Caged In

same number

Cage

I wake up to my phone ringing. I get up and it's my dad. I reject the call, but text him that I need to talk to him, but to give me an hour. I turn to Avalena, and she is sitting up staring at me with a beautiful flushed face. I love it. I get back in bed and grab her and kiss her. She pushes me away. "Cage, I have morning breath," she says. "Morning breath, what? You smell good to me," I say as I grab her and kiss her again. She giggles and it is my new favorite sound.

"I have to help my mom with some things, but after, we can hang out," she tells me. "Yes, I have to talk to my dad, and I should probably talk to your dad too," I tell her as I scratch the back of my head. Valen might not be happy with his daughter marking me, but I should go tell him that I am all in and have a conversation like I wanted to have last night. "You do that. I just mind linked my parents and told them we should go have dinner with your parents so we can all talk. I want everyone to be on the same page," she tells me. I smile, and kiss her forehead. "You are right. Want to shower together?" I ask her. She nods and stands up. My eyes take her in. So naked and so perfect. This is what I want to wake up to for the rest of my life.

She takes a step and winces. "Are you alright?" I am on her, lifting her up and bringing her to the restroom. I set her in the bath tub and turn the water on to warm and allow it to fill up. I decide to take a shower so she can sit and soak in her tub. I get out, dry off and put on the same clothes I had on yesterday. I have to go look for my bag so I can change.

I want to make her bed, but she needs clean sheets, so I just fold them and put them off to the side. I pick up her clothes and put them in her hamper. I walk to her closet and go through her clothes. I pick a baby blue dress, a pair of tennis shoes so she can be comfortable, then I grab a matching pair of panties and bra and set them all out on her bed for her to put on. I walk back into the restroom, and I grab a fluffy towel and I help her get out. I set her down next to her bed. She looks at the clothes in front of her. "Did you pick these for me?" she asks. I nod. "I hope you don't mind. I just want to help you as much as I can. I couldn't find new bedding," I say. "I have someone come fix this. Don't worry," she says. "Here," I hand her my phone so she can add her phone number, but she tells me she still has the same number she has always had, so I just change her name on my contact list, and add her to my favorites. She gets dressed and leaves her hair to dry. She says we can go have breakfast, then I can go talk to her dad while she goes and helps her mom. I plan on going to find my bag too, and I need to call dad back.

We walk down to their cafeteria hand in hand. Avalena is sporting a big smile on her face. "Oh, we need to go to the front. Refugees from another pack in a whole different country are arriving. They specifically wanted to come here because of mom's healing abilities, since they are mostly all senior wolves," she tells me. I follow her and when we step outside, Catalina and Valen are standing outside, with Austyn and Zeus talking. Austyn looks at me and smiles widely. Zeus whistles. Valen looks at me and looks away and Catalina greets us both with hugs. "Looks like you two really got to know each other last night. "Congratulations," she says with a wink. Avalena's face flushes.

"Stand here with Ava, Cage. You will see how we welcome our new pack members. They have all been through something traumatic, so we need to be careful with our words and actions.

A bus pulls up, and an old man gets off first. He looks like he can barely walk, then more people trickle down after him. They slowly walk over to us. Some dude around my age, maybe older walks over with a clipboard. "Alpha Catalina, Alpha Valen," he bows his head to them. "The werewolves from Stonebridge Pack have arrived. Many are elders who weren't able to escape, because they no longer shift, so they lost everything, and they want to start over here," he says. "Was anyone hurt?" Ava asks, and I do not miss the way this sucker eyes my woman. He is basically eye f*ck!ng her. I do not care if he is a werewolf, I can take him. I can snap this skinny f*cker in half before he shifts into his wolf. The old man arriving and almost tripping over snaps me out of this red fog I was suddenly dragged into. I am not a jealous person. I have never been. I am the kind of man that what's mine is mine though. "No-one is hurt, but if these folks aren't careful, some of them will be soon," he says, slapping his clipboard on his thigh, suddenly laughing like a damn hyena. He acts like his joke was that damn funny. Avalena laughs though. She f*ck!ng laughs along with her mother. Valen is eyeing this f*cker too. I am sure he is thinking the same thing I am. He wraps his arm around Catalina, and I pull Ava closer to me.

