Billionaire Byte: Geek to Alpha

Project Guardian

Young Demetri's POV

I was trapped in a land without land and where darkness ruled.

My name is Demetri Alexei Volkoff, a werewolf and an orphan. If it weren't for the Blue Moon pack's alpha taking me in when I was three, I might have ended up as a rogue or worse. My early memories are fuzzy, but I can recall some fragments. I remember arriving at the pack, the traumatic loss of my parents during the shadow wars for territory in our old pack, and the alpha of the Blue Moon pack extending his protection to me. There's another memory, too, one that involves a boy who was taken in by the pack. He didn't know his birthday or age; all he had was a name. He was a runt, the smallest and most vulnerable among us. Even though he was clever and had a sharp mind, the other pups, including the orphans like me, used to taunt and bully him relentlessly.

"What are you doing here, you little runt?" Marcus sneered as he shoved young Nathaniel to the ground.

"Get to work, runt. Do our homework, and then our chores," another pup chimed in, joining the torment.

"Hey, leave him alone."

"And who are you?"

"Me? I'm his brother."

From that day onward, Nathaniel and I were inseparable. We protected each other, and I watched out for him, especially when he faced the constant teasing and bullying. But then, one night, I heard what I thought was a noise coming from outside the pack house. I assumed it was the other pups up to no good, perhaps sneaking out to smoke or cause trouble. I decided to investigate, but before I could figure out what was happening, I was engulfed by a blinding light.

"Demetri?" Nathaniel's voice called out, filled with concern and confusion.

Nathaniel's POV

I found myself in a formless void, surrounded by darkness. A faint cry for help pierced through the obscurity.

"Hello? Can anyone hear me?" I called out, my voice echoing into the abyss. "Hello?"

"Is that you, Demetri?" The familiar voice responded. "Yes, I'm here. Reach out and take my hand."

As I struggled to make sense of this surreal encounter, I was abruptly jolted awake. My lab was dimly lit, and the television in the background was blaring the news. "And in other new another wolf has gone missing." I heard in the background. It was five o'clock in the morning, and I'd apparently drifted off to sleep at my workbench.

"What's the status on Project Guardian?" I inquired, rubbing my eyes to shake off the remnants of the dream.

"She's looking good, Sir, stable for now," Ronni, one of my dedicated employees, responded.

"Double-check the numbers and make sure she's ready for testing by Monday morning," I instructed. "We need to take her for a test run."

A few moments later, I was on a phone call with Mr. Bryce, a potential client. His voice held a hint of skepticism.

"Mr. Alistair, I'm glad to hear from you," he said. "I must say, I was concerned after our last meeting. Something urgent came up?"

"Mr. Bryce, I apologize for any inconvenience," I replied. "I assure you, Project Guardian is on track. I had a prior commitment that couldn't be rescheduled. Rest assured, everything is in order."

Mr. Bryce seemed momentarily appeased by my reassurances, but he pressed on with a line of questioning.

"Your commitment to this project is paramount, Mr. Alistair. You understand the stakes. We've invested a great deal of trust and resources in ByteTech Industry, and Project Guardian is a game-changer."

"I fully comprehend the significance of this project, Mr. Bryce," I responded, my tone steady. "Rest assured, Project Guardian will meet and exceed your expectations. Our team has dedicated themselves to its success."

With that, Mr. Bryce appeared to be more at ease, and we discussed the next steps for the project...

Project Guardian wasn't just any ordinary piece of technology. It was a groundbreaking device, housed in a pristine gold-plated box, that possessed the power to manipulate dimensions, open portals, and explore the mysterious realms that lay beyond our understanding. In simple terms, it could pierce the fabric of time and space, opening doorways into parallel universes, alternate realities, and even the elusive dark realm.

The device's true potential was awe-inspiring. With Project Guardian, we could traverse across boundaries that were once thought impossible to cross. It held the power to locate individuals who had vanished into the vast expanse of these mystical realms, a power I intended to use to find my younger brother, Demetri.

As I gazed at the device on my lab table, the answer to the enigma of Demetri's disappearance seemed closer than ever. I was determined to push the boundaries of this technology and unearth the truth about what had happened to him. Project Guardian was my beacon of hope, promising to breach the barriers of reality and reunite me with the one person I loved more than anything in the world.

"Marissa, I need someone to assist me with Project Guardian," I called my assistant and told her to find someone suitable for the task.

"What about Ms. Rae, sir?" she offered. "Ms. Rae would be an excellent assistant; she's been performing exceptionally well in her current role. Her supervisor has been thoroughly impressed with her work."

"Get Ms. Rae in here," I instructed, "and explain the details to her."

Marissa nodded and promptly went to find Naomi Rae. A short while later, Naomi entered the lab, her curiosity evident in her expression.

"Ms. Rae, thank you for joining us," I began, giving her a warm yet professional smile. "I understand you've been performing exceptionally well in your current role, and I'm impressed with your work. But now, I have a special assignment for you. We're working on a highly confidential project called Project Guardian, which is of utmost importance to the company."

I gestured toward the intriguing gold-plated box on the lab table. "This is Project Guardian, and it has the ability to explore different dimensions, manipulate time and space, and more. It's a powerful tool, and we need someone with your skills and dedication to assist with its development."

I paused for a moment to gauge Naomi's reaction before continuing. "This project is strictly confidential, and the details of your involvement will be disclosed on a need-to-know basis. But I believe you have the potential to make a significant contribution. Are you willing to take on this role and become a vital part of Project Guardian?"

"So, that means from now on, you and I will be working closely together until Project Guardian is ready," I explained to Naomi as we walked to my office.

She nodded, a hint of apprehension in her eyes. "Understood, Mr. Alistair. I'll do my best to assist with Project Guardian in any way I can."

As we delved into the intricacies of the project, it became clear that we would be spending a significant amount of time together. Our working relationship was about to evolve in ways we hadn't anticipated.