Cage Me: A Wolf Shifter Romantasy (Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shadow Shifter Bonds Book 1)

Chapter 13

Idon’t know what happened to Spencer while she was in that living room, but it’s almost as if a completely different person has sat next to me.

My gaze keeps traveling her way as the others speak about nothing of interest to me. Every time she catches me, she meets my stare with a smirk, one that seems to hold a secret that I’m dying to know.

“So,” Cara says, looking pointedly at her daughter, “Drake told us about your run-in with Lia and Markus.”

Spencer shrugs. “Nothing different than what I’m used to getting from you.”

“He also mentioned Natalia showing up right before you got back here,” Cara pushes, and part of me wonders if she’s trying to bring her daughter down from whatever cloud she’s floating on now. Though, Spencer doesn’t seem to let the topics get to her like I would expect after having spent the day driving her mad.

“And we’re going to deal with her,” Spencer says confidently. “But the witch doesn’t actually have the power to kick us out of Crossroads. We’ll let her calm down and go see her in the morning as planned. Whatever crawled up her ass is only because something scared her, and while we know we need to leave, we’re not doing so because of Natalia’s commands.”

“Whatever crawled up her ass…”There’s the Spencer I’ve seen most of the day. I was beginning to worry that after everything that’s happened today, we’d broken her, but maybe not.

Five minutes ago, I agreed with Spencer’s mother, but seeing my mate now, I’m not sure acting right away is the best course of action. I start to say as much, but I’m interrupted.

Kasha swirls the glass in front her as she casually looks up. “Whenever you go, I hope you know that your family will be safer in my home than in that shed or anywhere else you might try to stash them.”

“Speaking of.” Spencer’s eyes narrow. “How did you know they were in there?”

Cara frowns and lifts a hand. “Peter might have been trying to clean up and opened the door without thinking, breaking the concealment spell.”

“Well, at least that tells me there isn’t anything wrong with the spells Natalia has been giving me,” Spencer says, relaxing back into her seat before turning back toward Kasha. “What do you want for letting them stay here?”

The fae-wolf flattens her lips and glares at my mate. “When will you start trusting people, Spencer? I don’t need something in exchange for doing what’s right.”

“Fair point,” she replies, drumming her fingers over the tabletop. “Fine. They can stay in the house, but if anything happens to them, even if it’s just an almost happens, I will hold you personally responsible. I don’t care what kind of powerful hybrid you are. Nothing can protect you from me if they’re not kept safe.”

Everyone, including myself, tenses around the table. It’s not hard to feel just how right Spencer is. Kasha might be a hybrid, but from what I sense, she leans heavier toward her fae side. There’s an undeniable power that she exudes, and threatening her probably isn’t the best idea, but that doesn’t seem to change anything.

“I would expect nothing less from you.” Kasha smirks, then finishes off her drink. “Cara, you’ll have to share the room with Peter or take the couch. I’m going to head to bed.” She gives me and Spencer her attention as she stands. “The two of you can do as you, um, need. Just don’t destroy my property in the process.”

Her words make no sense to me, but the heat I suddenly feel emanating from Spencer and the scent of her arousal pieces everything together rather quickly.

Well, that’s uncomfortable to have said right in front of her mother. Almost more than realizing it’s been nearly a millennium since I’ve had sex, yet they’re talking about it so casually.

Before anyone else can comment on what may or may not happen between Spencer and me, Cara gets up as well and dramatically fakes a yawn.

“It’s been a long day for me,” she says, staring more at the table than us. “I’m going to lie down with Peter. You know, in case he has any nightmares.”

The possibility of that is high, but even if he does dream about shooting his father, I have no doubt that boy is going to be just fine.

As soon as we’re alone, I expect things to become awkward, but Spencer starts to laugh, covering her mouth as her whole body begins to shake.

I really need to figure out what the hell happened to her tonight. Starting with the moment she took back the rejection.

Not that I’m complaining—I’m rather fond of this less stressed version of Spencer—but I also want to be sure she’s not having a mental breakdown after all that has transpired.

