Caught in the Alpha's Billion-Dollar Cage

Eastern Brooklyn City- 00:11 AM

"Are the goods ready?" A man's voice sounded at the empty porch. It was dark and only a bit of light from the post shone in the vast space.

Another man was waiting, leaning in a black car, smoking.

"It's already in." He answered.

The other man approached and positioned himself beside the man. Took out his own cigarette and lit it.

"How many crates is this transaction?" He questioned again.

"About 20-30 crates this time."

"It's much less than last year."

"Well. Business in Brickston is not that good, I heard."

Brickston City, the city that was made by the Mafia solely for their human trafficking business. The human trafficking business is still going strong because of this city. In this place, people are cultivated or "farmed" with the purpose of trade. The history boild down when the Mafia bought the whole city, but the people was adamant to stay and not leave their homes. Therefore, in exchange, the Mafia takes the payment and debt through the people themselves.

"Why did you reject the offer of the boss, Carter? If you just accepted, then you won't be transporting goods right now." One of the men asked the other.

James, who just smoked his cigarette, did not answer. When he saw the cargo ship arriving from afar, he threw his cigar on the ground and stepped on it.

"It's here, let's go." He said to the other man and went ahead to welcome the cargos.

The latter only followed with a sigh.

The cargo that is to be shipped to Eastern Brooklyn City arrived. The two men supervised the transfer of the goods to the plane, which will be flown to their headquarters.

After the transfer, both men went to the other plane. It was not long before they took off.

But sadly, only one plane would successfully arrive at the headquarters.

..................................

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"At 1:40 AM this dawn, a plane carrying two passengers, a pilot, and 3 stewards malfunctioned and exploded. The bodies have been found and..."- The sound of broadcasting was heard in a nearby store.

Selene Carter was walking home from work. She is now working part-time after graduating high school, and when she decided to halt her education. She was fending for herself at the moment.

"Child, want to know your fortune?"

Suddenly, an old woman's voice sounded. Selene was startled and she turned towards the origin of the voice.

An old woman was sitting at the side of the road, a mat with unusual but unique patterns was spread on the ground, and antique and some gadgets that were also unusual were displayed.

Selene studied the old woman suspiciously, seeing the white hair and the ornament hanging on her neck, also the beads that she held on her hand, she tried to smile politely.

"Uhm, no thank you.." She started but was cut off when the old woman suddenly grabbed and pulled her hand.

Selene stumbled towards her direction.

"You, child had a hard life." The old woman's voice trembled as she spoke.

"But I am blinded by your light." She whispered.

"Uhm, excuse me.." Selene tried to struggle but she was gripped hard.

"A punishment haunts you from your past life till now.." The old lady's eyes plastered on Selene's face as she grabbed her hand tightly. Her eyes were as if reading something on hers.

"Grandma, what are you saying?" Selene became creeped out, as the old lady was spewing weird words and looking at her with eyes as if looking at her deepest heart.

"Be warned, there is more to come. The payment for love will be collected in this life."

Selene also felt drawn to the eyes of the old lady. Fear started to creep in her heart. Past life? Payment? What was this about?

"Be warned! Be-"

"Hey! That's not allowed here!" A loud voice interrupted. The old woman saw the guard that was approaching and quickly let go of Selene. She hastily grabbed her things and rushed to leave.

The guard who was about to chase saw that the old woman was leaving, stopped. He turned towards the young lady.

"Are you alright, miss?" He asked.

Selene woke up from her stupor and turned to the guard.

"Uh, yes! Yes.." She responded.

"Don't mind that old lady. She's always loitering around here making some superstitions. Something might be wrong with her head, don't take her words seriously." The guard advised as he patted his uniform.

"Okay. Thank you, sir." Selene said to the guard.

The guard only nodded and walked back to his post.

Selene was left standing in her place. Her head was still circling about the old lady's words. She was curious about what those mean. But she remembered the guard's words, so she could only brush them off.

Maybe it was really just nonsense.

She sighed as she massaged her wrist and continued walking. After a number of steps, the people and establishment gradually decreased.

Walking through this dark and desolate street still gives Selene shivers. The people and vehicles became fewer and fewer until she was the only one walking on the dark street.

It was always like this going home, so Selene, despite the nervousness, kept cheering herself.

But when she saw a white van approaching, her heart immediately dropped. She felt something bad was coming.

She turned around and walked the other way. Her heart was thumping hard on her chest, and she felt breathless. Her gasp quickened as her steps also quickened.

Until her brisk walking started to become running, she was absolutely sure the white van was following her!

But how could two feet beat the wheels of a vehicle?

Not long, the white van caught up and stopped in front of her.

Selene stopped abruptly because of this and backed away fearfully.

Before she could turn around to run away, men in black immediately came out of the van and grabbed her.

Someone covered her nose and mouth and immediately she became dizzy.

Suddenly, everything went black.

When Selene opened her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar room. It was a simple and clean room, but it was desolate.

