THE HEARTLESS ALPHA

Episode 6: The Burning Crystal

I don’t know how long passed.

When I woke up, the old man was leaning over me, laughing to himself.

"I can’t believe how much of a coward I was." He sounded like he was talking to no one but himself.

Then the dead doctor’s body on the floor moved.

The sound of bones cracking filled the room. His skin tore open.

In one second, the doctor transformed into a wolf.

Rage flashed in the old man’s eyes.

He stared at the wolf. Meanwhile I felt sick all over again watching it. I couldn’t understand what was happening. I wanted to believe it was a nightmare, but this was a horrifying reality.

And then,

BAM!

The ICU door burst open with a loud crash.

Another stranger stepped inside. He looked strange and ancient. Long hair, eyes carrying the weight of centuries, and a restless anxiety in him, like he was terrified of losing someone.

The new man came straight to my bed.

He looked me up and down, then asked immediately:

"Is the Young Alpha alright?" There was panic in his voice.

"Who are you people?" I said weakly. "Get out of my room!"

I was angry at them now.

"Your act is never going to end, is it?"

The old man came closer and sat down beside my bed.

I was stunned.

Who was this? And who was he calling "Young Alpha"? I frowned at the old man and asked.

He took a deep breath.

"James, this is the truth I’ve been trying to tell you. You’re not a normal human. You’re an Alpha. You’re the heir to Wolf Land."

"Wolf Land?" I laughed. "What nonsense is this? I’m not an Alpha. I’m just James Albert. A normal person."

The old man shook his head.

"No, James. You’re not normal. Listen."

He held up a finger.

"In our world there are six great packs. Every pack has one Alpha. The Alpha is the strongest. Below him are the Betas, who fight and support the Alpha. And at the bottom are the Omegas, the weak ones, the ones who are protected."

The old man paused to catch his breath, then continued.

"And you, you are the Alpha King of all six packs. Your blood carries a power that was lost two centuries ago."

My head was spinning.

"Wait, wait. What are you talking about? Wolves? Packs? Alpha King? I’ve never heard anything like this in my life."

I looked at the old man in disbelief.

"Are you telling me the plot of some movie?"

The old man’s eyes turned red.

"You don’t remember anything from your childhood. Because your memories were sealed! Your father did it himself! To keep the enemies from reaching you. And right now, your father and your mother need you."

I said angrily, "Enough! I don’t understand any of this. Wolf Land, Alpha, Beta. You people have lost your minds. My mother died eight years ago, and my dad is right here with me."

Suddenly another wave of pain tore through my body. My heart pounded like it was going to rip through my chest.

The machines started beeping faster.

The old man stood up. He looked at me and said quietly:

"Don’t be afraid, James. Pain is the first sign of power. When your wolf awakens, you’ll understand everything."

I was about to scream when darkness swallowed my vision.

Don’t worry. When the time comes, the truth will reveal itself to them.

The college gate.

I walked in silently.

I didn’t want to come. I didn’t want to face those rotten rich kids. But I couldn’t bear to worry my dad, so I forced myself to show up today.

My head was down so no one would look at me. My old bag was clutched in my hand.

There wasn’t a single mark on my body. Not on my hands. Not on my feet.

The only thing visible was the dark circles under my eyes from not sleeping all night.

The moment I stepped into the corridor, it felt like every pair of eyes was on me. I ignored them and kept walking.

"Wait, isn’t that her?"

"The one from the party? The one James saved?"

"She had such deep wounds. How is she healed already?"

One of Reyan’s friends said it, stunned. He’d been there that night too.

Seeing him made my heart sink. The horror of that night flashed in front of my eyes. On instinct, I sped up.

And then Bella was standing right in front of me.

She was with her trashy group. Red dress, sharp lipstick, like she didn’t feel a shred of guilt for trying to ruin someone’s life.

"Shameless people," I muttered under my breath. Fury burned through me, but I tried to walk past her.

When she saw me, her eyes widened.

"Stop right there," Bella stepped forward. Her voice dripped with venom.

"What kind of miracle is this? You were in the hospital yesterday.

Healed this fast? Or did James pay for some new kind of plastic surgery?"

She gave a mocking smile.

"I have to admit, you’re really good at trapping rich guys in your little web."

The students laughed.

I took a deep breath. Her pettiness made me furious, but I tried to keep myself calm.

"Enough, Bella," I heard my own voice come out hard, even though I didn’t want it to.

"I’ve never met a girl as vile as you.

You’re a girl yourself, and yet you were going to ruin another girl’s reputation.

Didn’t you think about that for even a second?

You’re heartless."

Silence fell.

Bella’s face went red.

She hadn’t expected a "poor" girl like me to talk back to her like that.

