Opening the Cage (5 page)

Don’t be mean.
Nobody was ever going to let her rest again
.

The little chuff she got in reply made her lip curl, and pure rage tore through the exhaustion that blanketed her. She was so angry. Furious.

All of her fear and pain, her disorientation and hunger came out in a rush, and she lashed out, fighting them both, telling them to leave her the fuck alone, stop pushing her, laughing at her, hurting her.

They let her fight herself out, both of them staying just beyond reach of any real harm. Canyon let her land a few bites, a few snaps, but in the end, he took her right back down to the ground.

Her only response was to howl, or try to. Her sounds were cut off by Canyon’s weight. Wend licked her ear, which was probably the only thing he could get to. Canyon was big.

Finally all she could do was cry, harsh broken sounds pushing from her, heaving from her until exhaustion took her, let her slip away and rest, no matter what the males wanted.

She was done.

* * * *

Wend danced, in a near panic.

Riana had lost her mind.

His girl had lost her mind.

His paws got tangled in themselves and he moaned, forcing himself to balance.

Riana
.

Nothing.

Canyon had held her down and she had shorted out. She was gone. Asleep, kind of, but not really. Canyon came to him, licking his muzzle, trying to soothe him.

Wend had tried so hard. So hard. He’d freed her, opened the cage. He had.

There was a soft, continuous murmur of sound from Canyon, who didn’t seem to be worried.

He stepped closer, the offer of affection fascinating. No one had ever touched either one of them, him or Riana. The soft sounds, the warm body against his, the genuine affection in the voice from Canyon’s mind, it was addictive.

He nuzzled in, whining softly, his skin rippling with it.

Canyon licked his whiskers, cheek pushing against his.

The scent of male made him shiver, but he licked back, tasting. It was strange, but wonderful the way Canyon arched into his touch, the way the big wolf stropped against him. Wend leaned back, relaxed. There was something about Canyon that made him happy.

Good.

He barked softly in agreement, grooming Canyon’s ears carefully. It was. Canyon was good. Riana was less good—she was a little crazy.

The soft laughter he heard in his head was Canyon, all rumble and fondness.
She’s scared.

I know. They kept her closer.
He’d been allowed out more often.

She’ll be all right.

Promise?
He’d believe Canyon, if he promised.

I promise.
Canyon sounded unshakable.

Wend lapped him easily then, believing. He could trust that scent. That never lied. Words did, sometimes his eyes did, but the scent never did.

They settled together, close to Riana, Canyon’s big body warm and comfortable. Safe. Canyon was theirs, somehow.

He liked that.

He hoped he wasn’t wrong.

He hoped they wouldn’t be put back in the cage.

No more cages.

Wend would try to have faith that, too. Maybe if they had enough time, Canyon could prove it.

Chapter Five

Canyon sighed, watching his two charges sleep. This was gonna be tough. He couldn’t leave them and go for the truck, which would be the easiest thing. The fastest. He’d promised, and he felt compelled to stay with them, protect them.

They were like sunlight and shadow. They were so damned innocent, but so weary. It tore at his heart.

Wend’s strength surprised him, the little male so determined to protect Riana, to free her. It made Canyon’s mouth water, more than a bit. Riana, though, seemed totally overwhelmed, terrified, confused. He wanted to hold her, cradle her.

She was going to be so excited when she got to be free and run in the grass and live. Right now the world was so huge.

One of her eyes popped open, stared at him.

So still. So quiet.

Maybe she’d had to be. Drawing attention might have gotten her hurt. He licked her ear, which was the only thing in reach.

That ear twitched, her body shivering.

Canyon chuffed, the puff of air making her twitch again. His tongue lolled. This was a good game.

She made the softest, curious sound, her nose sliding closer. He let another puff of air fall against her ear. She’d never played, he could tell.

Play?
The word echoed in his head.

Play.
He thought very hard about puppies, what it had been like to grow up with Mesa and Junie, always tugging and pulling and gnawing.

He knew she understood, he could feel it.
Ah. Pack. We aren’t Pack.

They were, though. They were now. He needed them, crazy as it was.

Riana stared at him, unblinking, but as soon as he looked at her, she looked away. That became a game in itself, him looking away, her staring, him catching her at it. She knew how to play.

She started vibrating a little, but she stayed close, trusting him not to bite. Canyon rumbled happily; Riana had more courage than she thought.

He caught her eyes again, and admired her. Such a pretty lady.

She growled softly.
Freaks. We’re freaks
.

But you’re my freaks now.
Hell, as far as the real world was concerned, he was a freak.

He dared to lean forward, nose on her muzzle. Wend woke, chirruped softly, offered that white belly.

Mmm. Canyon sniffed deep, then turned to Wend to nuzzle, taking what was his right—soft fur covered smooth skin. He let them hear his happy rumble.

Wend stretched and chuffed, and Riana curled into herself, watching them silently. She was so contained, so cautious. Wend was open, like he’d never been hurt, which Canyon knew was bullshit. Still, Wend’s joy was like a drug. Canyon could hear the song—freedom and light and running and sky. Hope.

He supposed that hope was a commodity that had been in short supply in their lives. He was glad to bring some.

Wend rolled over, nuzzled Riana, and she yipped, backed away, then pushed closer. She was so confused. Canyon sighed, moving in on her a little, knowing she needed the physical closeness to help her get used to him.

