Clara was startled awake as something heavy hit her chest. She realized she had fallen asleep in the small room Cage had locked her in many hours ago. She glanced down at what Cage had thrown at her. It was her fur lined cloak and her fathers dagger.

"Get up Dani." Cage said and motioned for her to get up.

A look of confusion and frustration flashed across Clara's features as she took a moment to process. Go? He was letting her out?

"What do you mean?" Clara cleared her throat and asked, standing on two wobbly feet now.

"I'm giving you a choice," He replied and stood calmly. Clara could have sworn she saw a shimmer of momentary regret sparkle darkly in his eyes. Clara was confused, worried and momentarily afraid that this was some sort of...Trap? A trick perhaps.

"You could leave. But, you could also come with me." He finished and Clara crossed her arms, glancing at the open cell door behind Cage's back.

"Why would I help you?"

"You're right. You have no reason to help me in all honesty, but you seem to be curious as to what I am. Don't you wonder if there really are monsters out there? Ones that aren't human?"
Was his taunting response to Clara's question.

Clara's eyes never left Cage as she fastened her belt around her waist and draped her cloak around her strong shoulders. Realization, curiosity and fear all struck her.

Answers.

Many things bounced around in Clara's mind as she stayed silent and still. A chill ran up her spine at the memory of that night. Denying everything for months on end, all of the things she tried to suppress, came bubbling up until they now overflowed. A running river of hope mixed with fear. Running off with a- a werewolf to do God knows what, wasn't a good idea. Not now. Clara had a mother and sister to feed and protect. She prayed that they were okay in the place they had last took up shelter near Glen Meadow's east mountains.

Cage could see the girl in front of him almost choke on a breath of air. She stuttered and took more time than necessary to find an answer for him. When she did, it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.

"You promise to let me go if I ask? This isn't just some trick?"

Cage furrowed his brows and scoffed.
"Do I look like a lying bridge troll to you?". The retorts and words Cage always seemed to pull from nowhere, never ceased to amaze Clara. Or make her want to punch him... She wasn't sure what the difference between the two emotions was to be honest.

"It's a yes or no answer." Clara didn't budge this time. She wanted- no, needed an answer.

"Yes. I promise." Cage gave in.

"Then, I ask... Please let me go." She fought her curiosity and desire as she answered. Answers. They were all she wanted, but her family was more important than her longing to not feel so isolated. So crazy.  She saw something that was impossible. She saw the eyes and the fangs, and now, a man who claims to have all the answers. How could she pass that up After all, the plan was to get information....

And just like that, Clara felt defeated.
She gave in to the part of her that was logical and reasonable. Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

Cage said nothing as he gripped Clara's arm and placed a hand over her mouth rather gently. "I need you to be quiet. Okay?" He nodded and Clara Scanned his face with her eyes to see if distrusting him was in her best interest. She trusted him in that moment, whether or not she wanted to admit it, she probably trusted him more than she should have.

Cage snaked an arm around Clara's waist and effortlessly held her close to his person as he peeked out of the open cell door to check and see if anyone was around. Getting caught was the end. Clara's life was endangered, and so was Cage's place as alpha. He was already walking on thin ice, all it would take is one heavy step. One wrong move.

It was hard to concentrate on the situation at hand. Getting out of the den would be tricky, but risks were something Cage was willing to take.
He just couldn't decide if he wanted to release Clara from his grasp. The proximity between the two of them caused their breathing patterns to change. Heat swirled in spice and tang as the two of their scents mixed in the air. Letting go wasn't easy for Cage, but he did let go. He separated his body from hers and tried to act like it wasn't a big deal.

Cage led Clara through the lower level halls of The Den and up a flight of stone stairs. The two tried to stay as quiet as possible... although, Clara had no idea what they were hiding from. Cage knew all too well.

When they reached the top of the stairs, the sound of something metallic hitting wood sounded from around the corner. Cage pulled Clara by the arm to keep her out of eyesight of whoever may be around the corner.
Awkwardly standing with her back to his front, Clara shifted away and gave Cage an angry look.
"Watch where your going!" Cage mouthed silently and pointed to another staircase just on the other side of the room they were now in. Clara rolled her eyes and nodded.

A cold draft blew through the room that was spacious and rather dark. The chairs and tables that were scattered about were all empty. This was a dining hall... A meeting room.

