Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 799: Turn One Of Their Own

"Tell me something," Elijah said as they continued down the corridor. Wolves passed them along the way, lowering their heads respectfully as they greeted their king. Neither Elijah nor Caspian returned the greetings. Not while they were deep in conversation.

"Is it possible for a werewolf to get infected?"

Caspian blinked at the sudden question.

"Huh?"

He quickly recovered. "So far we haven’t received any report of an infected wolf. That might simply be because no werewolf has been bitten yet. Our research has been focused on finding a cure rather than testing cross-infection between species."

Elijah pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"That might become a problem."

Caspian frowned slightly. "How so?"

"Some alphas are still unhappy with my decision to send their wolves to assist the humans," Elijah replied. "They believe I’m allowing President Roy to boss them around when wolves are supposed to be an independent nation under the Accords."

"Yes, independent," Caspian said carefully, "but still accountable to human authority."

That was the foundation of the Accords.

After the Great War between wolves and humans, the treaty had been written to maintain peace between both races. Wolves had been granted limited autonomy. They could choose their own leaders, follow their traditions, and govern their packs according to their own laws.

But complete independence had never been part of the agreement.

The wolves answered to the Alpha King. And the Alpha King ruled in cooperation with the human President.

Because the United Dorminia contained far more human territories than wolf lands, there was an unspoken understanding within the Accords: the human president ultimately held the greater sovereign authority.

It was a delicate balance.

Which was why every presidential election mattered deeply to the wolves. A fair-minded leader meant stability. A prejudiced one could make life unbearable for the packs, even with the protections written into the treaty.

At the heart of the Accords was one simple command: Wolves and humans must live in harmony.

And it was the duty of both the Alpha King and the human President to maintain that fragile peace.

Elijah stopped walking and turned to face Caspian.

"They’re using that as an excuse not to help," he said coldly. "The pack alphas want the confirmation that wolves cannot be infected before they risk more of their soldiers."

His jaw tightened.

"Not to mention..." His eyes darkened. "President Roy has been getting on my nerves lately."

Caspian said nothing as Elijah continued, irritation creeping into his voice.

"He seems to have forgotten something very important. Humans are the ones in danger here, not the other way around. He should be groveling for my assistance, not making demands."

He folded his arms.

"So yes. That information could be very useful right now."

Caspian scratched the back of his head thoughtfully.

"I would look into it," he said slowly, "but we don’t have an active test subject—"

"Then make one."

Elijah’s voice cut through the hallway like a blade.

Caspian froze.

His eyes narrowed as the meaning dawned on him.

"You want me to infect one of my people?" he asked incredulously.

Elijah shrugged as if the matter were trivial.

"This is a research facility, and you’re a pack leader. I’m sure it won’t be difficult for you to find a suitable subject."

"You want me to deliberately infect one of my own wolves?" Caspian pressed, disbelief sharpening his voice.

"Oh, spare me the self-righteous speech, Caspian," Elijah replied with a dismissive wave. "You’re a scientist. Don’t pretend you haven’t done far worse in the name of discovery."

"But even then," Caspian said, struggling to remain calm, "we’re dealing with something that—"

"Dear gods," Elijah interrupted with a dramatic groan. "I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I’m beginning to miss your wife."

Caspian looked at Elijah with shock. How could he say that? Not that he blamed him.

Zara Storm had never been burdened with the same hesitation Caspian often carried. Where he weighed ethics, Zara simply acted.

Caspian had considered experimenting on werewolf tissue samples instead. But even he knew that living subjects produced far more accurate results.

Still, intentionally infecting one of his own, the thought sat poorly in his chest. It would have been easier if they had captured an already infected wolf.

Elijah seemed to sense his hesitation.

"Look at it this way," he said casually. "If werewolves are immune, then we gain valuable information and reassure the packs. A win for everyone."

He leaned slightly closer.

"And let’s be honest, Caspian. This would be a controlled experiment. Pick one of the wolves from your dungeon. Conduct your tests. Then bring me the results I want."

Caspian’s brows lifted slightly.

"And if werewolves can be infected?"

Elijah’s expression hardened.

"Then we find the Noah boy much faster," he said flatly. "Otherwise he might very well exterminate both species."

Caspian swallowed.