Her hand was being grabbed and she felt wet drops falling on it.

"Selene, darling."

Selene froze when she heard that voice.

It was her mother's.

Selene turned to her side and was astonished to see the woman she had been longing for through these years .

"Mom.." She softly exclaimed. She was wondering if she was real or if she was just hallucinating. Is she really with her mother?

Theia Carter saw her dazed daughter and she burst into tears even more.

"I'm sorry, darling. I'm sorry.." She kept whispering.

"Mom, is it really you?" Selene's voice trembled as she hugged back. It was her mom, finally they were together.

She quickly sat up as she held her mother.

"Mom what happened? Where have you been these years? Where's dad?" Selene's questions flowed out one after the other in a weak voice.

She didn't know how long it had been when her Mom and Dad suddenly left, leaving her to her Grandmother.

Selene Carter had a perfect life before. She had loving parents, a big house, and a comfortable life. Not until that fateful night, when her life turned completely upside down.

Some men suddenly came to their house and she could only see her mother running out and grabbing her to leave. She didn't say anything about what happened, and her Dad was nowhere to be found. After dropping by to her Grandmother's house, and assuring her everything is going to be okay, the next morning she woke up, her mother was gone.

Since then, her princess life was broken, living in other's house and doing the bidding for others.

Selene was still a bit dizzy because of the drug and sitting up abruptly made her head spin more. But she was more focused on her mother, and with what she had to say.

Theia looked at her poor daughter and her heart was clenching. She endured all these years, thinking that her family will meet again, and everything will be fine.

But now..

The two cried and looked at each other when a click was heard from the door.

The door opened and a middle-aged man walked in. He was dressed luxuriously and elegantly, with a noble temperament.

But this pretentious mask cannot hide the malice and evilness in his brows. The sharpness and cunningness in his eyes screamed that he was not a good person.

Selene then shrunk on her mother's arms.

The man stared at the two women hugging and crying in each other's arms and snorted.

"My dear, Theia. Finally the big hurdle between us is gone." He said lightly as he walked around the room. He looked at the white desolate room, and thinking of the event had just happened, he couldn't help but be in a good mood.

Theia gritted her teeth as she just held her daughter.

"Mom, who is he? What does he mean?" Selene asked as she looked warily at the man. He knew he was not a good guy. Thinking of how she was brought here, her heart tightened in nervousness. Who was he and where were they? Was she and her mother kidnapped together?

Questions filled Selene's head but she was slowly filled with fear.

The man also turned to her and smirked.

"What do I mean? Well, young lady, what I am saying is your father is dead."

Selene gasped loudly as she covered her mouth in grief. Theia's tears also burst out.

The man only looked satisfyingly at the grief of the two women.

For years he had been fascinated with Theia, Selene's mother.

This man can be said as the boss of the Mafia organization, and both Selene's father and mother were a part of it.

Theia, a beautiful and fine woman, was the heroine of countless men's fantasies. And he was one of them. As a powerful and prideful man, the boss longed to conquer this woman.

But she was married, and already had a family. But this did not stop the boss from wanting her.

When the Carter family faced a problem years ago, the Boss wanted to take advantage of the situation. He wanted to get rid of them, but Theia begged him otherwise.

And with that, the boss acquiesced. In exchange for their safety, Theia became his mistress.

The years that the Boss used Theia for his sexual favors, he still felt it was not enough. He wanted to claim her and own her completely.

But she had a family.

Well, that changes now. He wanted to break and tear her precious family, so that this woman would shatter completely, and will depend and come to him fully.

"Mom, is this true? Is dad.." Selene asked her mother while sobbing.

Theia cried with her daughter and felt her world falling apart. When she heard the news a while ago, she was devastated. She thought of her poor daughter, and now she was in front of her. But the problem is, she doesn't know what their fate will be after this.

Seeing her mother only weep, Selene can't help but hold on to her mother's arms.

"Mom, what happened? I don't understand, what happened?" She asked repeatedly.

"Selene, your Dad was in a plane crash.." Theia explained in a weak and broken voice.

Selene felt her senses explode and as if she could hear and feel her heart break.

Her Dad.

He promised her he would always be there.

No, daddy..

Theia saw her broken-hearted daughter and she felt even more hurt.

These years, she tried so much, so much so that she could protect and help her precious family.

She swallowed her pride and shame, and became the woman of this nasty man. Years of suffering, only to boil down to thiss. Theia wanted to protect her daughter, the only one left in her heart. But she doesn't know how.

She was powerless.

"Darling, I'm sorry.." She sobbed as she hugged her daughter. She can't do anything. What should she do? How could she protect her daughter from this man and from the messy organization?

The boss only looked at the heartbroken mother and daughter and snorted.

This is how the world works. The weak will be eaten by the strong.

No matter what, he will possess what he wants.

Now that the biggest hurdle is gone, all that's left is this girl.

He turned towards the young lady.

He was not planning on getting this girl, but unfortunately, her bastard father had left a debt.

