The Guardian's Mate

Chapter Four: Another Cage

Sophia Pov

The rest of the drive passed in silence. I sat in the passenger seat with my arms wrapped tightly around myself, staring out the window as darkness blurred past.

Ethan didn't pressure me to talk. He didn't ask questions. He didn't demand answers.

Part of me appreciated that. The other part didn't know what to think.

My body was exhausted, but my mind refused to rest. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Damien's face. I heard his voice. I remembered the lies. The promises. The manipulation.

At first, Damien had seemed kind too. That was what made Ethan so dangerous. Not because he had done anything wrong.

Because he hadn't. That was exactly how it had started before. A handsome man. A gentle smile. A helping hand. A feeling of safety.

Then everything changed. I glanced at Ethan. His attention remained on the road.

The soft glow from the dashboard illuminated his face. He looked calm. Confident. Nothing like Damien.

Yet I had once thought the same thing about Damien. Trust wasn't something I could give anymore. Not easily. Not after what happened.

The SUV eventually turned onto a long private road.bTall iron gates appeared ahead. My stomach immediately tightened. No. The gates slowly opened. The vehicle continued forward. No. No.bNo.

The knot in my chest grew tighter with every passing second. The trees cleared.

A massive estate appeared in front of us.

My entire body froze. The mansion was beautiful. Large. Elegant. Expensive.

But I couldn't see any of that. All I saw was another prison. Another pack house. Another place hidden away from the world.

Another cage.

The panic returned instantly. My breathing became uneven. My hands started shaking.

Ethan parked the SUV and turned off the engine. "We're here."

I couldn't answer. My eyes remained fixed on the mansion. The memories came rushing back.

The first time Damien brought me to his estate. The first time I walked through those gates. The first time I believed I was meeting his family. God, I had been so stupid.

Ethan frowned. "Sophia?"

I swallowed hard. "You live here?"

His gaze shifted toward the mansion. "Yes."

The answer made my chest ache. Of course he did. Powerful werewolves always lived in places like this. Huge estates. Private properties. Hidden compounds. The kind of places people disappeared in. Just like I had.

I stared at the building. My pulse wouldn't slow down. Ethan seemed to notice my reaction. His expression softened.

"You don't like it."

It wasn't a question. I looked away. He sighed quietly. Then he surprised me.

"We don't have to go inside right away."

My eyes snapped to his. "What?"

"If you need a minute, take a minute."

I blinked. Most people would have dismissed my fears. Most people would have called me irrational. Ethan simply waited patiently.

The silence stretched between us. Finally, I forced myself to speak.

"The last mansion I entered ruined my life."

Something flickered across his face. Pain.

Not for himself.nFor me.

"I'm sorry."

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. He wasn't apologizing because he expected forgiveness. He genuinely sounded sorry.

I looked away first.bEventually, I nodded. "I'll go inside."

Ethan got out of the SUV and walked around to my side. The second my feet touched the ground, pain shot through my legs. I nearly stumbled.

His hand immediately reached toward me.

Then he paused. Waiting. Giving me the choice.nNot forcing contact. Not assuming.

Just waiting. Something about that bothered me. Because it made him harder to hate.

After a brief hesitation, I accepted his help.

Together, we walked toward the mansion.

The entrance doors opened before we reached them. An older woman stood waiting inside. Gray hair. Warm eyes. A gentle smile.

She looked more like someone's grandmother than a servant. "Oh my goodness."

Her gaze landed on my injuries. "What happened to this poor girl?"

I instantly stiffened.nThe woman frowned.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

She looked at Ethan. "Bring her inside."

Her concern seemed genuine. Which only made me more suspicious. Everyone had seemed genuine once. The interior of the mansion was breathtaking. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Expensive furniture.

Everything looked perfect. Too perfect. I hated it.

Every step deeper into the house made

me feel trapped. Ethan guided me upstairs.

The hallway seemed endless.bEventually, he stopped outside a large bedroom.

"This is yours."

Mine? I frowned.

He pushed the door open. The room was beautiful. A king-sized bed sat against one wall. Large windows overlooked the property. Fresh flowers rested on a nearby table. It looked like something from a magazine. I hated it immediately. Because Damien had given me a beautiful room too. Beautiful prisons were still prisons.

Ethan set my bag near the bed. "You can stay here as long as you need."

I crossed my arms. "Why?"

His eyebrows lifted. "Why what?"

"Why are you helping me?"

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Ethan answered honestly.

"Because you need help."

No hesitation.bNo hidden agenda. Just a simple answer. I didn't know what to do with that. Most people always wanted something. Ethan didn't seem to. That made me uneasy.

After a few more instructions about where everything was, he moved toward the door.

"If you need anything, my room is down the hall."

I immediately tensed. His eyes widened slightly. Then understanding crossed his face.

"I'm not expecting anything, Sophia."

Embarrassment heated my cheeks.

He smiled sadly.b"I know trust isn't easy right now."

With that, he left. The door closed quietly behind him. Silence filled the room. For several moments, I simply stood there.

Listening. Waiting. Expecting something to happen. Nothing did. No locks clicked. No threats followed. No demands were made. Just silence.

Slowly, I walked toward the window. Moonlight illuminated the grounds below. The estate stretched farther than I could see. Trees surrounded the property. A tall fence bordered the land. My stomach twisted. A fence. Of course there was a fence.

I stepped closer to the glass. The grounds were beautiful. But all I saw were barriers.

Boundaries. Limitations. Another place I couldn't leave.

I pressed my hand against the cool glass.

Maybe Ethan wasn't like Damien. Maybe he really wanted to help. Maybe he was different. But that didn't change one important fact. He was still a werewolf. And I was still trapped inside another werewolf estate.

The fear returned stronger than before.

My breathing became uneven. The walls suddenly felt too close. The room felt too small. I needed air. I needed freedom. I needed control over something. Anything.

My gaze shifted toward the window latch.

An idea formed instantly. Dangerous. Impulsive. Desperate.

But after two years of captivity, desperation was all I had left. Before I could talk myself out of it, I unlocked the window. Cool night air rushed inside. My heart pounded. The drop looked high. Very high.

But I had escaped once al

ready. I could do it again. I climbed onto the windowsill and looked down into the darkness below.

Then, taking a deep breath, I prepared to jump.