Golden cage

Alpha Leo's POV

The door closed with a solid thud, and the sound echoed in the silence of the room. I stood still, staring at the space where Ava had just been dragged out, her scent still lingering—sweet, earthy, and maddening. My wolf stirred again, scratching against the walls of my mind, agitated.

You hurt her, Leon growled. You drew blood. You crossed a line.

"Shut up," I muttered under my breath, pacing to the large window that overlooked the courtyard below.

Rex leaned casually against the wall, arms folded across his chest, a wicked grin still playing on his lips. "You saw Steve's face?" he said with a short laugh. "He practically pissed himself when I touched his precious Emma."

I didn't respond.

"You did the right thing, Leo," he continued. "This will teach them both their place. We are Alphas. We don't ask. We take what's ours."

A part of me agreed. The dominant, territorial side. The side that had built the Black Night Pack into the most feared force in the region. But there was a flicker of doubt. A heat in my chest that refused to go out. Ava's eyes—filled with tears, fear, and something else. Something like… disappointment.

I slammed my fist against the wall, cracking the wood.

Rex raised a brow. "You good?"

"She healed too fast," I muttered, my voice low. "The cuts I gave her… they were gone."

Rex tilted his head. "She doesn't have a wolf yet, right?"

"No. Not until we're mated." I turned back to the window, frowning. "But Leon... he healed her. Even though I blocked him."

"That's rare."

"Yeah," I muttered. "It means he's already bonded to her. And if he's bonded…"

"You won't be able to keep ignoring it for long," Rex finished for me. "You can fight her all you want, Leo, but the mate bond—it doesn't just go away."

I didn't answer. The moon was full tonight, high above the trees, casting silvery light over the pack grounds. My pack was quiet, but I knew the rumors would already be spreading. That Alpha Leo had threatened Steve. That he'd hurt his mate.

She's not your mate yet, Leon whispered. You haven't marked her. You haven't claimed her. All you've done is scare her.

I growled aloud. "Enough!"

Rex pushed off the wall. "You want me to stay, or give you space?"

"Go," I said tightly. "Check the patrols. Make sure Steve's wolves really left the territory."

Rex nodded and left without another word.

Alone now, I let the silence settle. My claws extended slightly, a sign of my fraying control. I knew what I'd done tonight. And I knew why I'd done it. Power. Pride. Rage. All of it wrapped in a twisted knot in my chest.

But still…

Ava's scent lingered. And so did the sound of her crying.

---

Back in Ava & Emma's Room

Ava's POV

After our bath, Emma and I changed into some of the nightclothes we found in the wardrobe—soft silk robes in shades of pale gold and lavender. The fabric felt luxurious on my skin, but it did little to calm the storm inside me.

A knock echoed on the door.

Emma flinched. "You think it's them?"

"No," I whispered. "It's too soft."

A moment later, a tray was pushed in through a small door at the bottom—barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. On the tray was a proper dinner: grilled chicken, vegetables, a fruit platter, and a jug of water.

"They're feeding us like queens," Emma said, shaking her head. "But we're still prisoners."

"Golden cages are still cages," I murmured, helping her sit.

We ate quietly. I could still feel the sting of where Leo had hurt me, even though my skin showed no marks now. My heart ached more than my arm.

I couldn't understand him. One moment he was a monster. The next, something inside him tried to protect me.

Maybe he wasn't completely gone.

"I saw it in Rex's eyes," Emma whispered suddenly. "He wasn't just trying to scare Steve. He enjoyed hurting me."

I reached over and squeezed her hand. "We won't let them break us, Emma. We'll get out of here. We'll find a way."

She nodded through tears. "We just have to hold on."