Cage

by Rachelle Stevensen

  Logan gave a sardonic laugh, “Yeah, we are both pretty fucked up. Getting mauled by a rabid bear shifter doesn’t exactly call for being in sync with the bear I didn’t want.”

  Cage shook his head, *I know Logan. I know. But there is something going on. Something more that you don’t understand. That none of us do. I think you need to see what will happen with your girl. She is your mate. Your link. Don’t be afraid of your bear when you claim her. He knows more than you think.*

  They had walked into the kitchen to have their conversation and Logan said softly, “I don’t know what to believe anymore. I’m terrified of hurting her. Of making her like me and taking her choice from her.”

  Cage shook his head again, *Logan, she is your mate. Made to be yours. Every single part of you is perfect for her, even your bear. Don’t push her away and ruin the bond you have because of your fear. You have seen what it does to me, to Ryke. To Deacon. He didn’t have the choice, and yet he longs for what you have. Please don’t be an idiot. I’m begging you for those who can’t have a mate and you do.*

  They walked back into the main part of the building and Cage said, *I have to get back, but I will let Ryke see the plans and we can get started on the stuff that we can do. I’m sure Tegan will want to get to work on the new cabinets and things too.*

  Then he got in his truck and drove away. Hating the advice he gave Logan.

  He wanted his friend to believe it, but he didn’t believe it himself.

  He wanted to think that every part of himself was made for Wren, but those had all been destroyed in the fire and with what happened after.

  He wasn’t the mate that she was supposed to have. Not now. Not with his changes and issues.

  He could only hope that Logan would hear it though. He truly believed that Logan was the most sane of all of them.

  And that was saying something.

  Chapter Six

  Cage

  That night, it was late when a pair of headlights swept across his house.

  He was sitting on his couch, getting ready to head to Wren’s when it happened and he walked out on his porch to see Raina get out of her car.

  This was new. And so weird. Where was Logan?

  He shut his eyes for a second and searched with his mind, but not finding Logan’s thoughts anywhere.

  He searched Raina’s thoughts and knew she was here for answers. It shocked him.

  After seeing Logan run from her like he had, most women would be leaving and never coming back.

  Not this girl. She wanted to know exactly what was happening with Logan and she wouldn’t leave until she found out.

  Ryke wasn’t happy, but Tegan stepped forward and refused to let Ryke bully her into leaving.

  Cage looked at Tegan, *Are you sure you want to do this?*

  Tegan was almost vibrating with anger, and he said, “I am sure. Do you want her to leave and never see Logan again? To have her run scared and have him lose his mate? I don’t think so. He may be fighting with himself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see that it will all work out.”

  Cage knew Tegan was right and that Raina deserved to know what was going on, and he followed behind when they walked into Logan’s cabin.

  He stood quietly, watching as all the men from their crew filed in and stood or sat in various places close to Raina.

  Tegan sat by her on the couch. Raina looked to him, “Will you truly answer my questions?”

  Cage nodded, signing to her that he would and Tegan said, “He will tell you all you want to know. So will I.”

  Ryke let out a growl and when they all explained to Raina what was going on with Logan, she sat, listening to it all and asking the occasional question here and there.

  When they got to him and his animals she was more shocked, but was sweet about it.

  She told him that girls like scars. One girl in particular did for sure and it made Cage want to roar with pleasure.

  When she asked more questions and someone told her about mates, she asked him, “Why aren’t you with your girl? Is it Wren?”

  He nodded and Tegan said, “He hasn’t claimed her because of his reasons as well. Mainly because he is afraid of what she will think of his animal.”

  Raina smiled over at him, “Cage, don’t be scared of that. She is more accepting than you know.”

  Cage sent to Tegan, *Tell her thanks.*

  She went still, “How do you understand him?”

  Cage’s vampire spoke up, *She is part of the crew now. You can speak to her if you wish.*

  Cage sent his thoughts to Raina, *I speak telepathically. Apparently my animal has accepted you as Logan’s mate and will let me speak to you.*

  Her eyes went wide, “Oh wow. That is so cool.”

  He smiled, *It is.*

  They spent more time answering her questions and by the time they were done, she had a better grasp and wasn’t afraid of any of it.

  More intrigued than anything. Cage could see she had a hole in her soul, one that needed to be filled with her soulmate and her bear.

  He knew now it was important for Logan to see this. To claim her.

  They had to find him.

  ----

  And they did just that, searching the woods until Cage could pick out his thoughts.

  He let Ryke know where Logan could be found and Ryke turned on his huge wings and flew to where Cage could hear Logan the best.

  *You fucking asshole. We have been searching for you for hours.*

  Logan’s face was shock and Cage jumped off Ryke’s massive back and punched Logan right in the jaw.

  “What the fuck?”

  *You are such an idiot! You claimed your girl and ran? What is wrong with you?*

  Logan was ashamed and when he told Cage that, Cage rolled his eyes.

