Chapter 753: Chapter 753: Human land

The noise had grown into a near riot with

sub-alphas raising their voices in outrage and open disagreement over the Alpha King’s demands.

For as long as they could remember, humans had been the source of their pain. They had abused, tormented, and persecuted the were-kind. So why shouldn’t they taste that same pain for once?

"That’s enough!" Alpha Leon roared, his voice thundering across the hall. And the effect was immediate.

The clamor died mid-breath, conversations snapping shut as every head turned toward him.

Alpha Leon stood rigid, fury rolling off him in palpable waves. The veins along his neck bulged, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might crack, and his eyes burned red with barely leashed power.

No one dared to speak, not when the south pack Alpha looked one heartbeat away from striking them down where they stood.

Even Alpha King Elijah paused, a brow lifting in surprise as his gaze settled on Leon. Of all the alphas present, Leon had always been the chill one, hence seeing him this furious was shocking.

Alpha Leon laughed. Except it was not the kind of laugh born of humor, rather it was loud and mocking.

"Oh, listen to yourselves," Leon said, spreading his hands theatrically. He began to mimic them, pitching his voice high and petulant.

"No, we won’t do it!"

"No, let the humans die!"

"No, it’s not our problem!"

A few growls rippled through the room, but Leon did not stop.

"Goddess, it’s like listening to frightened pups whine because the world got hard."

He took a step forward, his heated gaze sweeping across the room, pinning alphas and sub-alphas alike.

"Have you all conveniently forgotten," he continued, his voice rising, "that the only reason were-kind still exist is because we learned to live alongside humans?"

An uneasy silence followed.

"Or have you forgotten how deeply tangled our lives are now? Humans aren’t just neighbors, they’re our wives. Our husbands. Our children." He jabbed a finger toward the crowd. "They’re your nieces, your nephews, your friends."

He spread his arms wide. "So tell me, are you going to save some and let the rest rot?" Leon demanded. "Or are you planning to draw a line and say, ’Sorry, you weren’t wolf enough’?"

No one answered.

Leon scoffed. "That’s what I thought."

He turned, addressing the room again. "And what about the accords?" His voice hardened. "The treaties our ancestors bled for. The agreements that said when one species faces annihilation, the other stands with them. Have we forgotten that too? Or are we ready to tear it all apart and go back to warring with humans?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"And where exactly do you plan to wage this war?" Leon continued relentlessly. "What land do we reclaim?" He gestured at the floor beneath their feet. "Last I checked, this is called the human realm, not the were realm."

He laughed again, humorless.

"There’s no record of where we came from. No sacred homeland waiting to welcome us back. Every territory we claim sits on human land."

He paused, then added dryly, "Unless, of course, you’re suggesting we abandon everything and live deep in the forests like Neanderthals."

A few snorts escaped from the alphas despite the tension.

"Yes," Leon said mockingly. "Living in the dirt. Hunting with sticks. No electricity. No cities. Very romantic, right?"

"So," he said firmly, "stop whining like frightened cowards and do what you were always going to do in the end." He turned his back on them.

The hall fell completely silent until someone whistled from her corner.

"Damn," Irene said casually, resting her elbow against Alpha Caspian and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Didn’t know Leon had balls that big."

Caspian turned slowly, staring at her like she’d just set the room on fire.

He subtly leaned away, clearing his throat as if the physical distance might absolve him of her shamelessness.

Alpha King Elijah took over immediately.

"Thank you," he said, "for that wonderfully necessary speech, Alpha Leon."

A few heads turned toward Leon.

Leon, now standing off to the side with his arms crossed, scowled deeply, eyes sharp with irritation. He had not spoken to earn the king’s approval, and he certainly hadn’t done it for Elijah.

Elijah noticed the look and ignored it.

"At least someone here understands responsibility, and as Alpha Leon so clearly stated, whether you whine like frightened pups until tomorrow or not, the outcome remains unchanged."

His gaze hardened. "This is an order. Each pack will release a number of warriors. The exact figures will be communicated by dawn. You will comply."

A sub-alpha near the front clenched his fists. He demanded, "What about justice for our fallen brother?"

Growls of agreement followed but Elijah did not flinch.

"The perpetrator," he replied, "the source of this infection, is still at large. Justice has not been forgotten and punishment will be addressed once he is captured."

That answer did little to soothe them.

Another sub-alpha spoke up. "And what do you expect us to do when another human attacks us?"

Elijah paused, clearing his throat.

"Aster City is currently under full lock down. At this moment, we anticipate no further civilian conflict."

Still, that did not relieve them.

Then Elijah’s expression shifted, gaze so sharp locked onto the speaker, "If a human attacks you, by every means defend yourself."

For a moment, there was no sound at all.

For someone preaching restraint, Elijah was not naïve enough to demand martyrdom. And no one challenged it.

They weren’t stupid enough to be killed by the same species they were being ordered to protect.

Elijah straightened.

"If that is all," he said, "the sub-alphas are dismissed."

There was a beat of hesitation, then the sub-alphas bowed and filed out of the hall, their conversations muted.

The doors closed behind them and only the alphas, Irene, Leon, Ezra and Caspian remained.

Elijah exhaled slowly.

"Now the children are gone, let the adults speak plainly."