chapter 5

Chapter 5

Enzo's pov…

I stood still, watching the boy kneel in front of me, trembling like a leaf. My jaw clenched as I tried to suppress the growl building in my throat. The closer I got to him, the harder it became to keep control. Then it happened—that cursed word slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

"Mate."

The moment I said it, I felt my wolf surge forward like a tidal wave, pushing against my control. I gritted my teeth and forced him back. This couldn't be happening. Not now.

My beta, Ren, stepped forward, sensing my instability. "Alpha, do you want me to get him out of here?"

I held up a hand without looking at him. My gaze stayed locked on the boy. I hated how his presence affected me. Everything in me screamed to get closer, to touch him, to protect him. But that was impossible.

A human. My mate? No. That wasn't right. Humans were weak. They were servants at best—slaves at worst. They didn't belong with us. They weren't made for love.

I turned suddenly and slammed my fist into the stone wall beside me. The sharp crack of bone against stone echoed through the room.

The boy had been dragged away, out of my sight, and I still felt the burn of his presence in my chest. My claws had already pushed out, sharp and uncontrollable. My eyes burned, the edges of my vision tinted red. The beast within me was on the edge of taking over.

"He's nothing!" I roared to no one in particular. "He can't be my mate!"

The door creaked open, and I spun around. Ren stood there, calm but cautious. "He's secured. Locked away, just like you ordered."

I nodded, jaw tight. "Good. He stays there."

Ren lingered for a moment before asking, "Alpha... your form hasn't changed back. Are you okay?"

My claws were still out. My eyes, I knew, still glowed red. My wolf was still pushing, clawing from the inside. I looked at Ren without saying a word. What was I supposed to say? That my wolf was crying for a human?

"Just leave," I said flatly.

He bowed slightly and left without another word.

I sat down slowly on the edge of the massive armchair in my chambers, running a hand over my face. The wolf inside me was howling now, relentless. He wanted him. He wanted to be near him, touch him, claim him.

But that was never going to happen.

"We're not doing this," I muttered to myself. "You hear me? We're not claiming a human."

But the wolf didn't stop. He whispered back in my mind, as if mocking me.

He's ours. He's already here. Go to him.

I stood quickly, trying to silence my wolf. I paced back and forth, but every step just made the itch worse. My hands shook. My chest felt tight. The pull toward him was unbearable.

"You can't want him," I said aloud. "He's fragile. He's weak. He'd never survive here."

But none of that mattered. Midnight came. And I found myself standing outside the cell where I'd locked him.

The hallway was a bit dark, and the metal door looked like it hadn't been touched in years. I reached out, unlocked it, and pushed it open with a deep breath.

Inside, the room was cold. He lay curled on the bed, his arms shackled to the wall, the thin blanket barely covering his half-naked body. Just boxers. Nothing else.

He looked like he was freezing.

I stepped inside slowly, trying not to make a sound. But his eyes snapped open anyway.

He jolted upright, trying to scoot back even though the chains pulled at his wrists. "What... what do you want from me now?" he asked, his voice hoarse, barely above a whisper.

I didn't answer right away. I just stared at him. His eyes were wide, scared. His lips were slightly chapped. His arms trembled as he tried to pull away from me.

I took a cautious step forward. Then another.

"Don't," he warned, shrinking back further.

But I kept going until I reached the bed. I sat down at the edge. The mattress creaked under my weight.

He flinched.

I watched him breathe—short, quick gasps. His chest rose and fell so fast I worried he might pass out. I raised my hand, reaching toward his face, fingers barely an inch from his cheek—but I stopped.

Pain shot through my chest like lightning. I jerked my hand back with a gasp.

My wolf was pushing again. Harder now.

I couldn’t let him win.

He was still staring at me, eyes locked on mine. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice breaking. "Why won't you just let me go?"

I didn’t have an answer. I didn't even know how to explain it to myself, let alone to him.

"You're a mistake," I muttered.

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

I stood abruptly. The room felt too small, the air too thin. I turned my back to him.

"You shouldn't be here," I said, fists clenched. "I don't know how or why this happened, but you're not supposed to be my mate."

"Mate?" he echoed, confusion layered in fear. "What does that mean?"

I turned around again, storming back to him. In a second, I was in front of him, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him just enough to look him straight in the eyes.

"Why you?" I growled. "Of all the people—why the hell does it have to be you?"

He gasped, clearly terrified now, but he didn’t look away. That surprised me. Even in fear, he held my gaze.

"I didn't ask for this," he whispered. "I didn't want any of this."

Neither did I.

But here we were.