As soon as they all touched, Canyon jerked, a howl torn out of him. The world spun underneath him, his fur standing on end. His body tried to shift, his wolf just not knowing what to do.

Wend groaned and little Riana yelped, the sound shocked and wild.

Fuck.

Fuck.

He just…what the hell was that?

Two pair of ice blue eyes stared at him. It looked like they didn’t know, either, but the pair sure felt it. Canyon held onto his wolf, but barely.

He wanted to howl, he wanted to dance. Hell, he wanted to rub all over both of them until they smelled like him. They were. His. They needed to carry his scent.

He nosed Wend over, smoothing the soft belly fur. When Riana tried to move away, he stopped her with one paw.
Stay
.

Wend wiggled, but not to get away. Instead to get closer. Canyon vocalized gently, easing his girl, encouraging her to relax for him. He would make it all right. He would. She panted hard, waves of panic coming from her, but still she stayed. Such a lovely girl. Such a good girl. He couldn’t help but share his thoughts with her.

Wend wagged, tongue slowly moving over her fur, grooming her. The little male was rejoicing with it, too, pleasure ringing in the air. He had the idea that they didn’t get to touch much, if at all. That this was all new.

Who could do that? Keep one of their own so separated? Alone?

The Alpha.
That was Riana, her voice so strong.

Crappy Alpha.
There’s no way Mesa would have done that, even if he thought those two would be powerful together. No way.

Riana and Wend both laughed, the sound of their chuffing together so sweet, so right.

His tongue lolled with his approval, his happiness. That would end soon enough when he asked them to move again, he was sure.

He thought that Riana would bite him if he suggested it. He leaned down, lapping at her wet, raw paws. She jerked away, trying to cover them with her muzzle, but he knew the doctoring would help, so he kept at her. She whined, but her instincts kicked in—slow but true—and she started cleaning his ears.

Good girl. He worked at her feet until they stopped twitching, showing Wend how to help. It would go a long way toward healing her. Wend groomed her eagerly, then him, seeming almost desperate to touch.

Canyon made a low sound, encouraging, letting Wend know it was okay. Touch was good. The pointed snout moved other him, tongue smoothing his fur.

Lovely wolf.

Sweet boy.
They were basking, and he knew it. Time was ticking away, and he could feel it on the back of his neck like a phantom breath. This was important, though, this bonding.

Wend ducked his head and panted, tail wagging.

He rubbed muzzles with both of them, then lifted his head, scenting the wind. Something was coming. He couldn’t smell it, but he knew it. Maybe not now, not even today, but it was coming. Wend growled, and their lady whimpered, the sound small and scared.

Poor babies. He wanted them to feel safe and strong, not be so damned worried. He sighed. It was time to go.

Wend was the one that got Riana moving, even though everything about her protested. That was it. He made little noises, helping as much as he could without pushing.
Now. Go now.

Riana’s head hung down, but Wend’s was high, eyes bright, curious. That was where he’d have to concentrate his efforts. Riana would eventually respond to Wend’s high spirits.

Outside
. Wend panted.
We’re free.

Riana growled softly.

You’ll see, love. Out can be good.
He knew she didn’t believe it now. She would.

Her eyes met his, for the barest second, and he could feel her curiosity. From Wend he felt pleasure, joy, and the beginning of desire. Wend was going to be so easy. It was kind of hot, actually.

Wend bumped into him, then nipped at Riana’s flank. What a puppy.

The next time Wend came toward him, Canyon jumped sideways , barking low, encouraging the play.

Wend’s chest went down, back end up. Oh, look at that.

There was always time to play, even as they moved through the trees. Canyon leaped, landing half on Wend’s back before dancing away.

Wend barked happily, spinning around and chasing him, the motions awkward, but there.

Good boy!
They romped, Riana watching them like they were crazy.

Wend gnawed on Canyon’s ears for a second before bouncing off, smiling hugely. Canyon chuffed, just happy to be alive.

So pretty, so alive. Wend was a light that his eyes needed to follow. Riana was more of a dimmed glow, one that needed coaxing back out. When she did wake for them, she would be breathtaking.

Canyon went to her, chuffing softly as she backed away. He lowered his head, letting her see he wasn’t a threat. She had to start trusting.

Wend circled her, nuzzled her flank as she whimpered.

That was sweet, and it made her stumble forward a bit, so they touched. All of them.

That light hit him again, square between the eyes, and suddenly he was in human form, staring at an all-too human male and the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

A beautiful woman whose eyes rolled up in her head as she collapsed.

* * * *

“Riana!” Wend scrambled forward a step, grabbed her, her skin seeming so cold for only a second before her pelt was soft and warm again. Still, her eyes didn’t open. “Riana!”

She’d changed.

She’d
changed
.

He squeezed her, shook her. “Riana!”

“Hey. Hey, now. Here, let me help.” Canyon knelt in front of him, pulling Riana away, letting her lay across his heavy thighs as Wend’s long fingers petted her.

He whined and came closer. “She’s not awake. She changed.”

“She was scared. She’ll be all right. She’s sleeping; let her hide a minute, hmm? It won’t hurt her.” Canyon reached out to him, the touch warm and sure on his bare skin. He moaned, the touch electric, zinging through his body. That was new. So good. Good enough that he lost his words.

“Mmm. Oh, you feel good.” Canyon had words but they sounded rough and a little broken.

He nodded, scooted closer. The ground was cold under his bare knees, but it didn’t matter. Canyon’s heat was like fire.