Chapter 751: Chapter 751: Take My Throne

Just like President Roy, Alpha King Elijah had called a meeting of his own. At that moment, all the Alphas and sub-Alphas of the various wolf packs were gathered within the king’s palace.

Unlike the others, the West Pack had the smallest representation—if not nearly nonexistent. Alpha Ezra Kings had officially taken temporary charge of the West Pack in Alpha Asher’s absence, that is, if he was still alive.

No one said it aloud, but the other sub-alphas clearly thought the cardinal alphas were gone.

It had been two weeks, and there had been no sign of them. No messages nor sightings. Many believed their parents were clinging to false hope. After all, not even the seers nor the priestesses had spoken of them and that alone was damning.

If the cardinal alphas were still alive, why hadn’t the Goddess answered? Unless—

their Alphas were not telling the whole truth.

Chattering filled the hall as the alphas fell into tense, low conversations, every discussion circling back to the virus. It was bad enough that a drug existed capable of granting humans unnatural strength, but now one of their own had been killed in a public attack.

That alone was enough to stoke their fury.

The announcement rippled through the hall like a struck bell.

"The Alpha King arrives!"

At once, conversations snapped shut mid-sentence while the wolves straightened instinctively, their spines stiffening as the massive doors opened.

Alpha King Elijah entered without haste.

He did not need guards flanking him, not when his presence alone was enough. Every wolf in the hall lowered their head in respect as he walked between them. Until he reached the front of the hall, only then did he turn.

His gaze swept across the gathered alphas and sub-alphas, assessing each of them. He counted them silently, making sure everyone was in attendance.

After a moment, he nodded once, satisfied.

"You may rise."

The wolves straightened, shoulders squaring as they lifted their heads. No one sat down and that alone spoke volumes. This was an emergency, after all, blood had been spilled.

A few whispers still continued, but they faded quickly as Elijah raised a hand.

"I will not waste your time," he said, his voice calm but carrying effortlessly across the hall. "You all know why you are here."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"There has been a rise in targeted attacks against werewolves," Elijah continued. "One confirmed death of one of our own, and alongside that, the emergence of a strange outbreak spreading through Aster City. Today, we are gathered to shed light on what is happening."

Except someone scoffed loudly.

Then a sub-alpha stepped forward. He was broad-shouldered and visibly furious, the lines of his face carved deep with grief and rage.

"Are we truly here to shed light," he snapped, "or are we here to demand justice for a wolf who was beaten and slaughtered like nothing by a human?"

A surge of growls and approving murmurs followed.

The sub-alpha’s fists clenched. "Ken was South Pack. One of ours and he was mocked while he died."

Cheers of agreement rose at that .

Alpha Leon of the South Pack stood rigid, his jaw tight. He did not join the outcry, his own grief controlled, but no less deadly for it.

"I saw the video," a different sub-alpha said bitterly. "A human laughed while Ken bled out. He fucking laughed at him as if our boy meant nothing."

Before the tension could snap, Alpha Irene stepped forward.

"You mean the same human who turned into a zombie moments later?" she said coolly. "Did you finish watching the footage?"

The sub-alpha rounded on her with a snarl. "Do not taunt me with the death of a wolf, Alpha Irene. Not when he’s not a member of your pack!"

Her eyes hardened. "It was not my pack member, but he was still a wolf. That is enough. However—" her voice sharpened "—this rage is exactly what our enemies want and we will not grant them that."

"What enemy?" someone demanded. "You keep saying that word. So who exactly are we fighting?"

Elijah raised his hand again, and the hall quieted instantly.

Elijah continued, his voice steady. "I’m sure you’ve all heard of the drug called Ignis. Yes, the drug is real, and it is being produced by a mad doctor named Patrick, who, according to my findings, is a direct descendant of Gerald. The general who started the war that nearly led to the decimation of our kind."

Snarls and growls erupted from half the wolves in the hall.

Elijah raised a hand, pressing on. "Patrick’s intent is not just to weaponize humans against us. He intends to wipe out the wolf race. So he is playing both sides and trying to ignite a second Great War."

"And whose fault is that?" a sub-alpha from the East snapped.

Elijah turned slowly. "Excuse me?"

The sub-alpha lifted his chin, unafraid. "Patrick was employed by you, Alpha King. Didn’t you hand him the very platform he needed to destroy us?"

Murmurs rippled through the hall.

Elijah’s gaze darkened. Briefly, it fell toward Irene, as though blaming her for not reigning in her people.

Irene exhaled slowly before turning to face the room. "Patrick comes from generations of werewolf hunters. With or without the Alpha king, he would have found a way to create that drug."

"But it was our Alpha King who let him rise," the sub-alpha pressed.

Irene shot back with equal intensity. "Mistakes have already been made. There is no undoing them. And we do not have the luxury of pointing fingers when there are far greater threats at hand."

"Then let him," Elijah said suddenly.

Irene frowned. "Excuse me?"

Elijah stepped forward, his boots echoing as he crossed the hall, straight toward the sub-alpha.

"What is your name?" he asked calmly.

The man stiffened but answered, "Alpha Will."

Elijah smiled almost pleasantly, but dangerous.

"Tell me then, Alpha Will," he said. "Since this is my mistake, would you like to take my throne?"