  *Your bear makes your soul complete. I can see that. All of us can. It’s just you who doesn’t, Why do you keep punishing him instead of celebrating that your soul is whole? You have your mate and your bear. Stop being such a damn pussy.*

  Logan glared at him, “You don’t know what is going on inside my head Cage. You know nothing.”

  Cage wanted to roll his eyes again, he knew exactly what was going on inside Logan’s head. It was fucked up, that was for sure, but there was more to it.

  More he couldn’t see. And he hated that Logan had a block that kept him from it.

  *I know more than you think. My hybrid nature gives me more powers than you even comprehend. So yes, I do know what is going on in your head. Your bear just wants you to love him and is waiting for you to stop hating him for nothing he did. He is waiting to be the best friend you ever had and you keep spitting in his face.*

  Logan sat down hard, “You can see that?”

  Cage nodded, *Of course I can. Do you see any of the other men here hating their animal? Born or turned?*

  Logan shook his head and he went on, *Exactly. Stop being such a douchebag about being a shifter. You have a fucking GRIZZLY bear inside of you dude. That’s amazing. Magical. You have this badass bear inside willing to protect you, to heal you and love you. To be the perfect companion to you. The one who led you to your mate. To the one girl meant to be yours. No guessing, no questions asked. Take it all and run with it man. You need to do that. To see what we all do.*

  After that it was easy. Logan shut his eyes and Cage could feel the barrier drop some.

  That Logan was accepting his bear more.

  There was still a problem though and when Logan asked if they would go with him to Alaska, he and Ryke were more than ready for that.

  ----

  After the talk with Logan’s mom and seeing her fix the bond inside Logan’s head, and having Logan feeling his bear finally be whole, Cage knew it was right for them to come here.

  He didn’t like that they had to go extreme measures like they had, but it was all worth it.

  He was glad he got to witness the change in his friend. That Logan was finally whole and when he could, he wasn’t going
to hesitate to claim his girl.

  It gave Cage the motivation to want to change and even with his fucked up monster and head, that he didn’t care and knew it was finally time to claim his girl.

  If Logan could do it even with his fucked up brain and fucked up bear, then he could too.

  She was meant for him. All of him. His wolf, his vampire and him. Scars and all.

  It was supposed to be a time of happiness and excitement, but it turned to a sour note when they found out that Logan’s parents were being held in a facility that locked up shifters and experimented on them.

  It rankled at him, having that knowledge and he flew back to Wyoming on the next flight from Alaska.

  When he got back, he told the men about Logan’s family and they waited for weeks on word from their friend.

  In the meantime, they helped work on Raina’s bakery and some of the other projects they had lined up.

  As the days slipped by, he was still no closer to claiming his mate though.

  After the talk with Raina and Logan, he thought he would jump on that. And then he had gotten home and the thought overwhelmed him.

  He knew that he had to get his thoughts right and he worked on those while they waited for Logan’s signal.

  -----

  It came all too soon, and before he could speak to Wren about his feelings, they were leaving to help Logan.

  He knew that they needed to help Logan, but he hated leaving her behind.

  He had done it before, this wasn’t new, but it still chafed at him.

  He was a lucky son of a bitch, knowing where his mate was and seeing her all the time.

  So this separation wasn’t easy and he struggled to leave with her here and unprotected.

  His crew thought that he was insane for not claiming her still. For coming up with more excuses that seemed plausible in his head and then being total shit when push came to shove and Croy told him almost daily what an idiot he was.

  The guy was kind to every single person, and Cage knew Croy had a point, but he didn’t know everything and Cage had gone this long without touching his girl. He wouldn’t just give into his urges.

  As they drove to where Logan was in hiding while he kept an eye on the facility, Cage could feel his monster in his head.

  He was ready for the bloodlust and the fight.

  His vampire was practically crowing with excitement and the closer they got, the harder Cage had to fight with them both to calm down.

  The battle hadn’t started yet, but they were ready for anything.

  When they got to the hotel, Raina ran into Logan’s arms and a wave of jealousy hit him so hard he had to bite back a snarl.

  He knew that Deacon was feeling it too, and felt for his friend.

  Ryke let out a silent huff of air and Cage looked over at him, *What?*

  Ryke rolled his eyes, “Nothing. Just didn’t know how hard it was to see him get his girl. I hate it, but at the same damn time I’m thrilled. He has worked hard to get where he is. To accept his bear. To get the girl. I wish I could do the same. It burns me inside. My dragon hates me for it. But I have to do what is best for her. Even if I hate it.”

  Cage nodded, *I know how you feel Ryke. You and I aren’t that different. You have a dragon that is needed for his blood and you don’t want to put your mate in harm's way, and I have a crazy monster that wants my mate’s blood. I don’t know if she will have a monster like me. I’m the only hybrid that I have heard of. I wish life were different sometimes.”

  Ryke’s shoulders slumped, “I hate it Cage. I fucking hate it. I need her. My body hurts with mate withdrawals. She and I aren’t fully mated, but every damn day I live in complete agony. I need her and I can’t fucking touch her.”

