CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2)

by Karina Espinosa

  I couldn’t resist the grin that spread across my face. “Right…friends.”

  “Exactly,” he paused. “Now do you want to tell me where you’ve been?”

  I shook my head no.

  “I figured. Well as we told you earlier, I have no choice but to hand you over to Charles, do you understand?”

  “I’m not an idiot, Bash, I know.”

  “That’s what I don’t understand,” he muttered. “Why?”

  I smiled. “I have my reasons.”

  “You know you can trust me, right?” he asked. His eyes narrowing.

  “Like you trust me?”

  He laughed. “Touché.”

  “So, what happens now?”

  Sebastian stood from his chair and walked around to lean against his desk. “Now, I let you catch up with your best friend, but I expect you back here tomorrow before sunrise. Got it?”

  I stood from my seat and stepped between his legs, my hands planted themselves on his shoulders. “Thank you, Sebastian,” I whispered, taking him by surprise.

  His blue eyes crinkled at the corners as I was graced by an unexpected smile. “You’ve changed,” he said.

  “For the better?” I asked.

  “I think so,” he said and I smiled wider.

  “Good,” I kissed him on the cheek and left his office.

  ***

  When I exited the basement, my fingers touched my lips, the feel of Sebastian’s scruffy five o’clock shadow sending tingles of electricity through my sensitive skin. I shook the feeling away. The only ones on the main floor were Jonah and Amy. Everyone else had scattered to god knows where. Jackson was a ghost, and I was glad. I was tired from my flight back to the East Coast, and I didn’t have the energy to kick his ass for breaking his promise to me.

  Amy and I took a cab back into the city, and the silence between us awakened my ADD. I couldn’t sit still, much less keep quiet.

  “Are you going to ignore me the whole ride home?” I asked as the taxi driver made a sharp turn.

  “It isn’t your home anymore, Mackenzie,” she said as she looked out the window.

  “Ouch,” I cringed. “Right in the feels.”

  “I don’t care,” she mumbled as she nibbled on her lip ring.

  I shifted my body so my back was to the car door and I was facing her. “Listen Amy, I know I messed up, but I thought it was for your own good. I didn’t want you to be involved and be put in harm’s way. I realize now that it was pointless because you’re all up in the Pack, but whatever. The point is, I messed up and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disappear,” I gasped for air. The verbal diarrhea was a hazard of mine. “Amy?”

  She whirled around, her eyes blazing with fury. “You can’t just dictate everything, Mackenzie! And you also can’t come back and expect everything to be normal again!”

  “I didn’t say that I expected anything!”

  “Well good, because saying sorry isn’t going to cut it. Not this time,” she huffed and crossed her arms.

  I scooted a little closer to her. “I missed ya, Amy,” I grinned. I was itching to pull her into a huge bear hug, but I knew she needed her space.

  Her gaze turned to me and I could see her inner struggle—she was trying to stay mad at me—I hoped to break her resolve.

  “I didn’t watch the latest season of House of Cards because I couldn’t watch it without you,” I pouted and I could see her eyes soften.

  “Damn it, Mackenzie Grey! I missed your ass too!” she exclaimed and pulled me into her little tattooed arms.

  “Yes! I knew it!” I said and hugged her back just as fiercely.

  “You’re such an asshole, you couldn’t even give me a day to be pissed. I deserve at least a day!”

  “I know, Aims, but I don’t have a day. Sebastian has to take me to the Estate tomorrow morning. I don’t know what Charles is going to do, so I want us to at least be on good terms,” I said.

  The taxi pulled to a stop in front of our apartment building. While Amy paid the cab driver, I got out and scanned the neighborhood. It all looked the same, nothing had changed. I saw the bodega down the street that was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Mejia. Our quiet and sparse apartment was perfect for us when I was moon-bound. I remembered many nights of having to rush home and lock myself up in my cage because the wolf had a hold on me during every full moon. Those were some tough times—but I’ve learned to shift at will and am no longer bound to the moon—to the Change.

  “Welcome home, Kenz.”

