Chapter 5 Beta’s mate

Cain's. POV

I don’t even know what dragged me to her room. Maybe curiosity. Maybe the bond I’m trying so damn hard to ignore. But the moment I opened that door and saw her, sprawled across the bed, fast asleep, something in me froze.

The little human looked so… peaceful. Too peaceful for someone who had been rotting in my dungeon for six months. Her hair was a tangled mess, her lips parted slightly as she breathed. She didn’t even know the kind of danger she was in, lying there like that — in my territory, in my house.

I clenched my jaw and forced myself to look away. The room was quiet. Too quiet. That’s the only reason I came, to make sure she wasn’t up to something stupid. But she wasn’t. She was just… sleeping. Probably full from the food she devoured earlier.

Pathetic.

“Have you checked the borders like I told you?” I asked coldly as my brother, Finn, appeared at my office door.

He grunted. “Yeah. Just came from there. It’s clear tonight, no threats, nothing unusual.”

“Good,” I replied flatly and brushed past him.

I needed air. I needed space. My wolf, however, had other ideas. The moment I left her room, the beast inside me started pacing restlessly. Go back. Mate. Ours.

I growled under my breath. “Shut up.”

The damn wolf had been unusually loud ever since I found that human in the dungeon. I should have killed her the moment I saw her. It would’ve saved me this headache.

By the time I reached my chambers, the tension in my chest was suffocating. I went straight to the window and looked out at the pack grounds below. Night had fallen, guards on patrol, torches flickering, the cold wind brushing against my skin.

Then, movement caught my eye.

To my right, a light flickered from her window. I turned my head and saw her.

The human.

Ava.

She was standing by the window, arms folded, staring out like she belonged here. My jaw tightened. Did she not understand where she was? This wasn’t a safe haven, this was my pack. My world.

I should’ve looked away. I didn’t.

Her expression softened as she watched the grounds, completely unaware that I was watching her. The faint glow of the moon touched her face, and for a split second, my chest ached, something foreign, something dangerous.

“Foolish human,” I muttered, forcing my wolf down.

But then my eyes narrowed when I noticed movement near the training field.

Finn.

He was supposed to be patrolling. Instead, he was standing there, staring up, directly at her.

A low growl rumbled in my throat.

Ava must’ve noticed finn because she suddenly looked down, her face flushing red. She quickly stepped away from the window.

I shifted my gaze to Finn. He was still looking up, but this time, his eyes met mine.

I let my power flare, a silent warning.

Finn smirked. The bastard actually smirked and turned away, heading back to his post like “nothing happened.

My fists clenched so hard my knuckles cracked.

He’d better not get any ideas.

No one touches what’s mine even if I don’t want to admit she is.

My wolf growled in satisfaction, but I shoved the feeling away.

Tomorrow, I’ll decide what to do with her.” I mutter under my breath.

Because if I don’t, she might be the one to destroy me first.

Ava's POV

Morning came faster than I expected. I was still half asleep when someone knocked softly on my door. My body stiffened, for a second, I thought it might be him. But the knock came again, gentle.

I stood up and opened the door carefully.

A woman stood there, tall, stunning, and dressed in a silky blue gown that screamed confidence. She smiled warmly.

“Hi, you must be Ava. I’m Raven, nice to meet you,” she said cheerfully.

“Uh… nice to meet you too,” I replied awkwardly.

Her scent told me she was a wolf — powerful but calm.

“In case you don’t know,” she continued, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation, “I’m the Beta’s mate. My husband said you might need a bit of company.”

She placed a folded gown on the bed, a gorgeous one, soft gold with lace detailing that shimmered slightly under the morning light.

“For… me?” I asked, blinking.

“Yes,” she said, smiling wider. “There’s a coronation tonight. It would be fun if you came along.”

I hesitated immediately. “I’m not sure that’s allowed. The Alpha gave me strict warnings not to leave this room.”

“Oh, please.” She waved her hand like it was nothing. “This is different. The coronation is for the whole pack, everyone will be there. And don’t worry, you’ll be with me the entire time.”

She paused and tilted her head, eyeing me curiously. “Unless… what are you to the Alpha? Some kind of breeder or something?”

I froze. “What? No! Of course not,” I said quickly, my cheeks heating. “I was found in his dungeon, and the next thing I know, I’m here.”

Raven frowned, confused. “Wait — you were found in his dungeon? What on earth were you doing there?”

“That’s… complicated,” I muttered, avoiding her eyes. No way was I telling her the truth, that her mate had once bought me to breed before finding his real mate.

“I just… woke up there, that’s all,” I said instead.

She didn’t look convinced, but she nodded slowly. “Hmm. Whatever happened, I’ll tell you this, Alpha Cain isn’t the kind of man who uses breeders. He’s dangerous, yes, but not like that.”

Dangerous. I knew that already.

Her tone turned serious. “Be careful, Ava. No one wants to be on his bad side. If he decides to breed with you, don’t fight it, though I honestly doubt he will. He hates human. Alpha Cain is too arrogant to let anyone close.”

Her words made my stomach twist.

She looked around my room and then back at me. “Have you had your bath yet?”

I shook my head. “I was just waking up.”

Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, not in a mean way, but with a kind of curiosity. “You really did have a rough time in that dungeon,” she said softly, stepping closer.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Now,” she said suddenly, her mood shifting back to cheerful. “Up you go! Let’s see how that gown looks on you once you’re cleaned up. You’re actually very pretty, Ava. I’ll help with your hair after.”

Before I could say anything, she started arranging the gown and humming softly like we were friends. I couldn’t help watching her, the confidence, the warmth, the ease.

For a moment, I wished I could be like her , fearless and sure of my place in this world.

But I wasn’t. I was a human, trapped in a pack that hated my kind.

Still, I picked up my towel and headed to the washroom. Maybe, for tonight, I could pretend everything was normal.