Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

CAGE

T he mid-day sun shone down on the castle grounds, casting shadows across the sprawling gardens, courtyards, and stone walls—those might come in useful in the impending fight. Cage stood in the center of the bailey, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement that would signal the League's forces were closing in on the castle itself. The air was thick with tension, a silent promise of the impending battle.

Cage turned back to his men, who stood ready for his command. "All right, you know the drill. Split into teams and cover the beaches and sea cliffs. We can't let them get a foothold here."

His men nodded, their expressions grim but resolute. Cage would never get over how his men's unwavering loyalty and courage could make him feel so humble. They moved out, each group heading towards their assigned positions, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the stone walls.

Cage led his team towards the cliffs, the salty tang of the sea mingled with human sweat and the distinct smell of large beasts filling the air. The League was hitting them with human and shifted individuals. The path leading toward the sea cliff was narrow and treacherous, the ground beneath them uneven and littered with loose rocks. As they approached the edge, Cage spotted movement below. Figures clothed in camouflage scaled the cliffs, their movements furtive, stealthy and filled with malevolent intent.

"Here they come," Cage growled, his voice a low rumble. "Get ready."

His men spread out, taking up defensive positions along the cliff's edge. Cage felt the familiar surge of adrenaline as he prepared for the fight. But before he could engage, a massive shape emerged from the shadows, barreling towards him with terrifying speed.

A silverback gorilla, its eyes burning with feral rage, launched itself at Cage. He barely had time to react, shifting into his bear form just as the gorilla's massive fists swung towards him. The impact sent him sprawling, but he quickly regained his footing, his roar echoing across the cliffs.

The two beasts circled each other, each sizing up his opponent. The gorilla charged again, its powerful arms swinging with deadly precision. Cage dodged the first blow, but the second caught him in the side, sending a jolt of pain through his ribs. He retaliated with a swipe of his own, his claws raking across the gorilla's chest. The gorilla screamed in outrage and pain.

The battle was brutal and relentless, each strike a test of strength and endurance. Cage's mind focused solely on his opponent, the world around him fading into a blur of fur and blood. He could feel the strength of the gorilla, its raw power a formidable match even for his bear form. But Cage had fought too many battles to be bested now.

With a fierce roar, he surged forward, his jaws closing around the gorilla's arm. The beast howled in agony, trying to shake him off, but Cage held firm, his teeth sinking deeper into flesh as he shook it. Summoning all his strength, he twisted, using his weight to throw the gorilla off balance. They crashed to the ground, a tangled mass of fur and fury.

Cage shifted his grip, releasing the arm and going for the gorilla's throat. With a final, desperate surge, he clamped down, his jaws closing around the vulnerable flesh. The gorilla thrashed wildly, but Cage held on, his determination unwavering. Slowly, the thrashing subsided, the life draining from his opponent's eyes.

Breathing heavily, Cage released his hold and stepped back, his chest heaving with exertion. He shifted back into his human form, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His body ached, bruises and cuts marring his skin, but he couldn't afford to rest. The battle was far from over.

He found one of the caches of weapons and clothing they had stashed around the island and pulled on pants and boots. They were a poor substitute for proper clothing but better than going barefoot and letting his junk hang out. With a determined stride, he made his way back to the cliffs, where his men were still locked in combat with the invaders.

"Stay focused!" Cage shouted, his voice carrying over the din of battle. "We can't let them breach our defenses!"

His men fought with renewed vigor at his command, their movements precise and coordinated. Cage joined the fray, his fists and feet moving in a blur of controlled violence. The enemy was relentless, but so were they. Every step the invaders took was met with fierce resistance; every advance thwarted by the defenders' unwavering resolve.

Cage fought his way through the chaos, his mind a relentless whirlwind of strategy and survival. The sounds of battle were deafening, the clash of weapons and the cries of the wounded blending into a cacophony of war. But through it all, he remained focused, his determination burning bright.

Time seemed to stretch and blur, each movement a struggle for dominance. The sun had climbed high into the sky, its light casting long shadows across the battlefield. Cage's muscles burned with exertion, but he pushed through the pain, his resolve unshaken.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the tide began to turn. The invaders' numbers dwindled, their morale breaking under the relentless assault of the castle's defenders. Cage could see the desperation in their eyes, the realization that they were losing. With a final, coordinated push, he and his men drove the remaining attackers back, forcing them to retreat down the cliffs in a disorderly disarray. It was not the first time Cage had engaged in fighting with the League's military arm, but it was the first time he'd ever seen them break ranks and flee for their lives.

As the last of the invaders disappeared from view, a cheer went up from the defenders. Cage allowed himself a moment of relief, his body sagging with exhaustion. They had held the line, defended the castle, and kept Willow safe, but the cost had been high. The ground was littered with the fallen, their sacrifices a grim reminder of the battle's toll. He could never allow Willow to know how many had willingly given their lives, not just for her, but to defeat the Shadow League.

Cage looked around at his men, their faces etched with weariness and determination. "We did it," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "We held them off. It'll be a long time, if ever, before the League will be able to rise again."

The men nodded, their expressions a mixture of pride and sorrow. They had won the battle and perhaps turned the tide on the war with the League, but they were not done yet. There would be more fights, more sacrifices, but for now, they had earned a brief respite.

