Alpha Alec's Purchased Human Bride

Author Pov.

Whispers drifted through the cool night air, weaving between the quiet houses and flickering street lights. Mothers pulled their children close, turning their heads away. From the shadows came soft gasps ….stunned, uncertain, afraid.

The figure walking down the street was impossible to ignore. A girl — completely naked — her skin and tangled hair were covered in soot and ash.

Her bare feet dragged slowly across the pavement, as if she were walking on instinct alone. She didn't notice the stares, the people pointing fingers at her, the whistles from the street boys.

She kept walking, her gaze unfocused, her expression distant. It was like the world around her didn’t quite exist, or if it did, it didn’t matter. She moved with a strange sense of purpose, as if she was going somewhere even if she didn’t know where.

A man leaned against a black car parked near the local bar. He had a cigarette between his fingers. He squinted through the haze of smoke, his eyes fixed on the girl. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he dropped the cigarette and walked toward her.

“Hey, miss,” he said.

She didn’t respond.

He looked around before reaching into his car and pulled out a blanket. He stepped close to her before dropping it over her shoulders gently, and asked in a quieter voice, “Are you okay? Do you need help?”

The girl stopped walking. Her eyes finally lifted to meet him, and she didn't say anything for a while….when she spoke, her voice was dry and cracked, like it hadn’t been used in years.

“I don’t know.”

The man frowned, his brow furrowing. “Where are your parents?”

“I don’t remember. I don’t know” she said, barely whispering.

“What’s your name?”

She blinked. Confusion passed over her face, quickly and quietly.

“I don’t remember. I don’t know.”

He let out a long breath and scratched the back of his neck. “You’re hungry, though, right?”

This time, she answered quickly. “Yes.”

