The Human in The Wolf's Den

Chapter 2: The Cage

When Cassian entered the alphas room his eyes wandered the space in amazement. He had never been allowed to clean the alpha suit since only the pack was allowed to enter. The walls were a light brown making the large area seem more small and intimate. The bed was the biggest Cassian had ever seen, what luxury. He had never slept on one in his life. The other humans always commented on missing them but he never understood their pining. 

After taking in the room his eyes moved back to his master. Xander was by his bed casually undressing. Cassian blushed and immediately focused his eyes on the plush carpet beneath his feet. 

Xander chuckled at the boys embarrassed state. He had never thought much of nudity since it came so naturally to the pack. Everyone had seen each other naked at least once. "You need a bath and some new cloths but I'm too exhausted to deal with that right now. Pixus is bringing in your cage. I'm going to bed so tell him-" 

The alpha was interrupted by a knock on the door. He quickly walked over to open it. A middle aged wolf with salt and pepper hair and a deep natural tan stood before the naked alpha without even blinking at the alphas nudity. "That was fast. I thought I would have to wait long since it was a bit last minute." 

"Of course I expedited things a bit for you alpha." Pixus answered bowing slightly. 

"Set it up in that corner over by the window. Cassian this is Pixus. He's the one in charge of the pack house upkeep." Xander said introducing them. 

Cassian nodded to the wolf as he was stoically ignored. He had seen the wolf about the house and always tried his best to avoid the stern man. The older man quickly went about his business setting up the cage in a spot that was quite frankly too far from Xanders bed for Cassian's liking but he had no choice in the matter. Once the cage was done it stood at Cassian shoulder and was wide enough for two of him to lay head to toe. In all honesty it gave Cassian more room to move in than the slave shack did, even if he couldn't stand up straight in it. This surprised Cassian since none of the other cages were so big. Along with the cage a small matress was laid out on the floor of the enclosure. 

Cassian looked at Xander in surprise. He would get a bed? This was really unheard of. 

"Your the alpha's mate. Of course your cage would be a bit more luxurious." Xander commented before bidding Pixus farewell and sending Cassian to his cage for the night. 

Cassian really wished he could sleep in bed with Xander but was still very excited about the small mattress in his cage. When he finally settled in he smiled a bit at a memory he had of one of the other salves. Well two of the slaves conversing. Steven and Mary. They had been a married couple picked up while hiking in the forest. 

"They have cages in their rooms Mary. We have to get out of here quick before we're put into one." Steven was on the brink of tears as he tried to comfort Mary. 

Mary sobbed into Stevens chest. "I know Steve, I saw them. How will we escape though? They could kill us!" 

"We will leave in the middle of dinner while not many guards are around." Steven replied naively. 

Did he not know the wolves would be having their dinner in the very forest the couple would run into? 

Obviously not since the couple had died that night. Cassian hadn't been surprised like the other slaves when their numbers were skipped in roll the next day. 

Cassian felt bad at the time for not warning them about running but at the same time he didn't feel bad at all. The couple had been quite annoying during their short stay in the shed. They were the ones that complained most about beds and other stuff Cassian had never heard of. They were almost as bad as the preacher and his son who had been caught fishing. These two always shouted things about God and demons and such. Cassian didn't really understand that either. 

While Cassian was reminiscing Xander was laying in bed arguing with his wolf. 

You should have just hugged him. He should be in our bed. Why are you doing this when he's already so loyal? 

We don't know that for sure! Let's wait it out. I refuse to be heart broken one morning when I wake up to find my mate f*****g some human . Xander growled. That was one of the reasons Xander refused to let the boy out. His wolf knew that it wasn't the only reason and decided to back off a bit. 

Fine. But not for as long as your thinking. One week then we get him out of the cage. His wolf growled. 

We will see. I still don't trust him. He's strange. Living enslaved since birth and happy to be mated to the leader of those who enslaved him? That doesn't add up. Any other human would be plotting to take me down. Xander argued. 

Our little mate couldn't kill us if we were already half dead. He's so weak and small. We did that to him you know. He would be a perfectly healthy young man if he had been given proper meals and rest. We did this to him. His wolf whimpered at the thought of hurting his mate. 

Suddenly Xander rose to his feet. His mate needed a bath and something clean to wear. He wouldn't be lazy, he needed to care for his mate to put his wolf at ease. Walking over to the large cage he located the key and quickly opened it up. Cassian sat up at the noise of the cage door opening. 

"Come out mate. You will have a bath after all." Xander said waving his mate out of the cage. It only came to his waist. 

"Ok master." Cassian replied excited by the prospect of being clean. The slaves were given a small lot of warm water to dip there wash cloths in and wipe themselves down once a week. 

When Xander walked over to a door and opened it up Cassian wasn't surprised by the sight of the bathroom (he had cleaned many of them) the problem was how to use them. Would master give him a washcloth and let him use the sink? He turned to his master and awaited instruction. 

"Strip, I'll start the shower for you, with how dirty you are you will just end up sitting in your own filth in the tub." Xander explained. 

Cassian didn't fully understand the difference between the tub and shower but he nodded anyways. When his master walked over to the glass stall and turned the knob Cassian was mesmerized by the mini rain storm coming out of the metal square directly above. He had completely forgotten his master told him to strip until Xander turned around expectantly. 

