Can The Caged Bird Sing?

Chapter 19 Her Side

---Shane's POV---

It's a pleasant suprise that my little brother and mate love each other already.. I mean I knew my brother would be happy for me because he knows how long I have been searching for her. So I'm not suprised, I just figured he would be too upset for what's happening to the woman he wants as his mate, to really be happy for me in this present time.. But I'm very happy to say that I was wrong.

Hearing my brother's side to his story next, just infuriates me but I think that's the brotherly protectiveness coming into play. He seems so sad about this girl and I don't know if there is anything I can do to help but either way I'm going to try.

I see my mate step forward to tell him what she knows.. but you can see that she is nervous.. Lots of horrible things happened to her in there.. we have talked about this for a while now to try to help her get past her horrible past. But there is only so much I can do.

I watch her let out a deep breath but not talking. The look on my brother's face says he is just as scared to hear about what she has to say.. I think because of course he is concerned for his lady's safety.

I walk up right behind my brave little mate as I rub my hands up and down the sides of her arms trying to make sure she knows that I'm here for her.

She nods, then glancing back at me before she starts. "Ok.. since I was very young I have been around the Trader.. I was in an orphanage and when they couldn't find anyone to adopt me and needed more room.. they sold me to him to get money and room.. So he sold me as a slave to an old woman who passed away, so her family sold me back to him to make money since they didn't want me.. So he then sold me to an old rich couple, but the man was very interested in me and the wife found out so I was sold back to Trader.. but I was older this time around, so they got me all dressed up and put me into an auction for some rich horny lonely men.. and I'm sorry to say but I'm sure that's what they will be doing with your lady.. If she is as beautiful as you say and with her being Alpha Female he won't pass that opportunity up.. he will get the men to fight for her and building up the amount paid for her..... But when I was auctioned off I was r***d, I was beaten and used as a toy.. I'm so sorry to tell you that.. maybe she will get a nice person or be able to get away.. but the more I tried to fight them the more I got beat.. so I don't know what to say about that.. but the one thing I do know is that they would do the auctions at this huge mansion that was a cover for a cage.. every single window had bars on it and it looked beautiful from the outside but the inside was scary.. The only way to get in or out was by an employee of his that has the keys because its licked at all times.. even for events.. I don't know where the mansion is though." She says to him letting out a deep breathe and a sad look directed at him.

"I'm so sorry for what you went through.. you didn't deserve that but neither does Evelyn.. I just wish I knew what to do next." He states so sadly to us as he runs his hand through his hair with his mind reeling. That is until we hear a loud ringing coming from his pocket. He quickly grabs for it and answers, "Hello?"

He humms in response before stating. "Yes! Thank you so much for calling me back... you did!..... um ok.... really?.. thank you... yes this is my number!..... ok thank you so much.... bye." He hangs up the phone as I just stare at him waiting for him to tell me what was said.

But he just continues to stare at his phone not saying anything to us as if he is waiting for something.. That's when we hear his phone dinging over and over again. I watch him open up the message as he bounces on his toes to help him turn around as he starts to run past us.

I stick my arm out stopping him abruptly, before questioning him. "What happened? Who called you?"

"Oh I'm sorry that was Evelyn's friend that wants to help her by helping me out.. she said her mate got a number and remembered what website he found while looking around through his things, but gave me just a warning that it's connected to the dark web.. so she texted that information to me and she asked me to keep her updated and if I need anything else to let her know." He explains as I let him go, watching him run straight for the pack house because I'm sure he wants to get to the computer to check out the website at least then maybe call.. I don't know though.. but that's how I would do it if I was him.

I turn around with my mate still leaning on me. I lead us towards the pack house in tow of my little brother. I'm hoping I can sneak in to be able to see what he finds before I have to deal with my mother and the Alpha duties.

He gets into the office quickly, so we follow right behind sneaking through to the room off of the side. I can see the office door is slightly ajar for us to enter I'm assuming because he knows me well enough to know that I'm going to go in with him.. especially since this is my office until we get our father back.

By the time we get into the office and closing the door behind us, I can see that Quinton is standing in front of the computer on the desk. His fingers are just typing away on the keyboard, until all I can hear are clicking and more typing. His frantic hands stop on a dime as he just reads something but not moving a muscle.

