Caged

Chapter 11

I agree. I don't think meeting Nathan is a good idea right now. Report back how she reacts when she meets you. If she can easily handle all of you in the same room, we will consider how to introduce the rest of us.

Will do.

The sound of creaking and two sets of footsteps moving above us quieted us down and the air filled with our nervousness.

How was she going to react?

I got up to my feet to meet Sang as the foot of the stairs in the hallway. As I got there, she was already slowly making her way down with the help of Sean.

Her blonde hair fell around her shoulders in soft waves, going all the way down to her waist. Her pale skin was still a little too pallid, but she managed to get some color back into her cheeks.

Sang's green eyes flickered to me and she sent me a shaky smile. I returned it, letting her know I was here for her.

Always.

When she got to the bottom, I held out my arm and she looped hers through mine, leaning some of her weight on me. Dark bruises shadowed underneath her eyes and I watched as she slowly pulled herself together.

Sang had never been good at showing weakness. She tended to relax around me because we fought together so often and I'd seen her at her worse. And since Sean acted as her doctor, she had to learn to show vulnerability around him so he could better help her.

We took a few steps towards the door before we stopped. She allowed herself to lean on me for a few more moments before releasing me and straightening up. I went through the open doorway first to better act if anything happened.

I could feel Sang's hesitation and then the soft sound of her releasing a breath before she finally came through, her eyes assessing everyone and everything in moments.

Luke and Gabriel now crowded the coffee table burdened with plates of food. Looked like all the contents of the refrigerator now sat on the table.

Kota stood by the couch, next to Victor, both of them staring at Sang with reservations. Gabriel looked up from shifting a plate around and his eyes widened in wonder as he took in Sang, awake and well. He'd only seen the version of her passed out on the bed.

I glanced at Sang to see her focused intently on Kota and Victor, her lip twitching. Her body stiffened, making Kota and Victor stiffen too, readying themselves for her reaction. A deep growl started from Sang and the air in the room thickened with energy.

No one dared to move.

No one dared to breathe.

We could only wait for her to make her move.

Kota's eyes narrowed as he flickered through possibilities. Victor looked wary but prepared. Gabriel just gaped while Luke seemed anxious as he watched Sang.

She struggled with herself. I could see it in her expression. She fought for complete control, unwilling to lose against her wolf. Not in this situation.

I reached out cautiously to grab her hand.

Don't, Kota said in my head, but I ignored him. She needed help. She wasn't in this battle alone, despite it being against herself. Her eyes darkened to the jade color of her wolf but the moment my skin came into contact with hers, her eyes went back to their normal warm summer green color.

She took in a shuddering breath, squeezing my hand in hers.

"Sorry," she whispered, her cheeks turning pink as she looked at everyone's expression. She glanced at Sean who gave her a tight smile and then at me and I flashed her my teeth, giving her a big welcoming smile. Her free hand went up to gently pull on a strand of her hair. "You probably don't believe me," she said, looking back over at Kota. "But it's really nice to finally meet you. Silas has told me a lot about you guys and from what I've seen so far, he wasn't exaggerating."

She suddenly pressed her lips together, her eyes wide as they flickered from person to person, waiting for a reaction. Any.

Guys, I said, giving them a nudge. Say something

Gabriel blinked before finally reacting, getting up to his feet and approaching Sang with a big smile.

"About time I get to meet the female shifter causing all the trouble," he said as his eyes took her in. She still wore my shirt, which pleased my wolf, and underneath that was a pair of boxers that acted as shorts on her. "Now, that we have met, you don't have an excuse for not letting me take you out shopping. Get you some real fucking clothes."

"Gabriel," Kota said with a warning in his voice.

Gabriel ignored him as he reached his hand out. Sang stiffened but he didn't touch her, just held his hand out. Sang looked down at his hand and then up at him before her shoulders relaxed and she reached out. Instead of shaking her hand, he tugged her further into the room.

"Ignore the assholes over there who can only gape at you," Gabriel said and led her to the table of food. "Luke and I got you a smorgasbord of food. You have to be starving after being out of it for so long."

"I am, thank you," Sang said.

Gabriel plopped down on the ground still dragging her with him.

I chuckled and walked over, settling down next to her. Her free hand was on the ground and I reached over, giving it a quick squeeze. She glanced at me before focusing on Gabriel who prattled on about the food while Luke shoved it all on a plate in front of her.

Sang shifted her hand so my fingers entwined with hers. She looked uncomfortable as Sean, Victor, and Kota settled down around the coffee table, but at least she didn't look like she wanted to tear anyone apart.