Auctioned to the Alpha King

ELENA 

Everything was taken away from me the day my mother passed away, from that day forward I knew I could never be happy again. As proven by the fact that my own father abandoned me by throwing himself into work. Years later, I didn’t blame him for making that decision, I came to understand that I wasn’t the only one who lost someone that day. He lost the love of his life, his wife and mother of his children to cancer, it was a blow one never recovered from. 

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I folded my long black hair back into a sleek burn. It was more than hair to me, it was a symbol of how much my mom loved me when she was alive. I could never forget the pain in her eyes, in her voice the day she cut off her hair because she was losing it so much. I wanted to cut mine too, to support her, to show her she was strong and that I wasn’t going to let her go through it alone. 

Instead she pulled me into a hug, made me promise never to cut her hair unless I really wanted to. To cut it for myself and myself alone. Years later, it was still the promise that stopped me from cutting my hair. Each time I look at my own hair, I get reminded of the Saturdays my mother and I spent braiding each other’s hair or washing. 

School was a short drive away from home and having a car my Dad got for me for my twentieth birthday saved me from a lot of stress. I can at least be grateful for that. On getting to my study hall, a broadcast announcement informing me that the Dean wanted to speak to me came on before I even sat down. 

My nervous system spiked up on high alert as I wondered why I was being called into the Dean’s office. Once his secretary cleared the way for me to go in, I knocked on the door, going in only when I was ordered to. 

“You sent for me.” I begin, making myself comfortable on one of the seats at his front desk. 

He watched me, as if I were a puzzle he was trying to figure out. For someone who has been called a freak for most of her life, I was used to getting that look. “I hope you know how much the institution values your contributions to the scientific department?” 

I shifted in my seat, not having a good feeling about this. “Dean, I would prefer it if you just went straight to the point.” 

He nodded before he continued speaking. “I know how much trouble you have with public speaking and frankly I do not care, you have proven yourself to us over the last three years but the board wants a physical presentation of your research project and they want you to do it, it’s the only way they will approve it for funding.” 

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach at his words. Despite my father being a scientist, I was never interested in science until my mother died. At the age of twelve, I decided I wanted to become a scientist, to find solutions to what others deemed as possible, to make sure no family went through the same thing I did. 

Public speaking or even speaking in general was a weakness for me. My weirdness as others call it sets me apart from other people which make it extremely difficult for me to interact or befriend other people. I took a deep breath, telling myself not to panic yet. 

“Did you explain to them how groundbreaking the research is? I doubt they will be interested in seeing me speak once they take a look at my papers.” 

“Miss Powers, you have only been an exception but I’m afraid you can’t be on this one. If there is anything I can do to prepare you for this then let me know. All the best…” he stood up, holding his hand up for a handshake. 

Left with no choice, I also stood up and accepted the handshake. Stepping outside of his office, I called my Dad for help for the first time in a long time, hoping he could give me tips, anything that would get me through defending my project. 

After calling several times with no response, I gave up. I can do this, it’s just talking to about three to four people, convincing them to fund my research. This means a lot to me, so I should be able to do it right? I winced as someone shoved me away before I could bump into them. 

“You freak! Have you gone blind?” The girl hissed, adjusting her lab coat. 

It was on the tip of my tongue to apologize but after she called me a freak, I simply continued walking pretending not to hear what she said. A few hours later, I was called upon when the hall had been prepared for me to defend my research to the school science board, by then my senses had calmed down. 

“Good day, my name is Elena Powers…” that was how far I got before my voice died down like a phone out of battery. 

I stood there unblinking, staring at the board members who were staring at me, waiting for me to continue. I knew then that I couldn’t do it! No matter how much I pride myself as a scientist, without being able to communicate and interact with people, it was worth nothing! 

Tears rolled down my face and I ran out of the hall, leaving my research behind. All my hard work just went down the drain, people were right to call me a freak! Only a freak would be terrified of speaking to people, but then it’s just not about speaking, it’s about knowing what to say and how to say them. 

I was about to get into my car when I saw Dean approaching me through my teary vision. I removed my glasses and immediately wiped my tears, so he wouldn’t see how devastated I was. 

