Page 65 of Cage Me

Mom’s grief is outshined by the memory and, at least for the moment, she’s not hurting.

“Thank you for sharing that with me,” I say sincerely. I hate to leave her now, but time isn’t on our side. We need to find Kel before she gets any stronger or decides to come here. “I’m going to say goodbye to Peter, and then I need to leave, but I’ll be back as soon as I can be.”

She sits back up and hugs me with more strength than I’ve felt from my mother in far too long. “I love you, Spencer. You’re going to be okay.”

It’s not the first time she’s said that, and I hope like hell she’s right, because it feels as if I’ve only just started living. I’m nowhere near ready to be done.

Chapter 25

DRAKE

It hadn’t been my intention to be gone for so long, but it was the first time in centuries that I was able to run with my wolf on my own. The first time in too long that we were free to be ourselves without my wolf being unsurprisingly distracted by our mate.

The joy that brought me was almost as euphoric as bonding with Spencer. We raced past the city while most everyone still slept until there were only trees around us. The quiet of the night had entranced me, and I have no clue how far we ran, but far enough that the pull to go back to Spencer became too much to ignore even for my wolf.

Hours later, I return, and my mate isn’t where I left her. Kasha lets me know where Spencer is, and I gladly give her more time with her mother. I’m envious. I don’t even know if mine is still alive, and I tell myself that I don’t care, but I would have rather had a parent who gave a damn than one who abandoned me.

I wait outside for Spencer, not wanting to interrupt her time with her family before we go. When the back door opens, I expect to see my mate, but it’s Peter who steps out onto the porch.

He waves and has a ball in his hand. “Want to play catch? Mom and Pence are having a grown-up talk.”

I chuckle. “Is that what they told you?”

He shakes his head. “I heard Mom crying, and whenever she does that, I get sent to my room because I’m not old enough for grown-up talk yet. But I’ve been in my room all night and thought I could come out here instead.”

Smart kid.

“Well, then let’s play,” I say, holding my hands up.

He tosses the ball at me and runs toward the other side of the yard. “So, my sister likes you. I kinda thought she hated you. I felt bad for you because Pence can be scary when she wants to be, but I guess I don’t need to anymore.”

I throw the ball back to him, trying not to laugh because I’m pretty sure he’s just making conversation and I don’t want him to feel bad, but he really has no filter.

“Sometimes girls are complicated,” I reply with a grin. “But yes, Spencer doesn’t hate me anymore and I’m very glad, because I like her a lot.” I pause, then add with a raised brow, “Is that okay with you?”

He rolls the ball between his hands and stares me down with a stoic look on his face, then he shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. Just don’t take her away from us again. That would make Momma sad. Me, too.”

Guilt presses in on me, weighing down so heavily that even forcing a smile for the boy takes real effort. If anything happens to Spencer when we go looking for Kel, I don’t know how I could ever face her family again. Hell, I’m not sure I could even survive losing her after being alone for so long.

Yet, I know my misery would be the price I had to pay for failing to protect my mate.

Peter throws the ball back to me, and we play catch for a while longer until Spencer finally comes outside to find me.

The smile she sends my way nearly puts me on my ass and distracts me to the point that I don’t notice when the ball comes back my way, allowing it to hit me right in the chest.

“I’m sorry!” Peter squeals, hiding his face and dropping to the ground.

Poor fucking kid.

My trance is broken, and I run over to him, gently touching his shoulder. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m not hurt and it was my fault. I got distracted.”

He’s shaking beneath my palm, but then all of a sudden, he throws himself at me, choking me with his arms as they tighten around my neck.

Holding him, I stand and turn toward Spencer, unsure what I’m supposed to do. She watches with shiny eyes as she leans against the porch railing, then gives me a thumbs up before turning back toward the house.

I guess I’m on my own.

“I’m really fine, Peter,” I tell him, but his hold only increases.

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