Cage turned his gaze towards the castle, where Willow was safely hidden away. He knew the danger was far from over, but he was determined to protect her, no matter the cost. As long as there was breath in his body, he would fight for her, for his people, and for the future they all deserved.

WILLOW

Willow paced from wall-to-wall behind the thick stone that enclosed and hid the safe room, her eyes fixed on the monitors. The hidden cameras positioned around the castle grounds fed live footage to the screens, displaying the chaos unfolding outside. Jones had tried to keep her away, to shield her from the violence, but her insistence had won out. Now, she wished she hadn't pushed so hard.

The battle was a nightmare come to life. Men and women fought with a ferocity that left Willow breathless. The sounds of clashing weapons and pained cries filled the air, even from her concealed vantage point. But nothing could prepare her for what she saw next.

Cage, her protector, her lover, dashed into the open. Her heart clenched in fear and confusion as she watched him. A swirling maelstrom of power, color, and light engulfed him, and she had to squint to make any sense of what was happening. When the light subsided, the man she knew was gone. In his place stood a massive grizzly bear, its fur bristling with raw energy.

Willow's breath caught in her throat. "What the...?" she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips.

On the screen, a silverback gorilla charged at the bear—just like in her dream. She recognized it immediately, the same terrifying creature she had almost convinced herself was a figment of her imagination, something she had seen in a moment of trauma in the basement of the mansion she shared with Frank. But here it was, very real and very dangerous.

The gorilla struck Cage—no, the bear—what the hell was she supposed to call him?—with tremendous force, and the impact sent ripples through Willow's body as if she had felt the blow herself. It was as if she could feel what Cage was experiencing—physically, emotionally and mentally—his worry, his fear, his concern about all those under his command and her. The two animals clashed, engaging in brutal, primal combat. The bear's roars mixed with the gorilla's guttural grunts, creating a symphony of violence that was both mesmerizing and horrifying.

Cage fought with a ferocity Willow had never seen. His bear form was a creature of immense power and grace, but the gorilla was equally formidable. Each blow, each movement, was a testament to their strength and determination. Willow's fingers dug into the stone wall, her knuckles white with tension.

The fight seemed to stretch on forever. Willow's eyes were glued to the screen, unable to look away even as she wished she could. The bear and the gorilla were locked in a deadly dance, their bodies moving with a terrifying precision. Willow's heart raced, her mind a whirl of fear and disbelief.

Then, with a final, desperate surge, the bear overpowered the gorilla. Cage's jaws clamped down first on the gorilla's arm and then on its throat, and Willow could almost feel the life draining from the beast. The gorilla's thrashing slowed, then ceased altogether. The bear stepped back, shaking itself off, and was once again enveloped in the swirling mist.

When the mist dissipated, there was no bear. There was only Cage, standing tall and strong, his chest heaving with exertion. Willow's mind reeled. Cage was a fucking bear. She wasn't sure how, but he was a fucking bear. The man she had been sleeping with, the man she had trusted with her heart and body, was some kind of weird-ass shifter . A bear-shifter, to be precise.

Her thoughts spiraled, memories flashing before her eyes. She recalled the books she had read, the paranormal romances that hinted at such things, and that she had dismissed as nonsensical. Those were just stories, fantasies, right? Who believed in them? And yet, here she was, watching the impossible unfold before her very eyes.

Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the sounds of the ongoing battle. She should have known. There had been signs, little clues she had dismissed or overlooked. But she had never truly believed, not until now. Who could believe something like this? The revelation hit her like a physical blow, leaving her reeling.

Jones moved restlessly beside her, his expression a mix of concern and resignation. "Willow, I know this is a lot to take in?—"

"A lot?" she interrupted, her voice rising with a mixture of hysteria and incredulity. "Jones, he's a bear. I just watched him fight a gorilla. Cage is a fucking bear. How am I supposed to process that?"

Jones sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it. Believe me, I do. But right now, we need to focus on staying safe. Cage and the others are out there risking their lives to protect us."

Willow nodded numbly, her eyes never leaving the monitors. Her mind whirled with questions, doubts, and fears. The conversation she and Cage had had just before the attack replayed in her mind. He had seemed so tense, so conflicted. Was this what he had been trying to tell her?

Her thoughts raced back to the moments they had shared, the intimacy and the trust that had built between them. She had fallen for him, hard and fast, but had she truly known him? The revelation that he was some kind of paranormal beast cast everything in a new light. How much of their relationship had been real? How much had he hidden from her?

On the screen, Cage continued to fight, his human form just as fierce and determined as his bear. Willow watched him move with a grace and power that left her breathless. Despite everything, she couldn't deny the admiration and affection she felt for him. He was risking his life to protect her, to keep her safe from the threats that surrounded them.

But what did that mean for them? Could she trust him, knowing he had kept such a monumental secret from her? What other things hadn't he told her? Could she reconcile the man she loved with the beast he carried inside him? Did she want to?

Jones's voice broke through her thoughts. "Willow, we need to stay here until it's safe. Cage and the others will handle the rest."

Willow nodded again, her eyes never leaving the monitors. She felt a strange sense of detachment, as if she were watching a movie rather than living through the events unfolding before her. But deep down, she knew this was real. The danger was real. And Cage's transformation was very real.

As the battle outside raged on, Willow's mind continued to spin. She didn't have all the answers—hell, she didn't even know all the questions—but she knew one thing for certain: her world had changed irrevocably. And whether she was ready or not, she would have to face that new reality head-on.