  ***

  Our apartment was the same, except for the occasional men’s clothing littered around. Was the bastard sleeping here? My eyebrows scrunched inward, but I kept the inquisition to myself, not wanting to start another argument with Amy.

  “What have you been up to?” I asked. “You know, post-graduation and all.” I walked around the living room, running my hands over the familiar red brick walls. This was home.

  “Not much. I mainly do remote IT work so I can work from home. It pays the bills.” Amy shrugged off her coat and hung it up by the door. “Are you going to tell me why you’re back?” she asked as she went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. She knew me so well.

  “Of course I am!” I said. “I have to fill my bestie in with my master plan for world domination!” I did my evil laugh with my fists planted at my hips.

  “Alrighty then, I’m all ears, Wolfey.”

  I hopped on the kitchen counter and got comfortable. “I can’t run forever, Amy,” I started. “A few weeks ago I found this little eleven-year-old Luna. Her mother was a Succubus and the father was dead—killed because he was a lone-wolf.”

  Amy sucked in a breath.

  “Yeah…the werewolf gene is stronger than any other species out there. It seeks dominance, so the girl never stood a chance at being anything but Wolf. When I rescued her from this guy who was exploiting Sucubi in LA, I was left with the girl—her mother had died while they were held hostage,” I paused. Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat.

  “Kenzie?”

  I brushed her off. “I didn’t know what to do. So I took her to the Desert Wolves—they had been helping me out since I arrived in Los Angeles. They had no choice but to report her to The Summit and they caught my scent on the little girl.”

  “You got caught?” Amy asked.

  “No. Lucian called to warn me—to give me a head start before they arrived. I was about to run when a…a friend of mine told me I’d eventually have to stop running, that I’d have to stand up for myself.”

  Amy nodded. “So you decided it would be today?”

  “Yeah,” I sighed. “I’m tired, Amy. You know Jonah told me earlier that I had been free, they had lost my trail a few months ago. But was it real freedom? I’m condemned to play a game of hide-and-seek for the rest of my life.”

  “Oh Kenz,” Amy hopped onto the counter with me and wrapped me in one of her hugs. “I’m sorry.”

  I snorted. “Don’t be, it’s not your fault.”

  “If you’re not hiding anymore, then what are you going to do?”

  She pulled away from me and I smirked. “I’m going to change the system—not just for me but for every Luna like me.”

  “Alright then, Che Guevara, when does the revolution start?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Before I do anything, I have to find out what Charles plans to do with me. I’m not out of the woods just yet.” My future was uncertain and I couldn’t plan anything until I knew what would happen to me. I wasn’t Charles favorite person in the world—that was mostly my fault. Let’s just say my mini freak out about who he thought my parents were, didn’t bode well with the Alpha.

  “Well enough with the heavy,” Amy went into the fridge and pulled out some ice cream. “Time to spill,” she grinned.

  “No deets to spill, homie.” I chugged the rest of my coffee.

  “As if I’d believe that load of horse shit,” she waved a spoon at me. “You’ve been gone for a year, don’t tell
me there aren’t any residual wolfey feelings somewhere inside.”

  “For who? Bash or Jonah? I’m so over them,” I scoffed and grabbed the Chunky Monkey. It was a total lie, but she didn’t need to know that. Seeing them today was like a punch to the gut. Every feeling and memory came rushing back like a tidal wave. But I had a goal in mind, and I couldn’t get distracted with boy issues again.

  Amy smirked. “If you’re so over them, then who in LA is making my girl ARH-WOOOO,” she fake howled to the ceiling.

  I threw my head back in laughter. “You did not just do that.”

  “Oh yes I did,” she snatched the ice cream container from me. “Now spill.”

  “I don’t know, Amy, things are confusing. Why couldn’t they have gotten fat and ugly? Life is so unfair!” I covered my face in my hands.

  She patted me on the back. “There, there, babe. I’m sure they’ll get a receding hair line any day now.”

  “Yeah right,” I rolled my eyes. “I can see them now, old as hell and looking like a bunch of silver foxes,” I grumbled into a mouthful of Chunky Monkey.

