Opening the Cage by B. A. Tortuga Page A

so neat that he was one of the two, but she didn’t think he was a freak.
    You’re not a freak, love . Canyon’s voice was so soft, so gentle. So good to him. Canyon was a good Alpha.
    I’m not an Alpha, love. I’m a second.
    Wend tilted his head. No. No, that wasn’t right. Canyon felt like an Alpha.
    Canyon smiled when Junie touched his shoulder. “We should eat, huh?”
    “I like to eat.” He looked at Junie. “Did you know you can eat more than once a day here?”
    “I did! We all have to run hard sometimes to work it off.” She sat, and Minnie handed out full plates.
    Wend touched the plate. Riana should see this. Riana should come be with them.
    “We’ll take her a plate, love.”
    “Please.” He met Canyon’s eyes. “It’s all different.”
    “I bet it is.”
    Wend could feel that Canyon couldn’t really know, but he could feel for them, could want to make things better.
    He grinned, then he sniffed. Meat. Sweet. Good.
    Food.
    Good food.
    He scarfed the food down, moaning over the flavors. When he looked up, they were all watching him, but everyone was smiling, so he wasn’t doing anything bad.
    “Good.” He licked his lips. “So good. Thank you.”
    He was polite. Nice. A good dog.
    “You’re welcome, honey. I’m so glad you’re here.” Minnie was sweet.
    “I…”
    The door opened and a face he barely recognized appeared, the man limping in, moving slowly.
    Granite. Canyon sounded fond. Relaxed .
    Ah. Canyon's friend. Still, he ducked his head, hiding in Canyon’s shadow. Don’t see me. Don’t see me. Don’t see me.
    “Hey. Something smells good.” Granite smiled, but he looked tired, sounded hoarse.
    “It is.” Minnie smiled, and he reached out for Riana and she was there, inside him.
    Don’t see me. Don’t see me. Don’t see me.
    No one ever looked toward him. No one but Canyon. Canyon, though, he hugged Wend tight, and didn’t flinch when Riana’s voice came loud.
    Wend?
    Riana. Stay there.
    Everyone moved around, fed Granite, and no one saw him.
    He’s not going to hurt you. Canyon petted him, easing him.
    You can see me? He thought Canyon had to, and it was good.
    Of course I can, love.
    Wend smiled. They can’t.
    Canyon glanced around. Frowned.
    Minnie looked at Canyon. “What’s wrong, son?”
    “Nothing.” Canyon had his back.
    She tilted her head, chirruped softly.
    “I think Wend is afraid of Granite.”
    “Where did Wend…” Minnie shook her head, then stared. “Oh. I…How odd.”
    She saw him now. Wend curled into Canyon, who squeezed him. “It’s okay.”
    He nodded. It only worked if people weren’t looking.
    Granite was looking now, eyes sharp. “Where did you come from?”
    “The mountains.”
    Granite raised a brow. “No. There’s no way we would have left someone behind. There’s no way there’s a Pack member I don’t know.”
    What did he say to that? “Okay. Then I came from somewhere else.”
    “Granite, stop.” Canyon scowled. “We need to talk, but not now.”
    Wend shivered, head ducking. He needed to go away. He needed to see Riana, make sure she was safe. Warm. Hidden.
    “What? I would have known if he belonged with us.” Granite growled. “I knew my Pack.”
    “No. I don’t think you knew about them.”
    His woman died, Wend. Right before my April. It made her cry. Riana sounded so worried.
    “I’m not Pack.” He stood up, uncomfortable, and headed for the door. Riana. Riana. “Not your Pack.”
    “No. No, you can’t be. I would know.”
    Riana was alone.
    Canyon was hot on his heels, which made a little glow of heat start in his belly. Their mate.
    “Mate.” The word growled out of him, the wolf so close. “Riana’s alone.”
    “Okay. Okay, love. We’ll go to her.”
    Canyon took him, growling at anyone that came too close. Warning them back. They got back to Canyon’s house very fast, running inside to look for Riana.
    Riana popped up, ran to him, panting. Wend .
    “Shh.” Canyon let go of his hand,