“Elena…” he started, his voice filled with sympathy. 

I choke out a laugh through my tears or else I would have blown into another sob. “It’s okay Dean, until I get over my fear I’m afraid… I won’t make any progress with my work. It’s okay…” 

“I’m actually here to deliver some good news, despite your failed presentation, the board took a look at your research papers on my account and they’ve decided to give you a check to fund your research, I must add, they were very impressed.” 

I look at him wide-eyed, not believing what he just told me. “Really? My research got approved? Thank you so much Dean! Thank you!” I cried, resisting the urge to throw myself into his arms. 

He gave a little laugh. “There’s something for you at Wolf’s lab, some research papers that will no doubt help your research. You should grab them on your way home, your father works at Wolf lab, does he not? You should be able to have access to the files, with or without him. I told you, you were a valuable asset to this institution.” 

I blushed, having no idea how to respond to that. My insides were bursting with happiness; it felt like I would explode from it. My phone started to ring as Dean walked away from me, I stared at the screen for some time debating whether to pick it or not. Since I was on my way to the lab, seeing him would be inevitable so I might as well talk to him now. 

“Is it urgent?” My Dad’s sharp tone of voice came over the line. 

“Dean wanted me to drop by Wolf lab for some research papers and I wanted you to know I would be dropping by.” I held my breath, waiting for his response. 

“One of your research get approved?” I could hear the pride in his voice, he was impressed and that made my heart warm. No matter how angry I was at him, a part of me still craves his approval. 

“Yes.” 

“Good, I’ll see you here then.” The line went dead. 

I look up at the sky. “I know you’re so proud of me Mom and this is only the beginning!” I whispered, entering my car. 

Wolf lab was further from the institution and also I have never been there. It was exclusive to scientists and only a few of the greatest minds ever work there. It's my dream to work there as well and soon I’ll be there. I can feel it deep in my bones. 

After clearing securities, I realised how white and clean the place was. It’s almost similar to a hospital, except there are less people and more silence. Robots levitate around the place, scanning the area for anything out of place. This made me frown, I almost got a sense that this wasn’t just a research lab but a highly secured government facility which isn’t possible because Wolf lab was run by the private sector. 

“Miss Powers?” 

I jolted away at the sound of my Dad’s voice, I felt more important, more powerful when he addressed me as that. “Mr Powers.” I returned in a similar voice that almost made him smile. 

“Congratulations on getting your research approved, that’s one step closer to achieving your dream.” 

“My dream is working here at Wolf lab.” I informed him as we walked down the corridor to where I’m assuming they keep all the research papers because knowing my father, he wouldn’t have the time to give me a tour. 

He stopped abruptly, spurning around to look at me. “You want to work here at Wolf lab.” 

“Yes, why do you look surprised? Is that bad?” A weight pressed over my heart, it wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, I thought he would be happy! Instead he looked disappointed… almost sad. 

“Here chief.” A guy who couldn’t be a few years older than me, cut in front of us to hand my Dad a box filled with papers. 

“Thank you Larry, I hope you remember to lock the storage this time around.” He turned towards me, giving me the box. “That’s everything concerning the research, Dean has briefed me before you got here.” 

“Oh… thank you. I was hoping you would give me a tour—”

A loud animalistic growl filled the air, causing the whole place to vibrate with the cheer force of it. I have never heard anything like that, I was both intrigued and scared at the same time. 

“Shit!” Larry exclaimed and started in that direction, I glimpsed the fearful look on his face before he disappeared through a door. 

“What’s that?” I inquired. 

My Dad looked at me, as if just realizing I was standing there. “It’s probably one of the test subjects acting out again, aren’t you leaving already?” 

I ignored the last statement. “That doesn’t sound like a rat or any animal I know… well it is similar to a wolf but a wolf can’t make a sound that—”

The emergency alarm went off, siren blasting in my ears as Dad started urging me towards the exit

“Attention, all staff units should vacate the building, there’s a test subject 211 on the loose, this is not a drill!” 

Before I could grasp what was happening, I heard the growl again, just as people poured out of various rooms, making a run for the exit. Someone bumped into me, pushing me to the floor and knocking off my glasses in the process!