  “And you’ll probably look like Sofia Vergara so stop your whining,” she stole my spoon as the apartment door unlocked and swung open.

  I jumped off the counter, baring my canines in a crouch, a growl ripped out of me that made Amy flinch away. Jackson and Jonah walked in, their hands raised in the air in defense.

  “Easy there, Kenz, calm down, just breathe,” Jonah outstretched his hand to me as if I were a wild animal that had escaped its cage. He had always been the one to help me when I lost control—except I didn’t need his assistance anymore.

  I retracted the wolf and stared at him. “Seriously?” I deadpanned. After all this time, did they think I was that out of control? “Well if it isn’t Dumb & Dumber.” I walked back to the kitchen as if nothing had happened. Amy was frozen in a corner while I reached for my mug to refill it. “What do you guys want?”

  “You…you can shift at will?” Jonah asked, he stood in shock.

  “What can I say, I’m skilled like that,” I winked at him and took a sip of coffee.

  “Well,” Amy floundered with what to say. “That is uh…good to know. Definitely a detail you missed.”

  I chuckled. “I’m not some rabid animal that’s been living on the streets and eating out of trash cans. I was very comfortable in my downtown apartment and cushy job. So take a breather.”

  Jackson was the only one who didn’t seem surprised. That made me raise a brow until my phone started to vibrate in my back pocket. I looked at the screen and Roman’s name appeared. I hit the silent button and ignored his call.

  “Are you serious?” Jonah asked. He wore fitted jeans and a flannel button-up. Same ol’ Jonah. I had to recall what we had been talking about. Oh yeah, me living it up in LA.

  “As a heart attack,” I smirked. “So to what do we owe this visit?”

  Amy cleared her throat. “Sorry Kenz that might be my fault. I made plans with Jackson.”

  “Speaking of which,” I glared at the traitorous wolf, “you and I need to have a chat.”

  Jackson scratched at the back of his head, his brown eyes looking anywhere but at me. “Mackenzie, don’t be so dramatic.”

  “Dramatic? You haven’t seen nothing yet, Cadwell.”

  “It’s not like I planned to bone your best friend, it just happened!” he yelled. “Sue me for thinking with the wrong head!”

  I scoffed. “Of course! Blame it on your dick! Real smooth there, Casanova.”

  Amy giggled. “Kenz, relax, we’ll talk about this later.”

  “No way, Aims. He told me he’d look out for you. I left you behind for this specific reason, making my grand gesture moot.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t have left me then,” she said, still hurt.

  “I see that now,” I mumbled. “Does he at least treat you right?” I turned to her, softening my voice.

  “Yes. He’s a real…gentleman,” she laughed as they eye-fucked each other.

  “Oh gross,” I rolled my eyes. “Get a room.”

  Everyone laughed except Jonah—he was watching my every move. I felt it.

  “You’ve changed,” he cut into the conversation. “You’re not the same as when you left.”

  “Well that is the definition of change, Jonah. It’s been over a year, of course I’m not going to be the same, but I’d like to think I’m still charming,” I grinned. “Now I don’t know about you guys, but I could seriously go for some New York pizza.”

  Chapter Seven

  Empty pizza boxes littered the living room floor, as I laid on the couch rubbing my very full belly. Amy and Jackson retreated to her room for the night, and Jonah and I had just finished watching a rerun of Lost. He turned the TV off as I glanced over at the clock on the stove. It was two in the morning and I wasn’t even tired. Sleep was going to be a pain in the ass to fix. I was regretting those vampire hours now.

  “Aren’t you tired?” Jonah said as he started cleaning up.

  I sighed. “Nope. Sleep is gonna be a bitch. I used to work nights.”

  “Ah, I see,” he said as he looked away. “Well I don’t mind keeping you company.”

  “Aren’t you tired?” I inquired. “Or are you hoping I’ll spill my guts to you?”

  He shook his head. “No of course not, Kenz, but I did miss you.”