"What did you find?" I ask him as he turns the computer screen to me and it shows an auction event going on.. tonight, with a picture of the mansion but no address.

"That's his mansion I told you about." Celine states for us to hear, as I feel her shake under my hold. I think bringing back some bad memories.

"Then I have to call the number right? See if I can find out where this will be held and go and get her!" My brother declares as if it will be just that easy to do.

"How do you suppose we are going to get her out of there?" I ask, not trying to be a ball buster but wanting to be realistic.. in situations such as this we have to have a plan and not just go in guns a blazing and hope for the best.

"You WILL have to have some sort of plan because they will have so many people there to buy... I never saw the auditorium empty at all. And I don't know about you guys but I don't have that kind of money to spend.. you thought the 1 million was ridiculous.. but he paid that amount for her because he knew he would be able to get more than that for her.. we need something figured out, before we go in there." Celine states to us as I start shaking my head vigorously at her.

"No way are you coming with us.. Celine I only just got you out of there 2 months ago.. You're not going back in there if I have anything to say about it!" I declare for her to hear as she shakes her head and standing closer to me with a determination in her eyes before retorting, "I'm the only one who has been in there before and knows my way around it better than the two of you do!"

I groan out as I hear the one thing I was worried about when it came to Quinton and I. "You found her two months ago? And what?... just stayed out there with her? Not telling us anything? Just keeping secrets from all of us?" Quinton states for me to hear as my heart just drops.. I was planning in telling him but at a different time and not like this.

"I'm sorry I wanted to tell you Q.. I was still busy looking for dad and I wanted as much time as I could get with her before I had to come back to the Alpha duties.." I try to explain as he puts his hand up stopping me before asking, "So how much longer were you planning on staying out there if I hadn't called you for help?"

I swallow the lump in my throat not knowing how to answer that.. I watch his jaw clench as he nods, running his hands through his hair before letting out a deep breath. "Oh so that's how it is? You were just going to stay there and not say anything to us? Why did you even come back then? If that's what you want.." He looks livid pacing around the room before hitting the wall.

"I came back because I needed to be here for you.. I'm sorry.. there is nothing I can say to make the situation better." I say to him as he quickly turns around and yells, "You were just being selfish and keeping secrets.. so there is nothing you can say to make me feel better."

"You're right I was being selfish.. but you must understand.. I never wanted to be away from her and just want every second with her.. just like I'm sure you felt with Evelyn.. it was the same thing, but I actually had the choice to be away because I was already away.. and it's not like I wasn't looking for dad because I was.. that's how I found her in the first place." I explain further as he just paces faster back and forth around the room.

"I need to make a call." He declares grabbing his phone to storm out of the room. I try to stop him but he pushes my arms out of the way. But when I step out to stop him again I feel my mate's hands wrapped around my bicep.

"Give him a minute to process this my love.. I bet he will be fine in time.. he is just stressed because of everything else going on right now." She explains to me as I just nod and loudly groan out, running my hand through my hair.

I hear the door for the office burst open behind me so I quickly turn around expecting to be yelled at by Quinton.. but it's not Quinton it's my mother.

"Shae!! When did you get back?! Oh my goddess is this your mate? What happened with Quinton?" She inquires from me as I groan out before explaining everything as best as I can.

"So... yes this is my mate I found... 2 months ago.. while looking for dad.. her name is Celine." I pull my mate out from behind my muscular frame as my mother hugs her tight without hesitation. "Oh Celine you are just so pretty I love it! Wait.. did you say two months? Why didn't you come back right away?" She asks me as I groan out to have to do this again.

"I just wanted to have some time with my mate before being drug back into the Alpha duties.. that's all.. you know, while I was still looking for dad." I explain to her as she nods at me.

"I do understand where you're coming from but that really hurts your brother.. he has always looked up to you and has missed his best friend so much.. so to find out you have been intentionally ditching him probably hurts... you need to go explain things better to him and make this up.. he is talking about leaving again tonight.. when he just got back, so please watch over him Shae.." She asks me with a desperation in her voice as I just nod with her conditions. That is something that has to happen and will, whether he wants me to or not.