Bound by the Alpha

The bar

As Roberta arrived at the school gate, she could feel the weight of the stares boring into her back, whispers of "nerd" and "bookworm" following her like a shadow. Ignoring the taunts, she quickened her pace, determined to reach her class on time.

Breathless and slightly disheveled, Roberta slid into her seat just a minute after Mr. Fred's arrival. The stern teacher glanced her way, his expression softening slightly when he saw her harried appearance. "Roberta, is everything alright?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of concern.

"Yes, Mr. Fred. I'm sorry, I lost track of time," Roberta replied, relieved by his understanding. She quickly settled into her seat as the lesson began.

"Wow, so he could let her seat?" student whispered amongst themselves with a tone of jealousy.

Chemistry class passed in a blur of formulas and equations, Roberta's mind racing to keep up with the fast-paced instruction. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place among her more confident peers.

As the bell rang signaling the end of class, Roberta gathered her belongings and made her way to her locker. Amidst the chatter of students exchanging gossip and laughter, she felt a familiar pang of loneliness wash over her.

Returning her books to her locker, Roberta was accosted by a group of guys, their laughter grating on her nerves. "Hey, nerd, what's with the rush?" one of them sneered, blocking her path.

Ignoring the jibe, Roberta brushed past them, her heart pounding in her chest. As she navigated the crowded halls, she caught glimpses of other girls whispering and pointing in her direction.

About few hours later, she was done for the day's class. As she made her way out of the classroom with her bag, she could feel the weight of her classmate's judgment, Roberta hurried out of the school and made her way to her part-time job at the convenience store. Despite the long hours and menial tasks, it was a welcome respite from the pressures of school.

At Ketax's enterprises,

Ketax Blake sat behind his sleek mahogany desk, the epitome of authority and power. His office, adorned with modern furnishings and muted colors, reflected his meticulous nature. As the alpha of the Shadowheart pack and CEO of Blake Enterprises, a prominent multinational corporation, Ketax exuded an air of dominance that commanded respect.

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow over the spacious office. Ketax leaned back in his leather chair, his piercing gaze fixed on the documents scattered before him. He had a busy day ahead, filled with meetings and negotiations, and every detail needed to be meticulously planned.

Just as he delved into the first report, his office door swung open, and his secretary, Emily, hurried inside. She was a young woman, efficient and capable, but prone to occasional mistakes under the weight of Ketax's demanding expectations.

"Good morning, Mr. Blake," Emily greeted breathlessly, her cheeks flushed with exertion. She held a stack of files in her arms, her usually composed demeanor slightly frazzled.

Ketax raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Good morning, Emily. What do you have for me today?"

Emily hesitated for a moment before placing the files on Ketax's desk. "I have the reports you requested for today's meeting with the board of directors," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ketax glanced down at the files, his brow furrowing in confusion. "These don't look like the financial projections for the third quarter," he remarked, his tone sharp with disapproval.

Emily's face paled, realizing her mistake. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Blake. It seems I've given you the wrong files," she stammered, her hands trembling slightly.

Ketax's patience wore thin as frustration bubbled within him. He prided himself on his meticulousness and attention to detail, and Emily's oversight grated against his sense of control.

"This is unacceptable, Emily," Ketax admonished, his voice cold and clipped. "I expect nothing less than perfection from my staff, especially when it comes to important matters like this."

Emily swallowed hard, her eyes downcast with shame. "I-I understand, Mr. Blake. It won't happen again," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Ketax's anger simmered beneath the surface, his frustration boiling over at Emily's repeated mistakes. In a swift motion, he reached for the intercom on his desk, pressing the button with authority.

"Michelle, please come to my office immediately," Ketax commanded, his voice brooking no argument.

Within moments, his assistant Michelle entered the room, her expression composed and professional. "You called for me, Mr. Blake?" she inquired, her eyes darting between Ketax and Emily.

Ketax's gaze hardened as he addressed Emily. "Emily, I'm afraid your services are no longer required. Michelle will escort you out and handle your termination paperwork," he stated, his tone final and uncompromising.

Emily's eyes widened in shock, her mouth forming a silent protest. But Ketax's decision was irrevocable, his reputation for precision and control outweighing any sentimentality.