  That dimple peeked out and I couldn’t help the broad smile that stretched over my face. Jonah Cadwell was every girl’s Prince Charming—with a dash of over-protectiveness. And I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t thought of him while I was gone. On the contrary, a day didn’t go by without the thought of either wolf that had tugged at my heart strings. Unlike Bash, Jonah wasn’t afraid to tell me how he felt, even if it was too intense for me.

  “So what’s been new? Any special girl in your life?” I asked, my smile felt tight on my face. Did I really want to know? Probably not, but I couldn’t help but ask.

  He whispered, “You know there will never be anyone else for me.”

  Part of me was disappointed that he hadn’t moved on, but another part of me felt relief. I knew it was wrong and I hated feeling this conflicted, it wasn’t fair to him. “Are you planning on spending the night?” I changed the subject.

  “If it’s alright with you,” he said.

  I tilted my head. “Of course you can, Jonah.”

  He smiled. “Thanks, I’ll grab a blanket and pillow from the closet.”

  I had been on my way to my bedroom when I stilled. “This isn’t your first time sleeping over, is it?”

  I could see a small blush creep up his neck as he looked away. “Uh…no.”

  “And where did you sleep?” I asked, trying very hard not to laugh at his bashfulness.

  He cleared his throat, still avoiding eye contact. “Your room.”

  “Figured,” I nodded. “Well come on then, it’s not like we’ve never shared a bed.”

  I knew I was sending him through an emotional roller coaster. It had been just a year ago that I could barely look at him—or Bash for that matter—without my ovaries going into overdrive. I had been trying to get over my ex, James, and wasn’t ready to get physical with anyone. And these wolves are the definition of physical. There were nights I dreamt about Bash and I at the library, or that heart stopping kiss Jonah gave me in the middle of the street. Both men vied for my attention and I couldn’t choose either one. But now? Things were different—I’d like to think I’ve grown up a bit.

  Everything in my room was as if I’d never left. My laptop sat on my desk, waiting for me to log on and Skype my brother, Ollie—but that would have to wait.

  I began to pull off my t-shirt when Jonah walked in. Although my back was to him as I rummaged through my closet, I could feel his heat enter the room. I unbuckled my jeans when he knocked on the door frame.

  “Just come in,” I said over my shoulder. “I’m looking for some jammies.”

  As soon as I found a pair of
sweat pants and my Nirvana t-shirt, I changed without a care that Jonah might be watching. That modesty ship had sailed.

  He closed the bedroom door and peeled off his flannel shirt. I could feel the familiar blush that used to creep up whenever I was around him. Bringing memories of when I first met the Pack—or more like when they had kidnapped me.

  “Haven’t you ever heard of an undershirt?” I joked, repeating what I had said the first time I saw him shirtless.

  “You’re a real smartass, Mackenzie Grey,” he balled up his shirt and threw it at me. I caught it before it hit my face, and I took a whiff of his scent. That woodsy smell was something I missed.

  I slid on his flannel shirt and then climbed into bed. “What do you think? Real 90’s grunge?”

  He chuckled. “I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor.” He laid on his side, facing me.

  “Do you believe I could ever be anything but sarcastic? It’s so ingrained in me, I’ll be ninety years old and still annoying the shit out of Bash,” I laughed.

  Jonah barely smiled as his brown eyes drilled into me. “Mackenzie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Ya know,” I started, “I’m beginning to get the feeling you guys don’t want me around.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. I’m ecstatic you’re here, Kenz, but I also know you weren’t struggling wherever you were. So it begs the question, why the hell would you come back?”

  I paused for a moment before answering. I had to be careful with what I said. The last thing I wanted to do was implicate Bash or Jonah in anything I did.

  “I have some business to take care of,” I said. “And I won’t expand beyond that.”

  He looked as if he wanted to argue, but my eyes narrowed, shutting the conversation down.

  “Just answer one question,” he said. “Are you going to start trouble?”

  I couldn’t resist the belly laugh that erupted from me. My eyes teared as I gasped for air, and I was almost positive that my cackles could be heard blocks away. When I found my voice I said, “Jonah, what kind of question is that? Of course I’m gonna start trouble.”