“Can you keep a secret?”

I looked up from my plastic tray, which was slightly gouged in the middle from all the scraping of previous spoons, and locked eyes with my new celly. She had only been in for a few days and all I’d seen from her was shifty energy. I was too tired for shifty. 

“I’m not interested. I don’t do the hard stuff.”

Most of the time newbies thought they could get the big drug, Honey, in but they’d find out who ran the place around here pretty quick and would decide better of it. Wasn’t worth it getting on Kane’s bad side. 

“Not what I’m talking about and I find that slightly insulting that you think I’m stupid enough to get wrapped up in Honey.” 

I set my spoon down, leaving the mush on my plate to its own devices, and leaned my elbows on the sticky plastic table in front of me, my braid falling forwards off my shoulder. 

“Stupid enough to get locked up though.”

She narrowed her eyes at me as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. I thought she’d take the hint and go find someone else to bother, but she instead chose to sit across from me and changed her posture to mirror mine, both of us leaned in with elbows certainly covered in some sort of bacteria. 

“Pretty bold words for a bitch in the same condition.”

My teeth tightened at her disrespect, even if the bite was unexpected and a little entertaining. It got dull in here with the same routine day after day, but respect was still owed and especially owed by some newbie. I didn’t earn my position by backing down when challenged so I leaned further in, canines lengthening while a low growl vibrated out of my throat. 

“Watch yourself pup. It would make my day to fuck up yours.”

The small wolf shifter shifted her eyes down and leaned away from me, increasing the distance between us. Looks like she wasn’t a total idiot. 

“Apologies,” was all she said before she lifted herself up and walked away from the table and headed out of the Food Hall. Lucky for her I was feeling forgiving, and meal time was up meaning I could go outside. Otherwise she’d have to stand in the corner like a weirdo until the guards let us out and she could remove herself from the power struggle she started. 

I peeled myself off the table and threw my tray away, heading out for some sun time. It was the highlight of my day getting to roast in the sun paired with an afternoon nap. A shoulder brush up against mine on my way out and I smiled at Nova, the oldest female in this place. She was a lifer. She went into full female rage when she found her old man banging her sister. Nova ate him, the skank, and everyone in a 10 mile radius. It was a total shit show but I admired her for her enthusiasm.

“Hey Venny. Missed you at yoga this morning. You should’ve seen me kicking these boys asses.” She cackled as we pushed through the heavy doors and into the yard that was already packed with bodies. A quick glance showed the males either doing sprints around the dirt track or body weight exercises. The females were lounging under the big trees enjoying the view.

The Cage didn’t separate males and females but by species. Wolves were in this pen with the other sections housing who fucking knows what. 

“Haven’t been sleeping much since my new celly showed up. She’s got bad vibes and smells like a shitstorm coming.” We headed over to the group of females, circling to the backside of the trees for a little space from what often turned into conversations focusing on which males had the biggest biceps and which could successfully win a brawl against the biggest biceps. The same topics got old and I didn’t particularly give a shit about a males presence, and even more so with this sad lot.

“I’ve already seen her with some of the guys that got guards on a leash. If she seems weird she might know something.”

I scoffed and curled up on my side, tucking my arm under my head and closing my eyes against the bright sunshine. God I needed a nap. And I needed a new celly. And maybe some ice cream.

“Don’t feed into her. She’s a new pup on the block trying to puff up and seem like she’s important and I would bet my nonexistent money that she’s not.” I was going to switch the conversation to what Nova planned for tomorrow mornings yoga poses when a voice cut through the thoughts. 

“Collars are getting cut.”

I jerked from my side and was on my feet a few seconds behind Novas shift from her position that had her back against the tree. We both tilted our heads up to see no one other than my fucking celly crouched on a thick, low hanging branch and mostly coverage with the green foliage. Shifty, pushy, and a liar. What other issues did this chick have? 

“I’ve had about enough of your bullshit. Get down from there so I can beat you.”

Nova looked at me with exasperation, which was fair because that comment was not my slickest, but then I saw something else fill her look.

“Don’t you dare Nova,” I warned. Unfortunately Nova outranked me and also didn’t give a shit.

“That’s a pretty bold statement pup and my old age has weathered my patience. Speak freely, and quickly, or I’ll let Venny take out her pent up sexual frustration on you through her lackluster insults and tiny fists.”

My eyes hurt from the aggressive eye roll that was involuntary. 

The pup stared down at us through her furrowed brow, indecision heavy on her face. 

“You can’t tell anyone. I’m only telling you two because you seem like my best option as allies. Once the collars are cut shits going to go real sideways real fast.” Her speech was pressured and her head kept swiveling, looking for anyone that could ease drop I assumed.

