Mesmerised by the Alpha

Chapter 13. The Lab

I crept through the dim hallway, the walls narrowing slightly as I moved further from the guest areas. My shoes padded softly against the stone floor, every creak and echo making my skin prickle. I reached the door at the end of the passage, hesitated for half a second, then pushed it open.

Fluorescent lights flickered to life overhead, washing the space in a harsh, clinical glow. I blinked in surprise. The room ahead didn’t match anything else I’d seen in the hotel. It looked like… a laboratory.

Racks lined the walls, stacked with weapons that ranged from ornate, old-world blades and axes, to sleek, black rifles that looked like they belonged in a sci-fi film. Some of them glinted with inlaid runes or markings I couldn’t decipher. It felt like I’d walked straight into a war museum—if that museum also doubled as a science facility.

In the centre of the room stood a chair, bolted to the ground, its leather wrist and ankle straps hanging limp but ominous. On the far end, behind a glass partition, was something that looked disturbingly like an operating table. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic… and something earthier, like dried herbs and metal.

Curious and more than a little unsettled, I walked slowly around the room, opening some of the cupboard doors. Inside, glass jars were neatly arranged on shelves—each labelled in handwriting I didn’t recognise. Some held pale, clouded liquids with small shapes floating inside. I leaned closer. Eyes. Teeth. At least half a dozen kinds of bone fragments. I recoiled slightly, shutting one of the doors with a soft click.

Tied in bunches above a workbench were deep purple and indigo flowers—hundreds of them, hanging upside down to dry. I touched one gently. It felt soft and brittle at the same time. I picked up a tag from a nearby crate, hoping to see if they’d been grown locally.

No such luck. A shipment address confirmed they’d been imported. But from where? And why so many?

A low groan echoed from the back of the room. I froze.

It wasn’t mechanical—it was human. Or something close to human.

Heart thudding, I followed the sound, eventually finding what looked like another cupboard door, but this one opened not to shelves, but a narrow, pitch-black room beyond. I clicked on my phone torch and stepped inside.

The beam of light skimmed over what I’d hoped it wouldn’t: cages. Lining both sides of the room. Most were empty, but a few had dark stains on the metal, and I didn’t let myself look too long. A chill worked its way up my spine. This was no ordinary storage room. This was a dungeon.

I backed out, suddenly desperate to be anywhere else. Just as I re-entered the main lab, I heard voices approaching. In a panic, I spotted a large walk-in fridge and darted inside, leaving the door cracked open just enough to see.

Inside, it was colder than I expected. As I stepped back to make room, I bumped into a row of blood bags hanging from metal hooks. My skin crawled.

What the hell was this place?

I held my breath as two men entered. One of them was Nick. Of course. The other I didn’t recognise, though he wore a similar builder’s uniform.

“You need to back off,” the second man was saying. “You’re drawing too much attention. Nate said to keep things professional.”

Nick snorted. “Professional? With her nosing around? I’m telling you, she’s too curious for her own good.”

“Exactly why she needs to stay focused on reception,” the man snapped. “Let her concentrate on her job. We’ve got other things to worry about. Like finding the Alpha.”

Alpha. There it was again.

Nick grunted. “I may have a lead. Give me a few days, and I’ll know more.”

“Good,” the man said. “If you’re right, Ezra will reward us all. Just don’t screw this up.”

They hauled a couple of heavy boxes into the room and stacked them near the weapons rack. Then, mercifully, they turned and left.

“Come on—or we'll be late for dinner again. Last thing we need is more questions.”

Once I was sure they were gone, I slipped out of the fridge, wiping my hands on my jeans and trying to steady my breathing. The door closed behind me with a dull thud, locking in whatever horrors it held.

I had more answers than I knew what to do with… and even more questions.

Alpha. Ezra. Blood bags. Weapons. Cages. What was this place? Some part of me wanted to believe it was just my imagination running wild, a leftover remnant from the thriller novel I’d been reading. But deep down, I knew better.

Still, I was new. I needed this job. I liked it here, and I actually liked the people. I couldn’t just go throwing accusations around—not without knowing who I could trust.

As I made my way back to the main wing, I bumped straight into Nate.

“Whoa,” he said, catching my arm gently. “You alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I forced a laugh. “Yeah, no, I’m fine. Just… saw Nick and didn’t feel like a confrontation. Hid behind a pillar until he moved on.”

Nate narrowed his eyes slightly but nodded. “Smart move. Listen, fancy a drink before dinner?”

“God, yes.”

We made our way down to the bar. Stella was already there, swirling something pink and potent in a martini glass while chatting to Paul.

She glanced up. “What a manic day. I’ve just finished finalising the ballroom design—without Kaci’s help, I might add. Apparently, she’s holed up with a stomach bug.”

“Ouch,” I said, sliding onto a stool. “What’s the next project on your list?”

Stella sipped her drink and sighed. “The grand staircase. It’s worse than we thought. Rot everywhere. We’ve ordered new timber, but it’ll be tight getting it installed before the snow sets in.”

“You’ll pull it off,” I said honestly. “It’ll look incredible once it’s done.”

Nate chuckled. “I’m honestly shocked. You two, actually getting along? No cat claws tonight?”

Stella gave a mock gasp. “The night is still young, Nate.”

I laughed and downed the rest of my drink. “Right, I'm in need of a shower before dinner. I'll catch up with the two of you later.”

Stella smirked. “Don’t worry—I’ll keep Nate company for you.”

I rolled my eyes, smiling as I walked away.

Back in my room, I peeled off my clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm water was a blessing. I needed to wash off the unease clinging to me like cobwebs. After changing into a fresh top and jeans, I grabbed a hoodie and made a mental note to get some laundry done.

But first, I had to make it through dinner.