Page 18 of Wolf Caged
My new owner.
The female huffed and I felt her gaze on me, the weight of it heavy and immutable, before carefully chosen words reached my ears. “He will not forgive you for this.”
Who? I almost said that aloud. Who wouldn’t forgive this male for purchasing me?
“He will understand.” Such confidence from the male.
The female didn’t sound so sure, her tone taking on a hard edge as she bit out, “Howconvenientthat he departed on business for you just yesterday and will not return for some time.”
A smirk in the man’s voice. “Yes, it was rather.”
“You cannot leave her in that cell. It is not right. None of this is right. Are you sure this is necessary?” Whoever this female was, I already liked her. This male clearly outranked her, might even be her master, but she stood up to him, and was standing up for me, a stranger.
Maybe this all wouldn’t be as terrible as I thought it would be. For the first time since Lucas had drugged and rejected me, I felt a small kernel of hope take root in my heart. This female sounded as if she was against whatever this male planned for me, and perhaps I could turn her into an ally, one that might keep me safe from him.
But hope could be a dangerous beast.
One I might be better off killing now in case it only savaged me later.
“It is necessary.” His tone could have cut iron and stone. It was as hard and unyielding as both, his words almost a silent order to the female to let it go as he added, “Everything I do is necessary, or did you forget that?”
Tension simmered between them and I wanted to burrow deeper into the velvet blanket.
Anger radiated from the female, and I swore she wanted to snap at him, that she wanted to fight him, but then she calmlysaid in a resigned tone, “At least do not treat her like an enemy. She does not belong in a cell.”
No response.
She sighed, as gentle as a summer breeze, and her voice softened further.
“This is wrong.” Those words were met with silence that felt tighter—thicker—heavier. “Is she human?”
“No.” His voice had grown colder, deeper, and more commanding. Sharper than a blade. Although I wasn’t sure how that was possible.
“Return her to her world.”
I braced, sure the female had pushed too far by issuing an order to this male and he would put her in her place, as a wolf male in a position of power would have.
My eyes widened a heartbeat later, when her order repeated in my mind, echoing there.
Return me to my world?Panic lanced me. Where was I if this wasn’t my world?
“No.” A male of few words, and not the retribution I had expected.
“Why is she here?”
“That is none of your concern.” He was definitely her master, or at the least, her superior. He spoke like an alpha.
“None of my concern?” She did snap now. “I beg to differ. As your second in command?—”
“A position you wish to keep?” he growled low, a cold threat and one that silenced the female for a full minute.
But then she muttered, “At least give her some clothes.”
I had the feeling she either wanted this male to strip her of her position, or she knew his threat had been an idle one, something he wouldn’t do no matter the circumstances. They were close then. Shared some kind of bond that made me pine for my parents, for Everlee and Chase and Morden.
The female huffed. “I do not know your plan, brother, but it would not kill you to make her more comfortable.”
Brother.
