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That, and the locked door. Colt didn’t have to check it out to guess that the knob was also enchanted. Like everything else, the audible click of the lock was just one more reminder. If he tried grabbing that handle without Bennett’s keys in the lock, he’d singe all of the fur off his paw.
And it wasn’t like he needed the reminder that his brother was a dangerous alpha wolf. Even through the thick glass that separated them, he could feel the overwhelming presence and strength of Maddox’s more dominant beast.
Colt only submitted before two males—his older brother and their father—and his own wolf was whining inside of his head in confusion. Rather than meet his gaze and assert his authority as Alpha, Maddox kept his head down which meant that Colt’s wolf was torn between either lying on its belly in submission or snapping its teeth in challenge.
After all of these years, it was getting harder and harder to heed the hierarchy in their pack. Colt might only visit Maddox monthly because his brother asked that of him. He had to admit that he agreed for purely selfish reasons.
The rational part of Colt’s brain—the man part—knew that Maddox was still suffering from the pain of losing his mate. But it wasn’t just that. As Colt stayed back, waiting for Maddox to acknowledge him, his eyes narrowed on the thick collar locked around his brother’s throat.
The silver collar.
He hated that damn thing. And he knew there was no way he could get it off of Maddox, even if he somehow got past the glass. He’d burn his hands raw anyway because it was right.
The blazing light from above flashed against the gleaming metal, mocking him.
Fucking silver. And the humans called his kind monsters.
So what if the inside of the collar was treated to keep from burning a shifter’s skin? It never worked. The outside was pure silver, potent and terrible enough to not only keep Maddox trapped in his human skin, but to weaken him significantly. No wonder Colt’s beast wanted to take Maddox’s role in the pack. The silver was messing with him almost as much as it was draining Maddox.
Too soon. This visit was too soon. Colt’s shoulders jerked and hunched, his body primed to shift. It was a hard fight to push back. The tendons on his arms stretched and his feet arched off of the ground seconds before he slammed his full weight back on the tile. He huffed and grunted, relaxing only when he felt his human form settle back into place.
That’s when Maddox finally decided to look up.
Hell.
No matter how many times Colt saw him like this, it always took him by surprise.
Maddox was a big man, standing a couple of inches taller than his younger brother and Colt was no slouch. But the pounds fell away from him the first year in the Cage and he never managed to gain many back. He looked older than his thirty years, his skin paler than its normal tanned hue, his hollow face creased with worry and despair. His once vibrant eyes were dull, as were his blunt human teeth.
His face was expressionless, as if at first he didn’t recognize his visitor, then he couldn’t be bothered when he did.
“Oh. It’s you again.” Maddox’s brow furrowed. “Hang on. It hasn’t been a month yet, has it?”
Colt kept his hands curled into his fists at his side as he shook his head. His damn near miraculous discovery couldn’t have come at a better time. Maddox might not have chosen to be put down after the accident. The result would end up being the same since the Cage sure as hell was killing his brother.
Maddox huffed. “Didn’t think so.”
His voice was hoarse and listless. That wasn't new. It was all part of the sad, sorry routine. Maddox went through the motions during Colt’s monthly visits, knowing that as soon as he did, Colt would leave him alone to his misery.
Since he lost his mate, that was all he had left—or wanted.
Not for the first time, Colt was grateful he hadn't found the one woman meant for him. If this was what he had to look forward to if he ever lost her, he'd much rather never find her in the first place.
“The pack all right?” Maddox asked. Just like he always asked. At least he still cared that much.
“Pack’s fine.”
“Dad okay?”
He didn't bother wasting any words to ask after their mother. Both brothers understood that, so long as their father was still kicking, Sarah Wolfe was safe and sound. The day something happened to her, they'd be digging two graves.
“Old bastard’s still hanging in there,” Colt said with a hint of a wistful smile.
Their father was the most ornery old bastard he knew, but his wolf was undefeated. He wasn’t kidding when he said Terrence Wolfe was hanging in there. Colt believed his father lived on spite and the desire to kick ass until his oldest son was back with the pack. Once that happened, Terrence could finally step down to retire someplace remote and wooded with his mate.
Every predatory shifter in the state knew that Maddox was supposed to be the pack’s next Alpha… only he couldn’t do that while he was stuck in the Cage. Enterprising shifters had tried to challenge Terrence and failed. Their father decided three years ago that he would lead the pack until he died or Maddox got out. Up until that morning, Colt didn’t see either of those things happening any time soon.
But now—