But luckily, this girl would be of some use.

He stared and studied the girl. She was flawless and beautiful, with her creamy soft skin and wonderful proportions.

Deserving of being Theia's daughter. This girl will be worth millions.

And it is a waste not to take advantage of it.

Selene doesn't know how many hours it has been. She had just been with her mother, but she was suddenly taken away.

Both of them cried while gripping the hands of each other but unfortunately, she was still forcibly taken.

All she knew was now, she was in a driving vehicle, after that, she was transferred to something and all she could see was darkness.

The next thing she saw was when the light shone on her. The sudden burst of light made her squint her eyes. When her sight recovered, she saw a luxurious hall. The bright and dazzling chandeliers decorated every part of the hall.

Gold and silver were draped everywhere. The place screamed of luxury and extravagance.

The problem was, she didn't know where she was and why she was here. She feels this might be an event for the rich, and she also knows she is separated from them to a large degree.

And even literally, because as she raised her eyes, she saw she was in a cage, she was divided from the richness and beauty in front.

Before her were a bunch of men in suits and ladies in gowns. They had the look of aloofness and nobility in them. But the malice and vain in their eyes cannot be hidden. Their look dripped of danger and wickedness.

She froze and trembled in her spot. Her mind blanked as she had no idea what was happening.

Where was her mom? Where is she? What is this place?

She's scared.

Her eyes shook as she inched away from the people even though there was a cage separating her from them.

People looked at her with scorching and examining eyes. Like some goods being inspected.

They twirled placards on their hands and murmured with each other as they pointed at her.

Then she heard the host announce with his mic.

"The price starts at one million!"

It seems like she was being auctioned.

This realization struck her.

Why was this happening? What would happen to her?

Selene sat in fear as her eyes darted warily at everyone.

"10 million!"

"13 million!"

"20 million!"

"21 million!"

As the price heightened, Selene's heart felt like it was stuck on her throat. People would spend this much on humans?

Was this human trafficking?

Hearing the prices, Selene could only think of the worst on how they would use her.

Fear overwhelmed her, but it seemed she couldn't cry. She felt dry and hopeless. Darkness swirled around her.

Is this her end?

She tried hard to survive. Her life was perfect before, no matter how she fell from the bottom. Thinking about it now felt like a dream.

When she thought the worst came to her life, she was proved wrong. There was more, and she could still be pushed to the pit of the fire in the worst way.

The people continued to bid while eyeing the goods with some hungry eyes and some perverted.

In the life of the rich, the things happening behind closed doors are unimaginable. That's why this human item being auctioned was greatly perceived and the prices were already satisfactory.

Not just that. But it was not only the Eadwulf, who were werewolves, attending the event this night. Other aristocratic wolf families were also present and looking at the human display was akin to looking at a prey.

The price reached 30 million, and from here the top up amount was beginning to lessen.

"31,500,000!"

"32 million!"

"32,100,000!"

When prices rose, a man raised his placard.

"300 million."

The hall immediately quietened.

Surprise looks turned to the bidder. Even though all the attendees were filthy rich, no one would be willing to spend so much on a mere human who they might just treat as a slave.

This man..

Selene also heard the words, but it was not the amount that caught her attention.

But the voice.

It was very familiar.

Something stirred inside her. But she can't see the owner of the voice. Maybe it was because of fear and panic, but the view on her front seemed clouded, and all she could see were the same faced predators.

After the host recovered from his surprise, he immediately asked.

"300 million! Any more bidders?" He still asked even though he doubted someone could top this price.

When there were no more bids, he gladly announced.

"The goods have been sold for 300 million dollars!"

.........................

Before Selene knew it, she was suddenly put on blind fold.

Someone on both sides of her arm held her and dragged her somewhere.

"Hurry up!" A harsh voice sounded.

Selene was wearing thin clothes and sandals. She tripped while being led somewhere. Her bare arms and legs made her cold when she was greeted by the harsh wind of the outside.

"Mister, where are you taking me?" Selene tried to ask in a scared voice.

"Just be quiet! You are already sold, and we will deliver you now." The voice beside her sounded.

Selene was pushed and she could only follow.

Her legs had been trembling. She doesn't know what awaits her after this and it made her even more afraid.

When she was pushed inside in what seemed like a car, she heard the door close. Her hands had been tied so she could not get rid of her blind fold.

Selene scooted over on the corner as she sat there in trepidation. Her lips can't help but tremble.

She thought about what would happen. Who bought her? What would they do to her?

It seemed that she was still clueless of the evilness of the world that she was slapped by reality.

Someone would buy and treat a person like herself like this.

She thought of her mom and her dad..

Her Dad was now gone.

Everything happened so fast that Selene didn't know how to react and feel anymore.

Her already messed up life was even more broken.

Why was she even alive anyway..

It must be because of fear, restlessness, and tiredness, but Selene's eyes drooped, and she couldn't help but fall asleep.

As the car dorve, she was surrounded by darkness.