THE HEARTLESS ALPHA

Epi 8 : The First power

Standing there, George was yanked back in time.

He saw another hospital bed. Another body full of tubes. Juhi. His wife. She had died in a room exactly like this, and never come home.

His chest caved in. "Not her too. Please, not Alen too."

Guilt crushed him. "I should have protected her. I left her with people who didn’t care." The thought that he was about to lose his daughter the same way he lost his wife was drowning him.

The door opened. The doctor stepped out. George wiped his face fast and looked up.

The doctor squeezed his shoulder. "Mr. George. Breathe. She’s going to be okay. It was a severe stress episode. Her body shut down. We’ve medicated her. She’ll wake up soon."

The words hit George like air. He exhaled and leaned against the wall. Safe. She was safe.

He didn’t know the truth. This wasn’t stress. The crystal was already changing her from the inside.

───

George pushed the ward door open. Silence. Only the beep of machines.

Alen was asleep. Peaceful, for now.

He sat beside her and brushed her hair back with shaking fingers. Her skin was cold.

"You can hear me, right?" he whispered. "Come on, kid. Wake up. You’re all I’ve got. You’re stronger than this. I even brought you grapes."

He set the bag on the table. The door opened again. A nurse.

"Sir, she’s stable. Doctor cleared her for discharge. Just handle the paperwork and payment at the front desk."

Relief flooded him. He kissed Alen’s forehead and left.

At the counter, the receptionist slid the bill across.

George stared at the number. His stomach dropped. It was more than he made in three months.

And he didn’t have it.

The room tilted. His knees gave out. He hit the floor.

"How?" The word tore out of him. "How can a father be this useless? How can I not afford to save my own daughter?" He sat there, shattered, while people walked past.

───

He’d already called his boss. No help.

"Should have picked a cheaper school. A cheaper hospital." Regret tasted like metal.

A hand touched his shoulder.

George looked up. A young man. Early twenties. Eyes full of pity.

"Uncle. Please don’t. I’m Reyaan. I’m in Alen’s class. Let me pay this." Reyaan took the bill from George’s limp hand. "Go to her. I’ve got this."

George stared at him like he was seeing a miracle. "Why would you—"

"Just go." Reyaan smiled. "I’ll be right back."

Minutes later Reyaan returned with papers. That same careful, too-kind smile.

"All paid. I just need your signature here. Standard discharge forms."

George was too tired to think. Too grateful to question it. He signed without reading.

He didn’t know he hadn’t signed hospital forms. He’d signed Reyaan’s contract.

Reyaan took the papers. And for half a second, the kindness vanished. Something cold and victorious flashed in his eyes.

───

I was ready to walk out.

I’m James Albert. But something was off. Wrong. Like my skin didn’t fit anymore.

Then it hit. Strength. Real strength. The exhaustion, the sickness, all of it burned away. I stood up without help. Energy crackled under my skin.

I looked at the man the world called my father. He looked old. Tired.

"I’m fine," I said. My voice was steady. "We’re leaving. Now." I couldn’t stay here another second. Something in the hallway was calling me.

"James, wait." He grabbed my hand. "The doctor said rest. You were barely conscious yesterday."

He was scared. He should be. Yesterday I couldn’t lift my head. Today I felt like I could tear the walls down. This wasn’t recovery.

He didn’t know. The blood in me wasn’t his. It was hers. Royal blood. And it had finally woken up.

───

Tires screeched outside.

"Move! He’s going to hit someone!"

I looked out. The street was empty.

Then I heard it. Whispers.

I followed the sound down. Two insects on the curb. Talking.

"Alpha King," one whispered. "Bow. Wait for him to pass."

I froze.

I, James Albert, ruthless, cold, billionaire, could hear bugs talk.

This wasn’t real. I rubbed my eyes. Pinched my arm. Still real.

The power inside me was growing, and it was pulling everything living closer. Like I was part of them.

The driver leaned forward. "Sir? You should let me drive. You stopped in the middle of the road."

I didn’t answer. I moved to the back seat. He stared at me. I never let anyone talk to me like that. I would have fired him.

But I wasn’t me anymore.

Out the window, the world looked different. And then I saw it. Something impossible. Something no human should ever see.

The hospital was already far behind us, but my jaw dropped anyway.

The wrought-iron gates were still razor sharp. Every detail was clear. Not just the gate. The entire courtyard.

I could see every person. Every small movement. Every shift in posture. Like I was standing one inch away instead of a mile.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I rubbed my eyes hard, desperate. This wasn’t possible. Human eyes didn’t work like this.

I didn’t know it yet. The alpha king in my blood had finally woken up. My vision had broken past every human limit.

"No. This can’t be real," I muttered. "I’m going crazy."

I leaned forward. "Pull over. Pinch me. Now."

The driver’s eyes went wide in the mirror. All the color drained from his face. The city’s coldest billionaire was begging his driver to pinch him like a child. He thought I’d lost it.

I didn’t care. My head felt like it would split open. I needed something real.

"Do it," I growled. "Pinch me. Right now."

He had no choice. Fear won. He stopped the car, killed the engine, and turned. His fingers shook as he pinched my arm hard.

Pain shot up my spine.

It wasn’t a dream. God, it wasn’t a dream.

I twisted to look out the back window. The hospital gate was still there. Perfectly clear. Mocking me. Mocking the distance.

"Can you... can you see the gate?" My voice shook.

The driver followed my gaze to the empty road behind us. The hospital was gone. Swallowed by distance. For him, there was nothing to see.

"Sir, you don’t look well," he said carefully. "We should go home. Rest. There’s nothing back there."

His words hit me like a punch.

Where he saw empty road, I saw everything.

Something ancient and terrifying had woken up in my blood. And it had stripped me of being human.

I sank back into the seat and said nothing. Because what was there to say?

───