As much as he hated the idea, Elijah was not entirely wrong. If wolves could fall to the infection as well, then the threat they were facing was far worse than anyone had imagined. And discovering that truth sooner rather than later might be the only chance they had to survive.

"Also you might want to conduct that experiment sooner rather than later," Elijah said.

Caspian frowned. "How soon are we talking about?"

"Haven’t you gotten the memo? I have a meeting with the alphas in two days. They will want answers by then."

Caspian froze.

"Two days?" he exclaimed. "That’s hardly enough time to—"

"Then I suggest you start now, Alpha Caspian." He placed a firm hand on Caspian’s shoulder. "Your time is ticking."

Caspian felt the weight of the words settle in his chest. Elijah squeezed his shoulder once before letting go and turning away as if the matter had already been decided.

"Now," Elijah added, "if you would be kind enough to point me toward Patrick’s cell, that would be helpful."

He paused briefly, his smile sharpening.

"If only Patrick were a werewolf," he mused. "That would have made your decision far easier, wouldn’t it?"

Caspian’s expression hardened. One of the wolves stationed down the corridor stepped forward as if he had been waiting for the order all along.

Caspian gestured toward him.

"Take His Majesty to Patrick’s cell."

The guard bowed slightly. "Yes, Alpha."

Elijah began walking with the guard, but Caspian’s voice stopped him.

"I still need him."

Elijah glanced back over his shoulder.

Caspian didn’t elaborate, but the meaning was clear.

Patrick was still valuable and couldn’t be killed yet.

Elijah lifted a hand in a lazy gesture.

"The man is human," he said smoothly. "He’s not mine to kill. Am I wrong?"

Yet the menacing smile on his face told a very different story.

Then he turned and followed the guard down the corridor toward Patrick’s cell.

"Here," the guard said, unlocking the door and pushing it open.

Elijah stepped inside without hesitation. The heavy door shut behind him with a dull metallic thud.

Patrick sat up immediately the moment Elijah entered. His expression turned wary at once. The chains that had restrained him earlier were gone now that he was back in his cell, but the collar still rested tightly around his neck.

He watched Elijah carefully.

Elijah, meanwhile, seemed in no rush. He strolled further into the room, glancing around casually as if inspecting a guest chamber rather than a prison cell.

And truth be told, it barely resembled one.

The room held a comfortable bed, a small desk, and a chair. In one corner stood a compact cubicle that served as both toilet and shower. Patrick had been treated well here, all things considered.

Elijah clasped his hands behind his back.

"Hello, old friend. I’d say you’re having quite the comfortable stay."

Patrick’s eyes hardened.

"Have you come to kill me?"

Elijah laughed.

"Not yet."

He stepped closer, his voice lowering.

"But I will."

Patrick gulped nervously.

"I won’t tell you when," Elijah continued almost playfully. "Think of it as my own little game. I’ll keep you on your toes while you wonder every day whether this is the day you finally die."

Patrick studied him for a long moment.

Then quietly, he said, "I’m sorry."

Elijah blinked in surprise. Then he burst into laughter.

"Is that supposed to change my mind about you?"

Patrick shook his head.

"I didn’t mean for it to go this far."

"Oh yes," Elijah replied mockingly. "You only meant to destroy the wolves. Funny how karma works, isn’t it?"

Silence stretched between them. Then Elijah’s expression darkened.

"I trusted you," he said, his voice tightening with anger. "I placed the fate of my entire kind in your hands."

Patrick scoffed.

"Oh please. You’re no different from me, Elijah," Patrick continued bluntly. "You only wanted a way to control the Cardinal Alphas. Don’t pretend otherwise. It’s not my fault your little plan blew up in your face. So for once, take responsibility for your own mistake."

Elijah’s face twisted with rage, murder blazing in his eyes.

"How dare—"

At that exact moment, his phone rang.

He would have ignored it, but the caller ID read Christian.

The rage on his face slowly cooled as he answered.

"What?" he barked into the phone.

"We have a problem."

He listened in silence while Christian briefed him. By the time the call ended, Elijah’s expression had turned dark and calculating.

He looked back at Patrick, deciding he simply wasn’t worth the effort. Without another word, Elijah turned and walked out of the cell.

The moment he stepped into the corridor, Elijah pulled out his phone again and dialed another number.

His nephew. Micah.

That little bug had better not hold out on him this time.