When Xander turned he had been hoping to see his mate naked but was a bit disappointed and irritated to see his mate still dressed. 

"I said strip Cassian, don't make me tell you things twice. I'm already tired as is." Xander sighed tapping his foot. 

Cassian's eyes widened. He was usually a good slave, he swore it, but he had let the shower distract him. He quickly peeled off his grimey clothes and didn't even have time to feel ashamed at his nakedness. When he was fully unclothed however he realized the gravity of the situation. Cassian was naked, in front of Xander who hadn't bothered getting dressed after getting out of bed. 

"I will do nothing other than show you how to bathe. Anything more would strengthen our mate bond and as I've said before, I don't known if I can trust you enough to do that yet." Xander motions for Cassian to enter the shower then pointed to each bottle to tell him what they were for. 

Cassian was kind of overwhelmed by the amount of work bathing properly actually took. All the different bottles of stuff. They all had labels but he couldn't read and was worried he would forget them as soon as the alpha finished explaining. 

"Call me when you think your done and I'll show you how to turn off the shower." Xander said before finally leaving his mate to wash. The sight of his naked mate was killing him and his erection was obvious. Cassian hadn't looked down the entire time he was in his presence though, obviously avoiding looking at mini Xander. 

While Cassian showered Xander went to his own closet to find him something to wear. He took one look and rolled his eyes. Not a single one of his things would even come close to fitting the small boy. He could get a smaller pack member to lend him some clothes... 

His wolf instantly shot the idea down. 

Yes Xander just cover our unmarked mate in someone else's scent that's f*****g smart. Xander thought scolding himself. 

In the end he decided his mate would just wear one of his dress shirts. It would be long enough on him to practically be a dress. When he went back to the bathroom he suddenly stopped and just watched his mate shower. The boy seemed to be struggling but Xander refused to help. His c**k was starting to become painfull. He palmed himself but the brief touch was not enough. He wanted more. That's how Xander found himself jerking off to the sight of his mate in the shower. 

He slowly rubbed his impressive length then decided he needed to make it quick before his mate caught him. Picking up the speed of his jerking, with the sight of his mate before him, it wasn't long before he was cuming all over the bathroom floor. He panted with the exertion of his orgasm then noticed his mate was looking right at him wide eyed. 

Poor Cassian met Xanders eyes and blushed from head to toe. Xander chuckled a bit before picking up a wash cloth and cleaning his hand off then the floor. He took a dry towel and reached over to turn off his mates shower. 

"Come on little guy. Let's get you dried off and back into your cage." Xander ordered gently as he handed his stunned mate the towel. 

Cassian quickly snapped out of his shock and looked away from his master. "Do I have to sleep in the cage master? I'm a good slave. I wouldn't try to run away. I don't cause trouble. Ask the handlers. Please? I don't need the mattress, I'll sleep on the floor." 

Cassian didn't know what had come over him. To actually be begging his master to reconsider his cage! How stupid of him. He quickly smacked a hand over his mouth. 

This request angered Xander greatly. He had been so kind to the boy, going against every fiber of his being, and here he was asking for more. That was the problem with humans, they always wanted more than they were given. Xander didn't try to stop himself from landing a firm smack across his mates cheek. 

"I'm sorry master. I didn't mean it! I swear I usually listen without complaint." The guards had never had to hit or punish Cassian in any way. Since birth Cassian had always been compliant and docile. Now here he was being hit for the first time in his life and by the alpha of all people. He tried his best to stay quiet as the tears fell. 

"Here I was thinking you might be different since you were raised by wolves but now I see your human through and through. Give you an inch and you try to take a mile. Get in your cage now before I really give you something to cry about." Xander growled in Cassian face. 

Cassian looked down in shame as the tears continued to burn no matter how much he tried to contain them. "I'm sorry master. Please forgive me. I will go right away." 

The boy ran to his cage without a second glance at his enraged master. Still naked and kind of wet he crawled into the far corner of the cage. He didn't deserve the mattress. How could he make his own mate hit him? The wolves never hit their mates, human or not. It went against thier very nature to physically hurt them. 

Good job Cassian, you've achieved the impossible. You made your mate angry enough to hit you. A new stream of silent tears started at the thought. 

It was a minute before Xander calmed down enough to move from the bathroom. He looked down at the counter where his dress shirt sat and sighed. He shouldn't have hit Cassian. He picked up the dress shirt and walked out of the bathroom and towards the cage. He could see the small boy in the corner crying his eyes out without making a sound. Xander slipped the shirt through the bars closest to him. 

"Put it on and lay in your bed. Don't even mention the cage for another month." He told his mate sternly. 

Cassian reached for the shirt hesitantly. He would have said he didn't deserve his master's kindness but he didn't want to be in trouble for not listening. He slipped his arms into the too long sleeves then quietly crawled onto the mattress. 

"Thank you master." He whispered in his smallest voice. He knew in the quiet of the night his master could hear him clearly. 

Cassian laid down on the cheek that had gotten hit, to remind himself he was in trouble even laying in his master's shirt on the comfortable mattress. Slowly he fell asleep.