didn't have to listen to them described to you in detail did you? How many times Rhett?"

"What?" His eyes widened.

"How many times did you fuck her? Just curious."

His wolf growled lowly, warning me that I was close to crossing a line. "Once." He snapped.

I shook my head and let out a huff as I stalked around him, only stopping when his voice broke through again. "And you're wrong."

I froze, turning to look at him over my shoulder. "About?" I snipped.

"I did have to hear about you and him. He told me every sick detail that day in my office." His voice was low, agitated as the memory flashed in his mind, allowing me to see.

Cage leaned forward, as if he was telling Rhett a secret over the desk. "You know, she loves it when you pull her hair so rough that a few strands come loose in your hands, or smack her ass so hard it turns red all over. Or wrapping your hand around her throat just tight enough to make her light headed while you pound into her from behind. She loves having a strong male take control of her and show her her place while she takes every bit of him inside of her, in every place possible. Mouth, ass, pussy. She loves it all. Have you found that to be true with her Alpha Rhett?"

Rhett snarled loudly in warning but didn't move or counter an opinion. He sat hard and silent.

"Well, maybe it was just how she loved me then." Cage mused. "She was always so satisfied after that she wouldn't be able to walk straight for days. It truly was a sight to see, knowing my job was done well fucking her like her life depended on it."

Rhett's hand gripped hard into the arm of the chair as he growled loudly. "That's enough Beta. I don't need to hear any more. You've made your point very clear."

Cage's eyebrows rose and he wiggled them with a smirk as he stood, brushing his coat to straighten it. "Oh I haven't yet, but don't worry I will."

His ears perked and then a devilish grin crossed his lips before he turned to walk out the door. And saw me.

My heart stalled at the words replaying through his memory. Shame began to fill me as my rear fell to the ground hard, a breath whooshing out of me as my head lowered.

Rhett walked towards me, stopping to stand just in front of me as his head butted softly against mine.

"Don't Rhett. I can't do this. I can't be what you need me to be. You've seen it. Heard the things he's said. What kind of Luna allows someone to do that to them?" My voice came through the link weakly as the emotion broke through. My heart was aching, twisting painfully inside my chest and my wolf let out a whimper at the thoughts running rampant through my mind.

"You proved today that you're not only the best female here, but my equal. There's no one I'd rather have as my Luna than you Lili. You're it. You're mine." His voice was swelling with pride as he nudged me again to stand.

I allowed him to push me up as he rubbed his body slowly around mine, covering every inch with his scent as he wrapped his head around mine, nuzzling at my neck. My wolf purred at the gesture and then he pushed into my mind again.

"Will you be mine Lili? Be my Luna." His voice was gruff and I felt his nose press hard against me, nudging the spot opposite my mark in my human form. "You're the only one I want."

Before I could stop her, my wolf exposed her neck in submission, giving him entry to the crook of her neck. A sharp dull pain stung through my muscle, but was instantly replaced with pleasure, and then joy as emotions surged forward.

I felt his pride as he watched me defend myself and my Alpha. The sadness he'd felt the nights he woke me from my nightmares. The bliss he'd felt with my lips on his, holding me in his arms. I felt myself filled with thoughts of us, of his grief as he waited for me. He'd spent years waiting before he gave in. The loneliness was overwhelming.

I snapped my head up and sank my own teeth into his neck, pushing my own thoughts through the bond as it hummed stronger between us. The overwhelming relief and sadness swirling at the sight of my mother's grave stone pushed through my mind into his. The appreciation I held for him. The warmth that threatened to overtake me within his very presence. The way my heart leapt with just one look from him.

I showed him the feeling of my heart nearly bursting out of my chest at his touch, and how he had slowly been putting me back together piece by piece without even realizing it. I showed him my same shame and loneliness at my own past. The pain I'd felt with Cage, both physical and emotional. And even more so, the pride I had in him as my mate.

The strongest emotion of all pushed through the two of us at the same time. Love. It was new, and it was fragile. But I knew somewhere deep inside, I'd already felt it before now. I was just too afraid to let myself have it. Now it was my time.

He was mine.