**Enzo’s POV**

I watched the kid kneel in front of me, his eyes wide with fear, his body shaking like a leaf. Noah. That’s what Ren called him. Just a human, weak and pathetic, but when I got close—too close—my wolf went crazy. The word “mate” slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it, and it felt like a punch to the gut. My wolf clawed at me, howling inside, wanting to claim him. I pushed it down, hard, my hands shaking as I stared at him.

Ren stepped forward, his face worried. “Alpha, you okay?” he asked, glancing at Noah like he was the problem.

I turned, my eyes burning, and threw my glass against the wall. It shattered, the sound loud in the quiet room. My wolf growled, low and angry, and I felt my claws itching under my skin. A human mate? No. Humans were nothing. Slaves, tools, not worth my time. Never worth loving. The idea of this kid—this bruised, scared boy—being my mate was a sick joke.

Ren stayed still, waiting. He knew better than to push me when I was like this. My eyes flashed red, and I could feel my wolf pushing harder, wanting out, wanting *him*. I clenched my fists, my claws digging into my palms, blood dripping onto the floor. “No way,” I muttered, more to my wolf than to Ren. “No human will ever be my mate.”

The door opened, and Ren stepped back in. I hadn’t even noticed him leave. “Alpha, the boy’s handled,” he said, his voice steady. “He’s locked up. Won’t go anywhere until you say so.”

I turned, my form still half-shifted, claws out, eyes glowing. Ren’s face tightened, and he took a step back. “You’re in pain,” he said, low, like he was afraid to say it. “Is it because of that human?”

I glared at him, my wolf snarling in my head. “Get out,” I said, my voice rough. “Now.”

Ren nodded and left without another word. The door clicked shut, and I was alone. I sank into my chair, my head pounding. My wolf wouldn’t shut up. *Go to him,* it said. *Our mate. He’s here. He’s ours.* I growled, slamming my fist on the armrest. “He’s not my mate,” I said out loud, my voice echoing in the empty room. “He’s nothing.”

But my wolf didn’t listen. It never did when it wanted something this bad. The hours dragged on, and I tried to drown it out with whiskey, but it was no use. By midnight, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood in front of the door to the room where Ren had locked him up. My hand hovered over the handle, my wolf howling, begging me to go inside. I hated it—hated how weak it made me feel.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was small, cold, with a creaky bed in one corner and chains on the walls. Noah was there, curled up on the bed, asleep. He was still in his boxers, his wrists chained like an animal. His body shivered, the thin blanket barely covering him. My wolf whined, urging me to go closer, to protect him. I clenched my jaw, fighting it.

His eyes snapped open, and he scrambled back, the chains rattling. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice shaking but defiant. “What are you gonna do to me?”

I moved toward him, slow, my boots heavy on the floor. He pressed himself against the wall, his chest rising and falling fast. I sat on the edge of the bed, just watching him. His eyes were wide, scared, but there was something else in them—something that made my wolf go wild. That pull, that damn mate bond, hit me again, stronger this time. I couldn’t breathe right.

I reached out, my hand moving to his face before I could stop it. My fingers brushed his cheek, and it was like fire shot through me. My wolf roared, trying to take over, and I yanked my hand back, pain ripping through my chest. “No,” I growled, more to myself than to him. I stood, stepping back, trying to get control. My eyes burned red, my claws out again, and I knew he saw it. He saw the monster.

He stared at me, frozen, his breath shaky. “What are you?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My wolf was too close, clawing at my mind, wanting to claim him right there. I turned away, my hands shaking, and paced the room. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was Enzo Virex, Alpha of the Virex Pack. I didn’t feel things like this. I didn’t want humans. But every time I looked at him, my wolf screamed *mate*, and it was tearing me apart.

I spun back, rage boiling over, and grabbed his neck, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make him gasp. His eyes locked onto mine, and that pull hit me again, stronger, like a chain tying me to him. I leaned in, my face inches from his, and growled, “Why you?”

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