EPISODE FOUR: RETURNING TO THE CAGE
754 Words
The moment Kaya’s paws hit the pack’s borders, the surrounding air shifted.
The cool scent of pine and damp earth welcomed her home, but it felt stifling now, like the walls of a cage closing in.
She slowed her pace, muscles aching from the long run, and padded toward a familiar clearing hidden deep in the woods. The first rays of morning sunlight painted the treetops gold, but she barely noticed.
Her heart was still racing from the night before.
The thrill. The freedom. Him.
Kaya shook her head sharply. She couldn’t afford to think about that now.
Reaching the hollow of an old tree, she pulled out the small bag she had hidden there before leaving. With one last deep breath, she let go of her wolf form.
Heat rolled over her as bones snapped, fur receding, limbs lengthening. Within seconds, she was human again, naked, breathless, vulnerable.
She grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly, smoothing a hand over her wild hair. She needed to look composed. In control. Like nothing had changed.
But everything had changed.
A sound rustled in the distance, unknown footsteps.
She stilled, senses sharpening.
Then, a voice. Deep, firm, familiar.
“You’re back.”
Kaya turned slowly, already schooling her expression.
Kady stood at the edge of the trees, arms crossed, his sharp golden eyes watching her carefully.
She swallowed, lifting her chin. “Did you think I wouldn’t be?”
A pause. Then he exhaled, stepping closer. “You were gone longer than expected.”
She forced a smirk. “Did you miss me?”
He didn’t answer, but his gaze flickered over her, assessing.
Kaya knew him well enough to catch the unspoken concern in his stance, the slight tension in his jaw. Shiga was too controlled to question her outright, but he felt something was off.
She would have to be careful.
“I needed to clear my head,” she said, brushing past him toward the packhouse. “That’s all.”
Kady didn’t stop her. But as she walked away, she felt his eyes lingering on her back; heavy, questioning.
She had made it home.
Now she just had to keep her secret buried deep enough that no one, especially Kady, ever uncovered it.
Kaya’s footsteps were steady as she walked toward the packhouse, but inside, she felt unbalanced. The thrill of the human world still clung to her skin, and she wasn’t sure if it was excitement or regret.
She didn’t have time to figure it out.
Just before she made it into the pack house, a familiar voice called out.
“Well, look who decided to come home.”
Kaya turned to see Zane, one of the senior warriors, lounging against a tree near the training grounds. His dark eyes gleamed with curiosity, and there was a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
She knew that look. He wanted information.
“You must’ve been running hard,” Zane added, crossing his arms. “Smell like the outside world.”
Kaya arched her brows. “Didn’t realize you were my personal tracker now.”
He chuckled. “Kady’s been asking about you.”
Her stomach tensed. Of course, he had.
“I’m sure he has,” she said coolly, hoping Zane would drop it.
But he didn’t. “Where’d you go?” His voice was casual, but she knew it was anything but. The pack didn’t take kindly to secrets.
Kaya shrugged. “Needed space. Took a long run.”
Zane studied her for a beat longer, and she could tell he wasn’t completely convinced. But before he could push further, the deep sound of approaching footsteps filled the air.
Her breath caught.
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Kaya.”
Kady’s voice was calm, steady, but she knew him well enough to hear the edge beneath it.
She turned, meeting his gaze.
For the first time since stepping back into her world, she felt the weight of her choices settle on her shoulders.
Kaya met Kady’s gaze, keeping her expression unreadable. He stood tall, arms crossed over his chest, his presence as steady as ever. Unlike Zane, Kady didn’t pry with words, he let his silence do the work.
“Welcome” he said simply.
Kaya smirked. “Was there a bet going around that I wouldn’t return?”
Zane chuckled from behind her. “If there was, I’d be a rich man.”
Kady shot him a glance, and Zane lifted his hands.
- Writer