  Cage didn’t know that Ryke was struggling like that. Just like he didn’t know with Deacon.

  With all his so-called powers, you would think he would know. He didn’t. They must have it buried so deep he couldn’t read it.

  He could now though. Ryke’s pain almost overwhelmed him when he searched through his thoughts and he had to clench his fists and lock his knees so they didn’t buckle.

  Ryke lived with this every day? No wonder he was so angry. So harsh and short with everyone.

  He was in so much pain and he still got up and lived his life.

  His half life. That’s how Ryke described it.

  Ryke looked up at him, his irises turning the gold of his dragon, “Now do you see? Do you understand? That even though you too are struggling without your mate that I would take that every single fucking day and not deal with this? I wish I could make this go away. That I knew that she would be safe if I mate with her, but I can’t know that. And so I stay away and it’s slowly killing me.”

  Cage had no words to say, he was shocked that his friend had been in pain this long and had kept it to himself.

  *I wish there was a way to take it from you. To get you the answers you seek. I know you think that your parents were taken just for their blood and maybe they were, but what if there is something more to it? Something we aren’t seeing? I mean look where we are. We are trying to save Logan’s parents from a facility. What if yours are still alive somewhere too? I don’t want you to keep being in pain if we can figure this out.*

  Ryke shook his head, “If I keep pulling at that thread I will just hurt myself more. I can’t keep doing that Cage. It’s too much as it is. I have to believe my parents are dead. I can’t have the hope that they are alive. Because if they are and have been used for years for their blood and more it makes my dragon go crazy. I can’t do it. They are dead and that’s it. I have to deal with the mate sickness. I have for a long time. It won’t change now.”

  Cage wanted to say more but they were going in the room now to talk to Logan and everyone in their crew hugged Raina.

  They stepped inside and let Easton tell them the plan. They were all ready for war.

  For the bloodlust that would come with killing men that did shifters harm.

  Cage could feel his monster in his head, urging him for blood.

  To finally sate himself on the blood of a human.

  His fangs slid free in anticipation and Cage had to hide them in his mouth.

  It wasn’t easy. He kept his head down, listening as they finished the plans.

  And then, it was time.

  They all walked through the woods to the facility and waited as Logan went inside with Easton.

  But when Logan told him in his head, *There is a problem. The Doctor is still here. Not gone like he was supposed to be. Be ready.*

  Cage sent the warning to everyone and told Logan, *We can’t stop now. Not with you in there and compromised. Raina would kill me.*

  Logan went silent and Cage could feel the rage building in his body and when Logan finally sent out the go ahead, they were ready and waiting.

  Everyone changed into their animal forms and were stopped by a handful of guards out front.

  They rushed the guards, getting shot here and there, but nothing too major.

  The first guard that rushed at Cage had nothing but anger and hate in his thoughts, and Cage took great pleasure in grabbing the man, and sinking his massive fangs deep in his neck, sucking him dry in seconds.

  The rush of fresh blood energized him so much, it was unlike anything he had ever felt.

  He rushed at the next man, sucking him dry next and they shoved the doors open, getting bombarded by the guards waiting for them.

  Bullets started flying and one hit Ryke in the shoulder, making him roar in pain and his dragon burst free.

  He started throwing guards around the room, hitting them with his massive tail and Cage let out a roar of triumph as his friend embraced the dark part of himself.

  They threw themselves into the fight with the shifters from the facility and before long, all of the guards that had come at them were dead, or dying.

  Cage’s body was buzzing with energy and he felt better than he had in years after drinking so much
blood.

  His monster was prowling around, killing any of the guards left alive and his vampire was finally sated.

  Logan came out of the back of the building with two men and gave them a nod, and Logan said in his head, *We are burning the facility to the ground. The fire is already started.*

  Cage sent the message to their crew and Ryke gave a nod in his dragon way, and crushed his way free from the building and blowing flame on it to help.

  Within seconds the building was up in flames and they turned away, walking through the woods and into the night.

  Chapter Seven

  Cage

  After getting back to the hotel, they all sat in the room that Logan was staying in and settled in for a long chat.

  Cage wasn’t expecting half the stuff that came from the shifters.

  That they had been in there for a long time and that they had all different animals.

  But he wasn’t expecting one in particular to be the person he was.

  Kol Torstein. The man wasn’t a shifter though. He was a vampire.

  A vampire that had given his blood to a young boy. One that had a wolf that couldn’t heal his injuries and needed the boost to help out.

  But Kol had no idea that boost would change the boy like it had.

  Cage had stepped forward then, *It was you? You are the vampire who gave me blood?*

  Kol was shocked and both his eyebrows raised, and Logan said, “I thought you saw everything. You didn’t see this?”

  Kol shook his head, “I can see most things, yes, but not this. He has blocked me. It’s part of his magic. He can see what most cannot, but cannot see others with his magic.”

  Cage was shocked as well, he hadn’t expected this at all. Not to actually come face to face with the man who saved his life.