I should have known he would guess what I was on my way to do.
“I’ll keep my distance. And it won’t be for long. I just want to talk to him.”
“And you’ll come back here?”
“Sure.”
I love these shifter lessons with Gregor. Most of my memories have returned, though not all of them. Truth be told, I’m almost relieved about that. I prefer the way tiny moments I had with my pack mates will pop up now and again. It’s overwhelming to absorb years of a forgotten life all in one go. A little at a time is better.
I leave the schoolroom, pull the door closed, and head toward the small cabin that stands alone.
There are no guards, but there doesn’t need to be one. Inside that cabin is just a pure silver cage that only Aren has the key to unlock.
No shifter can escape a cage made out of silver. Not when touching it is enough to nearly fry your mind. At least, that’s what it almost did to me the last time I touched it.
The only reason he watched me was because I wasn’t behaving the way he expected of a feral. That’s because I wasn’t one.
The feral is pacing the four corners of the cage when I slip inside.
He stops, eyes locking on me and widening. “You’re like me.”
I push the door behind me. “Yes.”
His dark gaze flickers with a wildness that alarms my wolf. She fills my mind with warning growls to stay away.
I won’t go near him, I assure her.
“This cage is doing something to me.”
“I know.” More guilt twists my belly.
I know exactly what that cage is doing to him because it nearly did the same to me.
Killing him.
“You shouldn’t touch the sides,” I tell him.
“I know.” He peers in the right corner of the cage, and I see the vomit.
“Are you okay?” I move a step closer.
The wildness in his gaze warns me not to take another.
“Let me out,” he pleads. “Please, I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“What were you doing here?”
His mouth twists in a bitter smile. “I see, answer your questions and you’ll let me go?”
This is alarmingly similar to what Aren did to me, and I feel sick.
“No, that’s not it. I don’t have a key and Aren…” It hits me then that I shouldn’t be telling him about Aren or anything at all. I don’t know who he is or what he is doing here. But I know that I have someone out in the world who wants to kill Aren and keep me for himself.
“The guy in charge?”
I hesitate and nod.
“I was just going to work, and a wolf bit me. Then I wake up like this.” He looks at his hands—at his body—and his eyes are full of torment.
