Caged

Chapter 30.

*A few more pics of Cage (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)

My body froze, like a deer caught in a predator's sights. My breath halted and I felt my heart skip as he took a step closer, coming out into the path in front of me. He took three more steps, closing the distance between us until he was standing inches from me.

His mouth turned down into a dramatic frown as he reached forward to stroke his hand against my shoulder. I instinctively took a large step back and straightened. "What's wrong my love? You don't seem as happy to see me as I am to see you." His voice cooed.

"How did you get here without anyone seeing you Cage? How did you know I was here?" I tried to keep my voice firm but it betrayed me, shaking slightly.

He smirked over at me, eyeing me as he shook his head, slowly beginning to circle around me. "Don't you think I've been watching? Ever since I found you again, I have had someone watching to be sure you're all right. I saw that your warriors and Alpha were otherwise engaged and had the chance to slip through undetected. I can't believe you think I can't still find you even though you let his wolf mark you."

He nodded toward the mark on the opposite side of my neck and my hand flew up to cover it instantly. "It's none of your business. I don't belong to you anymore Cage. I never did." I said, my voice hardening with my anger as I bristled at his words.

He clicked his tongue against his teeth as he shook his head slowly. "You don't seem to understand sweet Thalia." His voice was growing more into a sneer as he spoke. "You'll always belong to me."

I turned to follow his movement but he was too fast, catching my fist as it rose to strike against his chin. In his opposite hand he jabbed a needle into my neck, sending a sharp pain through my body as my legs began to turn to jello beneath me.

"What...the hell?" I stammered as my knees buckled.

My entire body felt heavy, like I couldn't move without an extreme force of energy. My wolf immediately disappeared, vanishing into my subconscious as the drug began to take effect.

I felt his breath hot against my skin as he leaned down to crouch behind me. "Don't worry darling. It's just a sedative so I don't have to hurt you or your wolf on the way back home. You're going to love it. There are two people who are very excited to see you."

I felt his body stiffen and then jump to his feet as footsteps came running up the path.

Thank goodness. Someone please help me. I thought groggily.

But as the person came closer I instantly recognized the scent, knowing exactly who was coming and my heart dropped. There was no way she could stop him.

"Please...don't hurt her Cage." I whispered as my body slumped farther forward.

I leaned into my hands, pushing all of my weight through my arms to support myself. My vision blurred as Ivy rounded the corner, launching at Cage as I fell to the ground. The last sound I heard was her scream as darkness surrounded me.

He's killed her.

———

My head throbbed as I slowly felt an invisible weight lifting off of me. My eyelids were slowly becoming lighter before finally fluttering open. As my vision cleared, I saw a wooden ceiling with beams running up to the peak and a small skylight nestled above to let in the small amount of starlight shining in the sky above.

My head was pounding and I lifted my hand to bring it to my eyes when I felt a cold hard tug against my skin followed by a metallic clinking sound.