Beta and the Beasts

Mate

I slowly climbed up the edge of the bridge, feeling the weight of every step as though it were the final one. The road was empty—no cars, no people—just me and the quiet night. I peered over the edge and measured the distance to the water below. The height was perfect. One jump, and it would all be over. No more pain, no more loneliness. The thought comforted me.

I had grown weary of life. No one would miss me. I had no family, no one who cared whether I lived or died. My life had been a series of endless misfortunes, a constant string of disappointments and failures. Why keep fighting when nothing ever seemed to go right? What was the point of living if all I felt was emptiness? There was nothing left for me, no reason to keep going. I had made up my mind—it was time to end it all.

But just as I steadied myself for the jump, I heard a voice.

“Don’t go through with it.”

I froze. The words came from nowhere and everywhere at once. I spun around, searching the shadows, but there was no one in sight. Still, I could feel the presence of something—or someone. A shiver ran down my spine, and the air seemed to grow colder, wrapping around me like a warning.

"You can’t back out now, Cassie," I whispered to myself, trying to block out the strange voice. "You’re already here. You’ve made it this far. No more hesitation."

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and stepped off the ledge. The plunge was swift, and the icy water hit me like a shock to my system. My body was submerged in an instant, the silence deafening. For a brief moment, there was nothing but the cold, the quiet, and the sinking feeling that it was finally over.

But then, memories flooded back—images of my past, of my life, and a voice, clear as day, echoing in my mind.

"Remember, my child, you are important no matter what happens in this world. Whatever happens, keep fighting and move forward. Promise us that—for me and your Dad."

It was my mother’s voice, her final words to me before she was gone. Suddenly, something inside me shifted. The urge to live, to survive, surged through me. I didn’t want to die. Not like this. Not now.

I fought against the water, struggling to surface, my lungs burning as I gasped for air. I wanted to live. I wasn’t ready to give up yet.

But the weight of the water was too much. My body began to fail me as my strength faded. My vision blurred, and as I drifted in and out of consciousness, I saw a shadow moving towards me. Was someone coming to save me? Would they reach me in time?

I didn’t know, but in that moment, I clung to the hope that I wasn’t completely alone. I wanted to live long enough to find out. I wanted to discover the meaning of what my mother had told me. Maybe I was important. Maybe there was something more waiting for me.

But as my eyes closed and darkness overtook me, all I could do was hope.

---

I woke up feeling a strange shaking in my body. Slowly, I opened my eyes and suddenly started coughing. I immediately noticed a man I didn’t recognize—he was carrying me! My eyes widened in shock, and I struggled to break free.

“W-Who are you?! What did you do to me? Put me down!” I shouted.

“Is that the first thing you say to the person who saved your life? You didn’t really want to die, so why did you jump?” he asked, his deep voice serious and unsettling, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Put me down so we can talk properly!”

“No.”

I couldn’t believe how blunt his response was. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn’t get free or escape his grip—he was far too strong. And beyond that, there was something else I was feeling, something strange that I couldn’t quite understand.

“W-Where are you taking me? You’re not planning to kill me, right?” I asked nervously.

“Why would I do that? Didn’t I just save you from the brink of death?” he shot back.

I didn’t reply because his aura was so intense, I felt like he could easily snap and end me at any moment. All I could do was stare at his face. It was night, but the moon was bright, illuminating his features. His hair was jet black, his nose perfectly sculpted, lips that looked almost kissable, and his skin—unnaturally pale. My gaze drifted to his eyes, which were focused intently on the path ahead, cold and serious.

His face was expressionless, and I couldn’t figure out what he was planning. I just hoped he wasn’t going to kill me.

After a few more minutes of walking, he finally stopped and gently set me down. A wave of relief washed over me—I was still alive.

“Where are we?” I asked, scanning the dim surroundings. It was hard to make out details because of the darkness, but I could tell we were inside some kind of room. How did we end up here? I hadn’t noticed a door or hallway.

“Wait... is this a room? What are we doing here? Are you planning something bad?” My voice trembled as I took a few cautious steps back, unsure of his intentions.

The room was filled with vintage furniture—old, but not dusty. There were abstract paintings hanging on the walls and a large bed that looked soft and inviting. As I looked closer, it felt like a woman’s room, which made everything feel even more confusing.

“I’m not going to do anything to hurt you, and I won’t force anything on you. Don’t be afraid,” he said in a calm, steady voice.

“Why should I believe you? Do you even have any proof that you're trustworthy? What are you planning? Did you bring me here to make me your servant? What is going on?" I demanded, my fear making my words rush out.

He remained unfazed. “I already told you—I won’t hurt you. Everything I’ve said is true. No lies.”

Testing him, I crossed my arms and snapped, “If that’s true, then kneel.”

I was expecting him to ignore me or maybe laugh at the ridiculous request, but to my shock, he immediately dropped to his knees. My mouth fell open.

“Are you satisfied now?” he asked, looking up at me. “I told you, I won’t hurt you. I would rather die than do something like that.”

“Die?” I blurted out, completely confused. “How would you even die? What kind of crazy talk is this? Did you escape from a mental hospital or something?”

He didn’t react to my insult. “I’ll explain everything soon. For now, you should rest.”

As he stand up and turned to leave, I reached out without thinking and grabbed his arm. The moment my hand touched his skin, a strange, powerful sensation surged through me, making me freeze. What was that? My mind struggled to process the intense feeling I’d just experienced.

He glanced over his shoulder, his voice is calm but serious. “I’m your mate.”

Those three words left me stunned, my thoughts spun in disbelief.