The old man bows and greets Catalina and Valen. Catalina introduces us all. The old man makes a weird noise when she introduces me. "A human as the mate of the future Luna," he says. I look around. I know he is talking about me, but what the f*ck. Catalina and Valen didn't even flinch at the tone this man used and the disgust in his voice. Maybe I am used to my father being a hot head and snapping at everyone, and not staying calm even when someone is clearly insulting and disrespecting you.

"Mr. Valle, you can not come to another pack and be rude," the guy with the clipboard says, but he looks way too happy that I am being insulted. I stay quiet though. I do not want to embarrass Catalina, Valen and especially Avalena. I know these people have their own way of doing things. I will just have to learn. "Yes, Cage is a human, and he is fine," Catalina tells him. The old man waves her off. "I am old and can not shift anymore. I want to make sure the pack I am a part of has the proper people in charge. How will a human defend me if something happens? He is just as weak as I am," he says. I scoff. I am sorry I held my tongue long enough. I have to speak up for myself. James Thomas didn't raise no b!tch.

"I am not weak, and I might not have a wolf yet, but I will soon. Even without a wolf though, I will do anything to protect anyone here. I am a trained firefighter. I know weapons, but my hands are my favorite weapons. I am a cage fighter, if that means anything. I know I can protect you and anyone here. Once I get my wolf, I will be even unstoppable," I say. "Well, you being a firefighter, would have been great at our old pack where the fire broke out and left us homeless," he mutters. "Oh, Mr. Valle, hush now, come with me," A woman tells him. She is also old, but not as old as him. "Is it my fun time yet?" he asks as he shakes his head and sticks his tongue out. She nods as she steps closer to him and tries to whisper, but we all hear her. "Once we get to our rooms, I will give you a little striptease, and a nice tug, so you won't be so grumpy. Leave that young man alone. He will make a fine leader. I mean, look at him." she giggles. Avalena growls and the lady steps back. Pride fills me quickly. "Fine," he says and follows behind her like a lost puppy. Thank god. I didn't want to have to continue defending myself. The conversation around us continues, and when I check my phone, I know I have to call my dad. By then, most people have already left. Avalena tells me she is going to go with her mom and I take that time to call dad.

"Hello," I say, not surprised that he answers on the first ring. "Did you really go to Valen's house to stir up trouble with his daughter, Cage? You went there to clear your mind. Is that not what you told us? Tell me you did not go there to drag that poor girl into your mess," he sighs. He doesn't even let me get a word in though. He just continues talking. "Your ex-girlfriend was here late last night, banging on my door, and she came back this morning and woke us up. It's your mother's only day off, Cage. We were spending time together, and it was interrupted. You already know how I feel about that." he says. Damn, dad really hates it when he can't spend his time alone with mom. He gets so grumpy about it. She is always working on something new with the bakery, and throughout the years they have made it work with mom having at least one day off so she can spend it with dad without anyone interrupting them. According to them, this is what keeps them so strong and united as a couple. "You better come deal with this, Cage, because if I do, no-one will like it," he tells me. I can tell by his tone that he is irritated, but I also know that he means it. Maybe I should let him deal with it. Lucy will get cussed out and shown the door. It will serve her right for all the sh!t she talked about him and my family, but he is right. I have to go deal with her.

"Avalena and I were thinking about dinner with you and mom and her parents tonight so we can discuss everything in detail, and I will call Lucy," I say. "Sounds good, now please son, don't get into more sh!t. You already have a lot on your plate, and I don't think you realize how bad it is. Talk to that girl, and remember that sometimes we make certain sacrifices for our children. Maybe you need to come home and stay here so you can really think about what it is you want, son. Stay away from women, period," he says. "I know dad, but I am Avalena's mate. I already accepted her. This changes everything," I tell him. I wait for him to respond. "Hello, dad, are you there?" I ask. "Yes Cage, I will talk to you later. I need to get back to your mother. Bye son. I love you," he says and hangs up the call. I don't know how to take the end of that conversation, but at least he still always says he loves me no matter what kind of sh!t I get into. That's the kind of man James Thomas is. Now, it is time to see what Valen DarkMoon has to say about this.