Becky POV
The air was chilly, and for some reason I felt danger looming
Striding down the hallway as I approached the laboratory, my wolf purred; she's just so restless. "Alpha, don't go."
"Just sleep and focus on regaining our strength," I muttered. My footsteps heavy against the cold floor, I could hear faint discussion between the masked man and someone else.
I felt my thigh; there was a dagger on me. I never left without one.
"The serum is showing some backlash," the man whispered.
"The test would proceed as expected." That was the masked man replying.
The room went silent as soon as I stepped in.
"Am I interrupting something?" I coughed.
"Not at all, Becky. We were just talking about you," the masked man's voice echoed.
Our eyes lingered for a few seconds; perhaps he still held grudges from the training room.
Beside him, the doctor smiled like he'd been waiting for me his whole life.
"Lie down," the masked man said. His tone left no room for argument.
I hesitated. My wolf snarled low in my chest; only I could feel her restlessness. But I climbed onto the bed because I needed to know what they were doing, and I wasn't going to find that out by running.
The doctor walked toward me, hands covered in gloves. "It's going to hurt a little," he muttered.
"I can handle a little pain," I replied.
His hands were too calm as he drew blood from my arm, filling one bottle, then another. The machines beside me beeped and hummed, reading something I didn't understand.
He smiled faintly. "Your blood's remarkable," he said. "Stabilized faster than any of our other subjects. Your cells don't even resist the compound."
He turned to the masked man. "We might have finally found the perfect host."
"That's good. I knew she was the one," the masked man laughed.
My jaw tightened. Host?
I sat up, ripping the tape off my arm. "What's the next step?" I asked. "And don't give me half answers."
The doctor and the masked man exchanged a look.
"Tomorrow," the masked man said at last, "you'll take the first dosage of Level One."
"Level One of what?" I snapped. "If you expect me to be your experiment, I deserve to know what's in it. What it does. What it's for."
He tilted his head, almost amused. "You think you can handle that truth?"
"I'm not a child," I said, standing. "This is my body, my wolf, my life. I want to know what the hell I'm taking."
The doctor opened his mouth, but the masked man cut him off sharply.
"Enough questions. You'll take the dose tomorrow. That's all you need to know."
Something in me flared with heat rising through my veins.
"You're hiding something," my voice loud.
He stepped closer until his breath fanned my cheek.
"Becky," he murmured, voice low, dangerous. "Do you think a few sparks of power make you special? You're still nothing without me."
"Your mom, I could kick her out; she's in such a state because of you," he taunted.
I clenched my fists. "I just want to know I'm not backing out." I suppressed my anger. He had my weakness, I sighed.
"Leave," he barked.
I turned on my heel, fury burning behind my ribs, but there was nothing I could do.
His words kept echoing. I'm the reason my mom lies there.
That night, I couldn't sleep. My veins still boiled where they'd drawn blood.
I dreamed of my wolf. She stood before me, her fur bleeding into crimson, eyes blazing like the red moon.
"Don't trust him; he's trying to change you," she said.
"Into what?" I whispered.
"Something they can control."
Then everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, the room was cold.
Too cold.
I sat up slowly. I couldn't ignore this anymore. Whatever that "Level 1" serum was, it wasn't just some enhancement drug; I could feel it. My instincts were screaming.
I slipped out of bed, grabbed a jacket, and left my room. The hallway lights flickered, and the guards had all retired to bed.
My senses were alert, and I would be able to sense if anyone were nearby or awake. My powers hide my breath and smell; I've perfected that.
The door creaked open when I pushed it. Inside, the place smelled like chemicals and test subjects.
Everything was exactly as I remembered except for the glowing vial on the far table labeled LEVEL 1.
My lips curved into a smile. I walked closer to the liquid; it was swirling like trapped spirits.
I felt it calling me. How could I hear its voice? It was just some liquid. I looked again; no twirling, it was purely my imagination. Confused, I stared at it.
"What exactly are you?" I whispered.
There was no time for this. I grabbed the serum bottle and saw an empty bottle and poured its contents inside.
The liquid pulsed under the light, reacting to the movement like it was alive. I sealed it tight, heart pounding as I tucked it inside my clothes.
I'd just stepped out when I saw a little shadow. My pulse quickened. Who was awake? And I didn't sense the person.
This person must be something to avoid my sensing.
"Aunty!!"
Oh shit it was FaeFae.
"Shush…" I quickly gestured at her.
"Why are you coming out of the lab? You're not supposed to be here," she whispered.
I quickly grabbed her and knelt down, putting a finger to my lips. "Hey… shhh, okay? I'll explain later. Don't tell anyone you saw me here, okay?"
Her eyes widened. "Will you buy me candy?"
I forced a smile. "Yes, two boxes."
She grinned, nodded, and ran off toward the bathroom. I waited until I heard the door close before slipping out, moving fast down the hall.
That little girl was something.
A lot of strange people surrounded me.
By the time I got back to my room, my hands were still shaking. I placed the stolen vial in the drawer beneath my daggers, locking it tight.
"I need to find someone who can tell me what you are," I whispered to the bottle. "Before they use you, I took you, so I'm your new master."
I leaned against the wall, breathing hard. I couldn't sleep again; my mind wandered.
I didn't know whether I'd just saved myself or made the biggest mistake of my life.
….
Next morning…
Light cut through the blind. I didn't even realize when I fell asleep I'd rush to the bathroom. There was no time. I searched on an illegal site. There was a scientist who could do this for me.
I dressed casually, grabbed my dagger and a few needles laced with wolfsbane, and learned how to pierce vital points. I trust no one.
The guards all whispered clearly, They licked Natalie's butt; that's their problem.
I turned on my earpod and strode out of the gate; no one said anything.
The street of Atlas was busy, everyone hiding secrets of their own.
Nobody was a saint here, not even a kid, so my senses were alert.
I'd just turned into an alley when I felt the presence of five people on my tail.
They weren't human. Their scent said so.
Was it the Maskman tailing me? My footsteps hurried, but I couldn't lose them.
I'm not sure; only a few wolves I've seen with the masked man were unable to outsmart me. I'd fought them before, so who was tailing me?
"Look at our little Alpha's pet," the voice was loud and mocking.
"Tired of hiding?" I hissed. I turned back; they all came out of their hiding.
I sighed. I had the serum on me; I couldn't afford to waste my time.
"Who sent you, and what do you want?" I thundered.
"Maybe we should remind her where her leash is," another one laughed.
My jaw tightened. "You picked the wrong day."
The first one lunged at me, claws out.
I ducked in one swift motion.
"She has some balls," one laughed.
The second came from behind. I kicked him square in the chest, sending him crashing onto a pile of cabbage.
The third whistled. "She bites."
I had to end this fight quickly; I had unfinished business.
I brought out my dagger. "Come at me," I hissed. "Don't be a coward."
"Oh, I see this is why you think you're a perfect match for the Alpha," one laughed.
Bunch of morons talking about Alpha. I'm no one's pet.
I dash at one, slicing deep into his arm.
"Argh… You bitch!" he gritted his teeth as his cloth stained red.
His eyes glowed as he bared his fangs at me. He clawed at me; a cut appeared on my neck.
They all lunged at me. I knew I had to end it quickly, but I'm not letting my wolf out.
My knife swung into action, aiming for the heart of the one I stabbed deep.
He growled and cried, but I dug out his heart.
"Becky, no!!!" A loud scream tore the air from across the road.