MY CAGED LUNA

CHAPTER FIVE. INEVITABLE

Ivy POV

I sat on the hard, cold floor of my cage, my back against the metal bars. My stomach growled with hunger, my mind numb from the constant torment. For three days, he had refused to go to work

And for three weeks, he had kept his promise of starvation, only to "generously" offer me a spoiled porridge on the fourth week. I had to force myself to swallow the putrid taste, my empty stomach rebelling against the foulness, but I could not vomit; if I did, it meant my Tommy would go empty again.

As I sat there, my mind was a blank slate, devoid of any emotion or thought. I was a shell of myself, broken and defeated. The sound of his car engine roaring to life was a welcome reprieve, a signal that he was leaving me alone for a while. I was glad to be rid of him, glad to have a brief respite from his torment.

But then, I heard the creak of our basement door opening. Someone was there. I looked up, my gaze empty and uninterested. I didn't have the energy to care who it was or what they wanted. I just existed as a mere presence in this cold, dark space.

I stared blankly at the door, my eyes unfocused. I wasn't curious, not really. I was just... there. Waiting for whatever came next. Waiting for the inevitable. Waiting for death.

I waited for whoever was there to come down, and when I heard footsteps that sounded more like animal footsteps, I watched as a pair of silver and dark eyes stared at me from the darkness. As it walked closer, I saw a massive wolf standing right outside my cage, looking at me curiously, and I heard it release a mournful whine. I stood up, walking towards the cage, the only barrier between us. Once I reached my destination, I sat down, and my voice cracked as I spoke, 'Did he lock you up too? Are you hurt? Run, before he comes back.' I sounded pitiful, but I couldn't muster any fear; it had been extinguished long ago. I reached out from my cage to touch its head, which bent towards me, not stressing me. I patted its fur, my voice commanding, void of any emotion except pity for its well-being. The wolf strained to touch me, its paw reaching out to make contact, but it drew back as if the metal had seared its flesh. I looked at it with a disappointed expression, the same look my nightmare always gave me when I had done something not to his expectations. I watched it cry as it made its way back upstairs, obviously heeding my command to run.

As I stood there, I was startled by the sound of someone rummaging around upstairs, as if searching for something. Then, the creature emerged, deftly manipulating the key with its paw and mouth to liberate me from my confines. I marveled at its exceptional intelligence, wondering how this animal had acquired such remarkable cognitive abilities.

As I watched, it dragged the door open, wincing in apparent pain. Despite this, it approached me, gesturing for me to mount its back. I remained motionless, transfixed by this unexpected turn of events. The creature gently nudged me with its head, encouraging me to climb onto its back.

As we ascended the stairs, passing through the familiar yet strangely desolate landscape of my home, I felt a sense of disorientation. The once-warm spaces now seemed sterile and abandoned as if no one had inhabited them for a long time.

Upon exiting, the creature guided me toward the forest, into the depths of the dark woods. I pondered our destination, wondering if this was indeed divine providence, answering my long-held prayers. Perhaps this wolf was not a fearsome predator but a noble guardian, leading me to fulfill a higher purpose – to feed its family and find usefulness in life.

FRED POV

As I stood before her, my wolf senses on high alert, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. The girl, my mate, was finally within reach, yet she was locked away in a cage within my own pack's den.

Her eyes, vacant and emotionless, met mine, and my heart ached. She didn't flinch, didn't react, as if numb to the world around her. My instincts screamed to free her, to claim her, to mark her as mine. Storm, my wolf, raged inside me, urging me to act.

But I knew better. I had to tread carefully. One misstep could push her further away or, worse, trigger unknown consequences. Why was she imprisoned?

As I reached out with my paws, the cold metal burned my fur, a stark reminder of the barriers between us. I winced, withdrawing my paws. She didn't react, her gaze never wavering.

My mind racing, I assessed the situation. How did she end up here? What had been done to her?

She warned me to leave, saying someone would come back soon. My mind racing, I wondered: was it, Edward? What was the nature of the relationship between Edward and my mate? Why had he locked her up, confining her to this peculiar cage?

The cage itself was perplexing. It wasn't made of silver, a metal notorious for its harmful effects on werewolves like myself. This could only mean one thing: its power was rooted in magic, despite my inability to sense any enchantments.

The absence of any discernible magical aura hinted at an ancient origin, perhaps crafted by a long-forgotten witch. The cage's ordinary appearance belied its extraordinary purpose. Why was my mate imprisoned within its cold, unyielding bars?

I went upstairs looking for the key to the cage which I found conveniently hung on the wall behind the bedroom door, situated at the far end of the hallway,

I effortlessly retrieved the key. Upon descending the stairs, I noticed a mixture of disappointment and marvel etched on her face as if she was going to abandon her after waiting for years

As I crouched, after numerous struggles, she finally climbed onto my back; I would have taken her by force if she had persisted. Once securely positioned, I began our journey to the pack house.

Notably, she did not attempt to flee, and her demeanor remained calm, devoid of fear or stress, even as a wolf carried her through the forest. This stark absence of anxiety, despite our motion and surroundings, hinted at a profound emotional numbness.

Her passive demeanor sparked curiosity within me, leaving me to ponder the depths of her emotional scars and the tribulations she must have endured. What has been done to her?