“What’s your name?” I realized I hadn’t learn it. Or remember it. 

“Hallie.” She lowered herself off the branch, hanging by an arm before dropping down to her feet, putting her directly in front of the two of us. 

“Hallie, our lips are sealed. Just bring it down a notch and tell us what you know, yeah?”

A heavy silence sat between the three of us before she unfolded her reserved information.

“One of the males heard about power surges happening in other pens. Just yesterday the pen nearest to us went dark. No power, no control over the collars and absolute disaster. The guards are getting nervous.”

I weighed her story, looking for holes as I reached up and rubbed the metal collar that had been wrapped around my throat ever since I got to The Cage. All of us had them, because without them we’d not only kill each other but all the guards. No guards meant no one stopping us from getting the fuck out of here. My biggest issue was the internal wars that would break out in between packs. We may look all harmonious externally, but internally there were fires of revenge smoldering. Lots of us landed in here because of pack wars on the outside. 

“What’s causing the power surges?” I dropped my hand from my neck and crossed one over the other, both pressing into my chest. 

Hallie shook her head. “Some think it’s intentional. How else would it be running through the pens? This place has never had power issues and wouldn’t let it happen. They think someone is orchestrating it from the outside.”

I felt unease slither around my guts, whispering a theory based on the information Hallie claimed as true. Nova stiffened beside me, potentially coming to the same possibility as me. If what we were both thinking was true, I was fucked. Super fucked. Majorly life ending fucked. I did not like the information that was stacked towards this scenario. 

“When?” Nova’s voice was sharp. 

Hallie shrugged, tense shoulders crawling higher up her neck. 

“Based on the pattern it could be anytime in the next few days. It’s been running through quickly.”

I didn’t know what to say or do next. I didn’t know if I should laugh to ease the tension in between us or walk away to avoid this all together. Avoiding was my first line of defense, at any and all times. A sharp clap jerked my from my internal downward spiral. 

“Alright ladies, we’re going to figure this out and keep our whits about us. But first, Hallie dear I’m going to need you to go somewhere else for a bit. Me and my girl Venny need a chat.”

Not even a second passed before she spun and shot off, heading back to the doors that would lead her inside. Her cagey energy made sense now. I would be jumpy too if at any moment the only thing keeping the peace could snap loose. 

“Do you think it’s him?” The elder wolf latched onto my wrist, turning me to face her. I didn’t want to respond and acknowledge the option out loud. 

“Seems a little too coincidental for me,” I grumbled out while she let out a hum in response. 

“We need to talk to Kane.”

“Kane? Are you high on Honey? We don’t even know where the fucker spends all his time lurking. We don’t even know what he looks like!” I pulled her hand off my wrist, irritated that her first idea was to find the elusive alpha of this place. 

Kane was the big dog on the block. He somehow demanded order without ever making an appearance in gen pop. If he ever crawled out of his hole it wasn’t on the rest of our schedules. I heard he got special treatment from the guards because he weeded out the bad ones that were smuggling in toxic bullshit.

“Velma, we can’t mess around if he’s coming after you. We need to get you protection or you’re done for babe. Raze will end you for what you did to him, and power surges are his signature. There’s no way it isn’t him.”

“First off, the name calling? Who are you, my mother going full name on me? Second, how do you think we’re going to find Kane, let alone convince him to help us? I’d also like to point out that I’m not the only one here at risk if wars break out.” Nova was powerful but she was getting older and even that aside, the two of us could only do so much against the wrong numbers. I did suppose we could add Hallie to our group since I didn’t like the thought of her getting crushed underneath all of this either. She was annoying, but all pups are. 

Nova looked away, guilt swirling in her eyes. She knew something.

“I may or may not have a nightcap with him here and there.”

My neck snapped back and I howled with laughter.

“Are you screwing Kane? How could you not tell me this you asshole, that’s the best gossip I’ve heard in this place!”

She punched my bicep before explaining, “he is young enough to be my son you nasty. He has good brew and decent conversation. We’ve been in here long enough to cross paths.”

I rubbed my eyes so hard I’m sure they touched my brain. I couldn’t believe Nova kept this juicy information from me. 

“Alright you fake friend. Let’s have a meeting.”

“I’ll reach out, but you have to do your part and be nice. No sass, no backtalk, and no sarcasm. You’ll piss him off and fuck our plan. Be less you for a minute and we can maybe get away with it. Honestly just don’t talk and I think we’ll be good.” 

I giggled and reassured her, “my lips are sealed.”

“We’re fucked,” she groaned.