Page 1 of Cage Me

Chapter 1

SPENCER

The sun’s glare is a cruel trick, bright without warmth, while the wind slices through Crossroads with an unforgiving chill this morning. My skin prickles against the cold, a silent nudge from my wolf reminding me that I could shift and find comfort. Yet, considering my irritability brewing this morning, that might just lead to an unwanted snap—a literal one.

Depending on the unsuspecting victim and considering we’re supposed to be in the land of the lawless here, it’s not likely anyone would care, but I’ve already been banished from my pack thanks to my sperm donor being a royal prick. I don’t need another asshole throwing a fit and making me go on the run again.

Hurrying through the busier part of the city, I curl my shoulders forward and keep my head bowed. I’ve called this place home for about four months, but making friends hasn’t been at the top of my to-do list. Trust isn’t a luxury I can afford, yet necessity has forced my hand more than once as of late.

A crowd is starting to form ahead, but I do my best not to give the portal beyond them any attention. I have a witch to see first.

Except my gaze still flicks to the left as I keep ushering along the sidewalk. The newly created portal is why I’m still here a month after the deadline I’d given myself. Well, and because this is the first place I’ve been that has felt…not so desolate.

Power permeates through the air from within the swirling vortex, piquing my wolf’s interest and calling me toward it, but I stay on my path. I have no desire to see for myself what’s on the other side. None whatsoever.

Tartarus, they call it. Where the God Caius rules and shadow shifters roam along with other sinister supernaturals. Well, they might not all be dark and evil, but the world started as a prison. I intend to keep my judgment and my head, instead of assuming otherwise and risking my life.

I take a deep inhale without meaning to, soaking in the wafting energy before I get too far past the portal. The shiver travels down my spine at the same time as my wolf lets out a content grumble from my chest.

Though, her peacefulness is swiftly taken away when the apothecary we’re headed toward comes into view and she’s snarling on the inside. Too bad she’s not in control. I am.

Keeping my eyes forward, I focus on the sign ahead. Spells, Secrets, and Sorcery. The place is owned by a witch named Natalia. Nice enough supernatural, but that’s probably only because I give her something she’s never had before and likely never will again once I finally leave this place behind.

The blood of an Albino Wolf.

It’s something I hide from most people—including my bastard of a father, which is why I’m still banished—but I’ve also learned when to use it to my advantage, always taking precautions when I do.

Thanks to whatever mutated gene I inherited from my parents when I was born, my wolf can act like a chameleon, changing her coat to blend in with our surroundings. Though, we mostly use it to hide who we truly are thanks to the warning my mother gave me when I was just a pup.

Your wolf will get you killed one day if you trust the wrong people.

Okay, maybe my trust issues didn’t start when Daddy Dearest banished me for protecting my little brother from his fists. They might have been embedded in my subconscious since I was old enough to understand my mother’s words.

Still, I have to believe in some people if only enough to get what I need to survive in this fucked-up world. One where magic is power and without it, you’re better off dead.

Arriving at Spells, as I like to shorten it to, I walk through the front glass door and cringe when the songbird above me chirps out a tune, alerting Natalia to her new customer. Why the sound always grates on my nerves, I’m not sure, but I’ve never wanted to kill an innocent animal more than that damned bird.

Inside, the space is dark—the daylight from outside blocked by tinted windows. Candles float in the air a couple feet from the black ceiling, but not many of them. Just enough to create an ominous atmosphere of flickering shadows and lights.

Glass shelves line the walls, filled with herbs, gems, body parts, and anything else a standard potion might require, but the stuff behind the midnight purple curtain just past the counter is what’s truly valuable in this store.

Between the shelves, I pass by the tables of books, empty vials, cauldrons, and more before I get to the front desk.

Natalia pops out from behind the curtain, a smile on her face and a glint of eagerness in her russet eyes. “There she is. My favorite customer.”

I used to think that was something she said to everyone, but after having visited her once a week for the last three months, I’m starting to believe it.

She waves a hand into the air, and I hear the click of the lock on the front door. “I assume you’re here for your weekly trade?” Her fingers brush one side of her slick straight ebony hair behind her ear. “What will you be needing today? A coin or some sort of potion?”

Somehow, I hadn’t thought about what I might want. I typically change it up so as not to draw even more attention to myself, but the stronger the draw toward the portal becomes, the more distracted my mind seems to get.

“Coin,” I tell her, stopping in front of the wood counter.

“Two weeks in a row, huh?” she asks with too much curiosity, watching me closely as I roll up my sleeves. “Planning on going somewhere soon?”

My hardened gaze levels on her. “Planning on still making money off my blood?”

She holds her hands up innocently. “I’m just making friendly conversation, Spencer. No need for threats. I know our deal. One I’ve honored since the first day you stepped into my shop.”

---