As Emily gathered her belongings and left the office under Michelle's escort, Ketax was left alone with his thoughts. Though he prided himself on his unwavering discipline, the dismissal of his secretary left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Nah, there is always room for replacement." He concluded.

Zara had achieved her goal of securing a position within the company. As she wandered through the company library, she observed the various pack members engrossed in their reading, while other staff members bustled about with their tasks.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as a young woman entered with a distressed expression. Concerned murmurs spread among her colleagues as she broke into tears. Zara stood frozen, unsure of what had transpired to upset the usually composed employee.

"Maria, what's wrong?" one colleague inquired, her voice laced with worry. Maria let out a heavy sigh before speaking. "Emily submitted the wrong file to Mr. Ketax, and he fired her," she sobbed, prompting gasps of shock from those around her.

"A simple mistake like that?" another employee whispered incredulously. Zara couldn't help but shake her head in disbelief. "Fired for a mistake?" she muttered to a fellow pack member beside her.

"You know how ruthless Alpha Ketax can be," her companion replied somberly. Zara sighed, realizing the unforgiving standards that were expected within the company. "He expects perfection from everyone," she remarked, gesturing to the focused individuals around them.

"Yeah, but they'll survive him," Zara replied with resignation, knowing that his employees were resilient enough to weather such challenges.

Deciding to see Alpha Ketax, Zara confided in her fellow pack member, Felicia. "I should go see Alpha Ketax now," she whispered, preparing to confront him about pack matters.

"Why?" Felicia asked, grabbing her arm in concern. Zara reassured her with a smile. "It's not related to this incident; it's about the pack," she explained before making her way out of the library, steeling herself for the encounter with their formidable Alpha.

In less than 5 minutes,

Zara approached Alpha Ketax's office with a sense of trepidation, knowing well his reputation for sternness. As she entered, she found him seated behind his imposing desk, his expression unreadable.

"You gave a knock on the door twice and I didn't reply, what made you think you could walk in?" he asked her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She apologized immediately.

"Alpha Ketax, I need to speak with you," Zara began, her voice steady despite her nerves.

He glanced up briefly from his work, his gaze piercing. "If this is about the employee I dismissed, there's no need to dwell on it," he stated firmly.

Zara hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "No, it's not about that," she replied, trying to keep her tone respectful. "I wanted to ask for your permission to go see a movie tonight with Gabriella. She's been wanting to go for weeks, and since you're her brother, I thought I should ask you first."

Alpha Ketax's expression softened slightly at the mention of his sister's name. "Gabriella?" he repeated thoughtfully. "Yes, she's mentioned it. However, I have plans for tonight. I'll be heading to the bar for a drink."

Zara's heart sank at his response. She knew how much Gabriella had been looking forward to the movie night. "Please, Alpha Ketax, it would mean a lot to her," she pleaded, hoping to sway his decision.

But he remained firm. "We can go another night. Tell Gabriella we'll go tomorrow instead," he replied, his tone final.

Disappointed but knowing it was futile to argue further, Zara nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Alpha Ketax," she replied before turning to leave his office, resigned to breaking the news to Gabriella.

"For goodness sake, Gabby is not a child." He muttered lowly beneath his breath.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city.

As Roberta manned the cash register, scanning items and exchanging pleasantries with customers, Roberta couldn't shake the feeling of being different, of not quite belonging. But as the day drew closer and she counted out her meager earnings, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her independence and resilience. Despite the challenges she faced, Roberta was determined to carve out her own path and prove her worth to the world, most especially her uncle, James.

Just then, she got a text from her uncle. She didn't have a choice but to check out what he said and immediately, a frown plastered on her face as she read the text, "Two bottles of beer and do not be late."

She clicked her tongue, "Pft!"

"Do you really have to do this all the time?" she scoffed before throwing her phone into her pocket to resume her work.

The images of her going to the bar again to get a drink and be stopped by both old men and young men who reeked alcohol made her feel some kind of curl in her tummy and she squeezed her face immediately.

"Oh, no"' she groaned lowly.

As she stared at the clock, she saw she had less than an hour to leave work and head to the bar, "I think I might need some pepper spray."