Throughout the meal, Cage’s mom kept up a happy banter, telling stories about the boys getting into mischief. She could tell they were a handful, but their parents adored them. She mentioned she was surprised that they were all still single.
“Oh, my boys aren’t ones to treat a girl lightly. They are all waiting for The One,” Edward assured her. Looking over at his wife with stars in his eyes, he gave the back of her hand a loud kiss.
Sighing at this declaration of love, Sophie wasn’t surprised when Cage took her hand and repeated the gesture.
Once the boys had stopped tormenting each other with embarrassing stories, Sophie got up to start clearing the table. Cage jumped up and smacked both of his brothers as a hint to help clean up. “You cooked, darlin’, we got this.”
Sophie sat with his mom and talked quietly, while the boys made a ruckus in the kitchen.
“Sweetheart, I know it’s not my place,” Cage’s mom started, she grabbed Sophie’s hand in hers and squeezed it. “My boy is one hundred percent head over heels for you. Don’t worry about how long you’ve known each other or someone else’s rules on dating. Trust your instincts; because I can see in your eyes, he already has your heart in his hands. My boy is a good one, believe me. He’ll never do you wrong and he will cherish you until the day he dies if you let him,” she finished tears gleaming in her eyes.
“I do care about him, I can barely breathe when he isn’t around. It’s scary though, feeling this much so fast,” she admitted.
“I know, pretty girl, but trust in love. Trust in him and it will all work out,” she said, giving her hand a final pat.
The men came back from the kitchen with dessert and Cage’s eyes scanned between his mother’s teary eyes and Sophie’s. Sophie gave him a small smile letting him know it was all okay.
Cage was right, the boys all ate half a pie each. It was amazing to watch them put away that much food after they had stuffed themselves with her dinner.
Sitting around the living room, the evening winding down, Cage’s dad lit a fire in the big fireplace and Sophie was feeling sleepy and happy.
Cage’s parents excused themselves and walked back to their house. Wyatt started harassing his brothers about going out for a late night swim in the lake, which unknown to Sophie, was code for the brothers to head out into the woods and let their bears run and stretch.
“I don’t mind Cage, really. I think you’re crazy swimming in a freezing lake, but to each their own,” she said laughing.
“Come on, bro, your old lady says you can go play,” Wyatt teased.
Growling at his brother, Cage leaned down and gave Sophie a kiss that left her breathless and blushing in front of his brothers. “You sure you’ll be okay?” He checked with her, but clearly wanted to spend some time with his brothers.
“I’m sure. Go. Swim. Freeze,” she commanded.
Another quick kiss and the boys headed out the door whooping and hollering. Sophie was comfy on the couch, so she laid back and stared at the fire until she fell asleep, content and happy.
Sophie woke to a noise. The fire was still burning, but it was small and needed to be stoked. Listening, she tried to figure out where the noise had come from. Clearly Cage wasn’t back yet since she was still on the couch, he would have moved her to bed she was sure.
The sound came again, this time causing Sophie to whip her head toward the dark windows on the front of the house. She couldn’t tell if the door was locked or not and she was afraid to get up and check. The noise sounded closer and she realized it was footsteps squeaking along the porch. Slowly, the steps came closer to the door.
Sophie couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t any of the family, they wouldn’t need to sneak. It was too loud to be an animal. Who would be this far out in the woods this late at night? Bile was rising in her throat, looking around for something she could use as a weapon, the handle on the front door turned and rattled, finding it locked the person on the other side gave it a harder twist.
Barely awake and terrified, Sophie did the only thing her body would allow at the moment. She let out a blood-curdling scream.
Chapter 21
Cage’s animal was enjoying the cool night air. His brothers had quickly stripped out of their clothes and raced each other into the woods. It had been too long since his animal was given reign. He let his bear come forward in a shower of sparks. The huge brown Kodiak bear roared and chuffed, scenting the air and reveling in being free.
His brothers’ bears, both large grizzlies, were pawing around near him. Each shifter’s bear spirit came to them when they were young. The universe pairing the bear spirit with the right soul on earth. Cage knew the day he saw his Kodiak in a dream that he was destined to be an Alpha, to become the leader and protector of his clan. His uncle on his father’s side still acted as Alpha for his family. Once Cage claimed his mate, the honor would switch to him. His uncle had been waiting to retire for quite awhile. Cage was sure he’d received a call from the hospital from his mother after she found out about Sophie.