Page 24 of Cage Me

“That’s enough.”

The witch reaches for a jar and swipes some oil over his wrist as she speaks. “I know, Spencer. I won’t break your trust, even if it’s our last trade.”

She never has, and she deserves better than my shitty attitude. “Thank you. For everything. Text me when you’re done and I’ll be here, no matter the time.”

She smiles wide and picks Drake’s blood up from the counter. “See you soon.”

Drake is right behind me as we head for the front door, following so closely I can feel the natural heat that seems to radiate from him.

I’m tempted to ask for space, but I keep my mouth closed as we get outside. Though, I come to an abrupt halt when I realize the songbird didn’t sound the second that I opened the door.

Interesting, but doesn’t really matter. Soon, that pesky creature will be a distant memory when we leave this place behind.

Drake is stopped right behind me. “Do you sense something?”

“No,” I reply, keeping my tone as light as I’m capable of. “I just want to get back to the house.”

He stops at my side, and I can see his smirk. “Then, let’s go.”

His persistence is going to be the death of me, but I have to admit, things could be worse as far as Drake is concerned.

Without realizing what I’m doing, I grab Drake’s wrist to lead him down the alleyway behind Spells. I could have just let him follow, but instinct has me reaching for him, and it’s several seconds later that I pull my hand back, settling it in front of me.

He continues to follow without commenting or questioning the different path we’re taking, but I can sense his tension and I snort. Maybe he’s wondering if I’m taking him to a dark corner to dispose of his body.

I’m a lot of things, but a murderer isn’t one of them. I choose to think of myself as a survivor instead. When I’ve had to kill in the past, it hasn’t been because I’ve wanted to, that’s for damn sure.

We pass a stretch of old buildings and approach a few rundown structures. This way, there are no streetlights, and I normally keep to the more populated areas, but this is the quicker way back to Kasha’s.

The moon is at least exposed and not covered by clouds. It’s full and shining brightly, lighting the path we’re taking. Before we’re halfway to the house, Drake grabs my wrist and halts my forward momentum.

“What are we doing, Spencer?” he asks, and I’m oddly disappointed that he didn’t use “Dove.” Though, I don’t let myself ponder why that might be.

When we’re facing each other, I almost ask him if he means what we’re doing right this moment or if he’s referencing the elephant in the room also known as our mate bond. One look into his pleading eyes and I have my answer.

The mixed emotions inside me don’t seem so conflicted here alone with him under the night sky, so much so that I have to look away from him. The intensity of our connection fills me in a way nothing else ever has, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or say.

Except the imposing wolf shifter doesn’t allow me even the slightest reprieve from his presence. He lifts my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look at him as he says, “You can tell me anything.”

Those five words pierce through my skin and right into my heart, making my stomach churn with the weight of their truth.

Gods, what is wrong with me? I’d be a fool to deny this man, to pretend that everything he’s shown me and made me feel are anything other than sincere and filled with pure intentions.

It hasn’t even been a full day, but I know if I don’t say my next words, I’m only harming myself. I’m so damn tired of fighting.

“I take back my rejection.” The moment I finish the sentence, a rush of energy pours over me, pushing down on my shoulders and nearly taking me to my knees. Hell, I might have fallen right at his feet if he didn’t grab me, pulling me against his chest.

Drake breathes me in as I’m consumed, little by little, by his tight embrace. “Oh, Little Dove. You have no idea what you’ve just done.”

His words are spoken with a rumble in his chest that a lesser woman might be afraid of, but not me. I lean into his touch and hope like hell that his strength is going to be the very thing that saves the lives of those I love most in the world.

“There’s something that I need to do first,” he says, surprising me with his dark tone. After all his persistence, I expected him to be more thrilled about my newest revelation.

“What could be more important than your mate?” My walls are instantly back up, believing I’ve somehow been duped as he starts to shake his head, attempting to hold me again.

“No,” I snap, breaking free from his touch. “You don’t get to practically beg for my acceptance and then tell me I have to wait once I give in.”

I’m close to walking away before I do something I might regret, but the anguish pulsing off Drake keeps me in place and forces me to pay closer attention. I took my rejection back for a reason. Overreacting now isn’t going to help anyone.

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