“Spence?” I say softly, grabbing her leg under the table. “Are you okay?”

She nods, wiping tears from her cheeks. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been better.” Then, her hands reach for me, and she brings my face closer to hers. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

Not only her words, but her actions put me in a temporary state of shock. I don’t move for a long second, even as her lips press against mine, igniting the bond between us and making my heart race.

It isn’t until one of her hands slides around the back of my head, gripping tightly to my hair that I finally awaken.

A rumble builds in my chest, and I open my mouth, deepening the kiss. She tastes even sweeter than she smells, and the need to touch her everywhere is overwhelming. One of my hands slowly moves up her arm, and the other instinctively goes to her chest, flattening over her racing heart.

The rapid thrumming beneath her shirt calls to me like the most powerful siren song to ever exist. This woman is mine. I knew that the first moment I realized she existed, but kissing and touching her as I am, not feeling any restraint on her end, I know there’s no going back.

If she were to change her mind again, I’m positive I would merely cease to exist after that.

“I know it’s not much,” she says between kisses, “but the mattress in the shed isn’t that bad.”

Not that I would even consider turning her down, but I need to know why she’s suddenly ready to go all-in with being mates. That might make me stupid, but I’ve spent centuries being tortured. I won’t have her regretting this decision tomorrow and hate myself for it the rest of our lives.

Pulling back, I take a steadying breath as I stare into her light blue eyes. “Spencer, wait.”

Her fingers start to tug at my shirt, but I grab her wrists.

“This might make me the biggest fool in all the worlds, but I’d like to talk to you first.”

Her head tilts to the side as she finally pauses her movements. “This is not how I saw this going.”

“You and me both,” I mutter, already mentally kicking myself in the ass for what I’m not doing. “What happened tonight? What’s changed your mind about me?”

“Getting right to the point. Seems like that’s everyone’s choice this evening.” She smirks, leaning back in her chair. “I’m not entirely sure if I’m being honest, but I do know one thing: I’m done fighting against everyone in my life.”

Instantly, my chest aches and I reach for her. “It wasn’t my intention to cause you more grief.”

She shakes her head and offers me a half-grin. “You might have been the least worst part of my day.”

I think she’s attempting to make me feel better in her own way, so I try not to take offense that I’m still considered a “worst part” in any form, least or not.

She continues, “I’ve spent my entire life believing in one thing: that I can’t trust anyone or be myself. That who I am, what I’m capable of, isn’t something to be shared with the rest of the world, not even my own father.”

The more I learn about the woman, the more I understand why she wanted nothing to do with me. Still, I can’t regret not letting her walk away.

“Do you wish he would have known who you really were?” I ask her quietly as she seems lost in thought.

She blinks, then shakes her head. “He was evil long before I was born, but I do wish for my mother that things had been different. I can’t imagine being tied to someone you were forced to love, but also feared so thoroughly.”

Her fingers twist in her lap as she goes back to my original question. “When I was sitting on the couch, alone with my thoughts, I realized that letting go of my desire for control was exactly what I needed. The moment I agreed in my mind to just let things be what they’re going to be, I’d never felt freer. Maybe it’s because I feel exhausted, but when I let my walls down…” She pauses and shivers. “It changed everything.”

I want to ask what she saw, but the reverence in her voice makes me believe the answer might be better kept with her. That maybe in time, she’ll show me instead of telling me with words. Much like she does now when she grabs both of my hands.

“I’m sorry I rejected you,” she admits with another laugh. “I don’t apologize much, and I don’t open up to people, but for the first time in my life, I just want to let go of the tight hold I’ve kept on my own life and see what happens.”

I squeeze her fingers before releasing her to stand. She starts to glower, but the moment I pick her up from the chair, her smile returns. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Taking my dove to her room, so I can watch her fly,” I whisper in her ear as I hold her close and let my teeth scrape over her skin there.

If Spencer wants me, then she’s going to get all of me.