"Are you going to lecture me about morals?" Bella screeched.

And the next second—

SLAP!

Bella’s hand came down hard across my cheek.

"Shut your mouth!" she hissed.

"If you mention the party again in this college, I’ll make your life hell.

You should be thanking me that I didn’t tell everyone how you were begging Reyan to touch you.

But you have no shame. Fine. I only told a few people. Next time I’ll announce it on the college mic.

Got it?"

My cheek burned. Tears filled my eyes.

But I didn’t raise my hand.

Then a voice came from behind me.

"Wow. What a scene."

Reyan walked up and put his arm around Bella’s shoulder.

"Look everyone, this is our college’s ‘innocent’ girl.

Cries about being poor in the day, and warms rich guys’ beds at night."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Reyan pointed his phone camera at my face.

"So, care to tell us how you managed to trap someone like James Albert?"

He grinned, cruel and sharp.

"How much did you get in the deal? Girls like you only exist to rob rich men."

He stared straight into my eyes with such arrogance I felt like I was going to die of shame.

Then Bella added, laughing, "I actually felt bad for her.

I thought, let me help a poor girl.

But she used that kindness against me."

The whole college was staring at me. Something inside me was breaking. I felt disgust for the world, for my life. It was hard just to stay standing.

Zooi’s curses. Bella’s slap. Reyan’s video.

All of it crashed down on me at once.

And then helplessness and rage forced me to run.

Because I knew how this world worked. In a place built by the rich, only the powerful get heard. Here, my explanation, my truth, meant nothing.

"Hey! Where are you running?" Reyan shouted after me.

"Answer us! Does the truth hurt too much?"

I didn’t stop. In that crowd, I couldn’t see a single person on my side. They were all with them.

I went straight to the loneliest corner of the college.

Behind the old library, where no one ever went.

I slid down against the wall.

Pulled my knees to my chest. And broke down sobbing.

"God... take me. I’m so tired.

Disrespected every day. Hurt every day. Why did you leave me alone in this world, Mom?" I cried out to her.

"I don’t want to live anymore. Take me with you. I don’t have the strength to fight this cruel world anymore."

Dizziness and a half-faint state washed over me.

And then something happened that I never could have imagined. Not in my wildest thoughts.

I was begging for death.

So then what was this?

--------------------

I was completely stunned and shaken. What was even happening?

In this deserted corner of the college, the cold had grown worse. A chill cut through the air, sinking straight into my bones.

Then, the old crystal around my neck, the one I had always thought was just a worthless stone, suddenly began to glow. A deep, blue light poured out of it.

Before I could even understand what was happening, something appeared in front of me. A blinding, shimmering light took shape. And standing in the middle of that light was no one else but my MOTHER.

For one second, my heart forgot to beat. I was frozen in shock. My mother, the woman who had died giving birth to me, the woman I had never seen alive, was standing right in front of me. Breathing. Real.

Her face was radiant, and in her eyes was a love so deep it hurt.

I stumbled back, my voice trembling. "Mom? Mom, you? How is this even possible?"

I was still trying to steady myself when she looked at me. Her voice was soft, but it sank straight into my soul.

"Allen, my child. You are not alone. I have always been with you. You just couldn’t see me."

Her words broke something inside me. "Listen to me very carefully, my baby. I may not be able to come to you like this again. But my words, my voice, they will stay with you forever."

Tears started falling before I could stop them. I didn’t know whether to run to her and hug her, or just stand there and listen.

She lifted her glowing hand toward the crystal at my throat and said with quiet gravity:

"Allen, this crystal glowing around your neck is not an ordinary stone. It is the mark of our ancestors."

She continued, her eyes filled with both love and worry.

"Allen, this crystal is both a power and a curse. You have to protect it from the wrong people. This crystal will lead you to your destiny. It will lead you to your fated mate."

Her voice grew firmer.

"Allen, this crystal holds many secrets. From now on, you must be strong. You must fight with courage. This world will not let you live quietly. You are not a weak, ordinary girl. You are a fated mate. You are a queen."

"Mom, I don’t understand any of this." I sobbed, staring at her. "How did I go from being a nobody to a queen in one day?"

Seeing the fear on my face, she stepped closer. There was urgency in her voice now.

"Allen, don’t be afraid. The crystal itself will teach you in time. But remember this for now. You will have to face people like Bella, Reyan, and Zooi on your own. This world only belongs to those who fight with strength and courage. The weak get crushed. You have to teach them a lesson. You have many battles ahead of you."

Then she looked straight into my eyes and said the one thing that burned itself into my heart:

"Allen, no one else can change your circumstances. You have to change them yourself. A person’s life doesn’t change until they decide to fight for it."

My eyes flew open.

Guards and students were standing around me, staring with shock and concern.