Page 177 of Caged

I can feel the stares of all three males. I stand here, awkwardly, feeling exactly like what I imagine an animal at a brand new zoo exhibit feels like.

I keep my eyes on the floor, waiting for someone to say something.

It’s Silas who breaks the silence.

“Don’t just stand there, it’s rude. Sit down before you ruin my breakfast.”

A chair shoots from under the table, so far and fast, it cracks forcefully against my shins. I wince at the bite of sharp pain and bite down on the bottom of my lip to keep it from wobbling.

I will not cry out. Not in front of these males. I refuse to let them view me as weaker than they already do.

Cautiously, I sit on the edge of the chair and fold my hands in my lap. I can’t help stealing glances at the platters heaped with food.

There are eggs, fluffy and steaming, bacon that’s crisped to perfection, little sausages swimming in grease, perfectly buttered toast, and…

Water.

The pitcher of water feels like a deliberate taunt. It’s not like they haven’t given me anything to eat or drink, but what I have been provided was sparse. Of course, I’m hungry, but more than anything, I long for some water.

“Hungry?” A familiar voice pulls my gaze across the table, to the beautiful Alpha sitting across from me. Gorgeous dark auburn hair, a dimple in his cheek, and perfectly symmetrical features. This male is unfairly handsome.

But underneath his beauty, there’s something cold in his bearing. He holds his fork and knife like they’re artists’ tools rather than eating utensils. Forearms, corded with muscle, lead to a broad chest and shoulders. Light stubble creates a shadow on his cheeks and jaw, and long lashes make his piercing green eyes shine.

Eyes that are staring at me curiously, while I’m obviously ogling him.

I feel myself blush yet again, nodding in answer to his question.

I’m a disgusting, filthy mess, and the disparity between us is only highlighted by his regal presence. I imagine that this is how it feels to kneel in the dirt at the foot of a King’s throne. Every unwashed inch of me stands out in stark contrast to his god-like perfection.

It’s mortifying.

Not least because my physical attraction to him is impossible to ignore.

For the first time ever, I’m grateful I’m on suppressants and my scent can’t give away how I feel.

This whole situation is already shameful. The last thing I want is for everyone here to know how I feel.

Maybe that’s why I get flustered and mess up.

I should have waited. I should have been patient and kept my mouth shut. Instead, I got flustered by the Alpha’s beauty, and my emotions boiled over in the form of words tumbling out without thought.

“Please, I need to explain what happened. If you would just listen⁠—”

“We don’t want to hear your bullshit explanation,” Silas snaps around a mouthful of food. “We know what you did.”

My throat tightens. “You don’t understand. That night, things didn’t happen the way you think they did.”

“We understand perfectly,” Cage shoots me a mocking smile. “You helped your daddy set up a trap. You lured Caelan back to your house by pretending to be a mistreated Omega in need of rescue. Then you got him shot and almost poisoned to death.”

This. Jerk.

“That is NOT⁠—”

“Shut up,” Vae’s voice snaps through the air like a whip.

I flinch, my explanation dying a quick death. I want to cry. Want to scream. Those beautiful eyes of his are glaring at me now, and they’re so, so cold.

“You don’t get to talk unless asked a direct question. Do you understand?”