Taking a step forward around the corner, Clara ignored Cage's inaudible pleas to not make a step further. He gripped her arm again, but it was too late this time.

Another small sound echoed through the room. Clara laid eyes on a man who sat in the corner of the room, hunched over a low table. He flicked a silver coin in between his fingers before dropping it on the table. He picked it up after a moment. Then repeated the motions again and again. Flick, drop, pick up.

There was something solemn and peaceful about the man Clara couldn't put her finger on. From across the room, his aura seemed familiar. She realized after a moment why she felt drawn... Cage. The dark and brooding aura Cage had, this man also had in this moment.

Although it was wrong on some level to compare two human auras, Clara didn't even have enough time to fully finish her assessment of the man with long dark hair who sat oblivious. Cage yanked her away from where she was standing and pulled her across the room, both of them now behind a stone pillar in the center of the hall.

Cage wasn't going to let her go this time. She was going to blow their cover for crying out loud!!

"Try that again, I dare you." Cage whispered so lowly in Clara's ear, she could barely hear. Oh, but she did hear him and so did his brother, Kai.

"Is that you Cage?" Kai called and raised a brow as Cage stepped out from behind the stone pillar. Clara kicked herself internally and closed her eyes.

"I hope I didn't scare you." Cage let out a low grumble of laughter to cover the guilt he was trying to hide. Kai got up from his seat and slipped the coin he gripped in his fist into his pocket.

"Not at all..." Kai shook his head and continued. "Were you talking to me?" He asked after a moment and tried to read his brothers emotionless expression.

"No. I didn't say anything. Maybe your hearing things." Cage denied.

Clara stood with her back against the stone pillar and she froze in place. She simply stared at Cage and waited to see how the situation would play out.

"So, are you headed out? I had assumed that you left early after hearing the news about the Tallahi... I guess I was wrong." Kai tilted his head and placed his hands in his pockets.

"I don't know what I want to do yet. I suppose you have a place in mind where I can find a Tallahi history book, do you?" Cage asked sarcastically.

Kai's eyes no longer held Cage's gaze as he thought about the question. Cage assumed that his action of avoidance was simply made out of habit.

"I do not I'm afraid." Kai met his eyes again.

"Shouldn't you be downstairs reading? I never see you away from the books in your office unless there is an emergency or something." Cage pointed out and Kai smiled.

"I just wanted to think tonight. Reading can be very draining sometimes." Kai shifted his weight from one foot to his other.

"I'll tell you what, meet me in your office in a few minutes. I'll bring down some stew and ale, and we can discuss what is on your mind."
Woah, now that was unexpected. Cage found himself internally wanting to pull his hair out by the roots... Time to 'bond' or talk with his brother wasn't something he wanted in the slightest, but he had to get Kai to leave the room somehow.

"Do you feel okay Cage?" Kai asked.

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" And there it was again, Cage's rude attitude.

Kai didn't respond, but he quietly gave his brother a glance as to say "okay, fine then." And he descended down the stairs, to his office.

~~~

When Cage and Clara successfully made it through the remaining halls and reached the surface, Clara was in awe of how well the entrance to the den was hidden. Granted, it was against rules to show anyone the entrance, much less bring a human girl into the den, Cage told himself to relax. What's the worst that can happen? She runs and tells everyone in The Willow about their whole underground multi-unit, multi- floor operation?
Cage just decided not to worry too much about her talking... after all, it wouldn't be hard to kill her if he had to.

The two stared at each other for a brief second before Clara couldn't help but break eye contact. "I don't understand... Why are you letting me go?" She asked as she breathed in the fresh, forest air.

Cage stammered and itched the back of his neck rather nervously. In truth, he did not want to let her go that easily... But he knew what it was like to be someone's prisoner.

"I shouldn't have shown The Den to you, or told what I am. I shouldn't have brought you into- well, whatever this is. When I am around you, I-" Cage paused and stepped closer to Clara.
"I haven't known you long, and within that time, I've successfully punched you, scared you, and taken you prisoner. I do not apologize for the things I do... But, I want to. The moon goddess has been kind to me,"
He paused again.

"The goddess above has brought into my life, something most wolves never have. She took something from me I thought I would never lose, but she gave me something more precious than anything. You Dani, are my soulmate." Cage confessed.