“Alright,” he said, guiding her gently toward the passenger seat. “Let’s get you cleaned up and fed.”

~~~

The man checked her into a shabby roadside motel. The receptionist didn’t ask any questions, but her judgmental stare lingered a second too long.

A few minutes later, the girl stood in the small room, dressed in bum shorts and an oversized “I Love New York” T-shirt that hung awkwardly off her thin frame. She stared at herself in the mirror, like she wasn't sure it was herself in the mirror….before the man called her out for dinner.

At the diner, she ate like someone who hadn’t seen food in days. She tore into her meal with shaking hands, He sat across from her, resting his chin on his hand, watching her with a strange mix of concern and quiet amusement.

“You really don’t remember anything?” he asked after a while. “No family? No home?”

She shook her head and swallowed hard before looking up. “Is it that important to know it? You keep asking.”

He let out a soft laugh “I guess not. But you can’t go around without a name.”

She looked at him but she didn't say anything.

He studied her for a moment, then gave a small smile. “I’ll call you Iris. How about that?”

“Iris,” she repeated slowly, like she was testing it “Okay.”

“Do you remember how old you are?” he asked, shifting in his seat.

She hesitated and chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe…..twenty?”

“That’s good,” he said with a nod. “No tattoos? No rings? Any scars that stand out?”

She glanced down at herself — the ash-streaked skin, the borrowed clothes. “No,” she said, though it sounded more like a question than an answer.

“What about friends? Was there anyone you used to talk to? Anyone who might be looking for you?”

“No,” she said. This time, it came out firm and steady.

He leaned back satisfied. His smile grew just a little. “Well, Iris, it looks like you’re one of a kind. Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go to the police station and file a report. They’ll help you find your family,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.

“Okay,” she said, mouth full, gripping her burger like it might disappear.

Later that night, back at the motel, the man lingered outside her door with a set of keys in his hand.

“I’m right next door,” he told her. “If you need anything, just knock.”

“Okay,” Iris replied, clutching the blanket around her shoulders.

The door clicked shut, and silence swallowed the room. Hours passed.

Just as sleep began to take her the door burst open.

Two large men stormed in and grabbed her,She screamed and kicked, trying to break free, but they were too strong. They tied her hands, gagged her, and dragged her down the hallway.

At the bottom of the stairs, she saw him — the man who had given her food, given her a name. He was standing there with a wad of cash in his hands. He counted the bills slowly, his face calm almost bored. Greed flickered in his eyes.

“You’re a bad man,” Iris hissed.

He smirked and slipped the money into his pocket. “It’s just business, sweetheart. Someone’s got to pay for all that food you ate.”

The men gripped her tighter, their hands like iron. She cried out as they dragged her across the street , Her bare feet scraped against the rough ground, sending sharp pain shooting up her legs. They threw her into the back of a van. The cold metal floor dug into her skin. The air was thick, damp, and carried the faint smell of sea salt. It made her stomach twist.

The van came to a sudden stop. The doors flew open. Before she could react, they yanked her out and shoved her toward a dark, looming ship. They forced her into a small, damp room and slammed the door shut behind her.

And she shouted, “Where are you taking me!”

The car pulled to a stop in front of a quiet, shadow-covered building. Alec stepped out first, his tall frame cutting a commanding figure under the dim streetlights. Beside him, Scott, his loyal beta, adjusted his tie and glanced at the place with clear unease.

“This is the place,” Scott said with a hint of worry.

Alec raised an eyebrow. “And this dealer of yours... is he reliable?”

Scott nodded, though not with much confidence. “If there’s anyone who can find what we need, it’s him. But you might not like how he works, sir.”

Alec turned his sharp gaze on him. “What do you mean?”

Scott hesitated, then pulled out two black cards and held them up like they weighed more than they should. “There’s a show first.”

With a frustrated sigh, Alec took one of the cards and headed for the entrance, already running out of patience.

Inside, the lighting was low. The air buzzed with quiet conversations and the clink of glasses. A man led them to a private booth near the back. It had a clear view of the stage but was tucked away enough not to draw attention.

Alec scanned the room, unimpressed. “How long is this going to take? We’ve got work to do. The Council’s already breathing down my neck.”

Scott gave a crooked grin and leaned back in his seat. “Your mom’s on the Council. How are they breathing down your neck?”

He barely got the words out before Alec shot him a glare that shut him up cold.

“Sorry, Alpha,” Scott muttered, sitting up straight.

The lights dimmed more, and an announcer walked onto the stage. The auction for rare artifacts began. Alec barely listened. His mind was stuck on the mission, with the pressure building around him. Minutes passed slowly.

Then Scott nudged him.

“This is it,” he whispered. “The special segment they mentioned.”

Alec’s interest faded the moment the first girl stepped onto the stage. The bidding started right away. Voices called out numbers, one over the other. His jaw tightened as it became clear what was happening.

“They’re selling people?” Alec asked quietly.

Scott’s face turned pale. “I... I didn’t know, sir. When they said something extra special, I thought it was some rare artifact or—”

Alec stood up fast, his chair scraping back. “We’re leaving. This is disgusting.”

But just as he turned to go, a loud thud pulled his attention back to the stage.

A girl had been shoved to the ground. She didn’t move at first, just lay there in a heap. The crowd murmured and a few people laughed.

Then she slowly lifted her head. Her messy hair fell away from her face, revealing striking green eyes.

Their eyes met.

Alec froze.

She held his stare for a second before lowering her head again. Her voice came out soft, almost broken, but he heard it clearly.

“Please help me.”

At that moment, nothing else mattered to him.

Scott leaned in. “Are we still leaving, or...?”

“Sit down,” Alec said.

They sat back, and the announcer's voice boomed across the room.

“This one’s been a handful. Defiant, fiery, and sure to give you a good time breaking her in. You’ll have fun taming her. Let’s start the bidding at five hundred thousand.”

The numbers jumped fast. One million. Two million. Four million.

Alec’s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms.

“This is disgusting,” Scott muttered. “I can’t believe people actually do this. They should be...."

“Twenty million,” Alec said.

“They should be praised,” Scott added with an awkward laugh, trying to cover the tension.

The room went dead silent. Even the announcer looked thrown off.

“Twenty million? Going once.....twice....sold! To the gentleman with the.....uniquely colored eyes.”

Scott shifted in his seat. “Sir, your wolf is showing. Your eyes... your claws...”

Alec’s eyes burned red, his claws starting to push through his skin. He shot up from his seat and walked fast toward the bathroom. Inside, he gripped the sink and stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror. His fangs were bared, breath heavy as he fought to stay in control.

With a growl, he slammed his fist into the sink and it shattered.

He closed his eyes and took a few long, slow breaths. When he looked again, his features were back to normal. He adjusted his jacket and walked out just as the show ended.

They brought the girl to him. Her name tag read Iris. She was wrapped in a thin blanket, chains still clinging to her ankles and wrists. Red marks ringed her skin where the cuffs had dug in.

“Unlock her,” Alec said.

The handlers exchanged nervous looks.

“Sir, she’s feisty. It’s for your safety. She could try to hurt you....”

“Unlock her. She belongs to me now,” Alec said again. This time there was no room for argument.

They obeyed.

The chains dropped to the floor with a heavy clink. Iris rubbed her wrists and looked up at him, her green eyes full of fire.

She let out a dry laugh, bitter and sharp.

“What’s so funny?” Alec asked.

“For a man who looks as rich and educated as you do,” she said, “don’t you think spending ten million to buy a helpless girl is.....kind of stupid?”

Alec’s jaw tensed. “Excuse me? I just saved your life in there. You asked for help.”

“I’ve never seen you before in my life,” she said. “As far as I know, my life started about a week ago. Most of it’s been in a dark room. So tell me—when exactly did I ask you for anything?”

She took a step closer.

“And even if I did need saving, it sure wouldn’t be from someone with your morals.”

“What?” Alec asked, stunned. His voice was sharper than he meant, his confusion written all over his face.

She turned away from him, “You heard me.”

Before Alec could say anything, Scott stepped in.

“Sir, we should go. This place is starting to feel... unstable. I already spoke to the guy in charge. He said he’ll look into it.”

Alec gave Iris one last glance, frustration still simmering just under the surface. Without a word, he turned and headed for the exit. Iris followed behind them, clearly upset.

As they stepped out into the night, the cold air hit them. Iris stumbled a little, but Alec reached out and caught her by the elbow to steady her.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, pulling her arm away.

Alec raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He stepped aside and let her walk on her own.

Scott gave him a sideways look. “She’s… feisty.”

Alec smirked. “That’s putting it mildly.”