Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 791: Come Back Home

"No, you don’t understand." Ezra argued, shaking his head in denial, "Angus couldn’t possibly be Violet’s father. He died several years before she was even born."

"Or so you were led to believe by the Council of Elders, and Elijah himself, who benefited greatly from having his brother removed." Asher said it easily, like he was reading from a history textbook.

Ezra stumbled back a step, shell-shocked.

He wanted to reject it outright. After all, they were just kids. What did they know about politics that old? But this was Asher and he didn’t speak unless he had facts.

Ezra slowly lifted his eyes toward Violet and now that he truly looked at her, he saw it.

Those eyes.

Angus’ were a shade darker, colder perhaps but the structure, the intensity, and the sharpness behind them were his.

Quite alright.

"So," Nancy began slowly, her voice tight with confusion, "I don’t know werewolf history very well but isn’t Micah’s father the former Alpha King?"

Her brows were drawn together, as if she was piecing together a puzzle she didn’t like the outcome of.

"Yes, Mother," Violet answered. "Micah is my brother. My half-brother."

"Goddess above," Nancy breathed, swallowing hard.

"And he’s not the only one," Violet added.

Ezra’s head snapped up. "What do you mean by that?"

"While the wolves thought he was dead," Roman cut in casually, "Papa Angus was busy distributing his seed like some twisted cat distribution system. He has eight other children scattered out there."

"What?!" Ezra and Nancy shouted at the same time.

"Is this some sort of joke?" Ezra demanded, looking genuinely traumatized.

"Seven actually," Alaric corrected flatly. "He killed one of his daughters."

Nancy pressed a hand to her mouth. "I think I’m going to be sick."

Violet spoke, her eyes fixed on Ezra.

"I know this is too much to take in. And we’ve barely even scratched the surface of the truth. But we’re telling you now because there’s no more time. Angus is making his next move even as we speak."

It dawned on Ezra.

"You want me to tell the others," he realized.

"Unlike Elijah’s intentions, the truth cannot be buried forever," Asher said evenly. "And speaking of truth, what has happened since our disappearance?"

Ezra straightened, drawing in a deep breath.

"A lot," he said grimly. "Your alphas revolted."

"My father’s alphas," Asher corrected wryly. "Not mine. Though I can’t say I’m surprised."

His eyes moved to Ezra with quiet pride.

"Since you’re standing here alive, I assume you handled it."

"Barely," Ezra admitted. "I don’t know what to do with the surviving alphas. Or the tension in the pack. They believe you’re dead."

His gaze lifted to the mirror.

"All of you."

Griffin said. "Well, now that you’ve seen us, you can tell my mother I’m fine." He turned to the others. "All of our parents."

Nancy shook her head. "And what exactly do we tell them? That Angus, the former Alpha King, is alive and Violet’s father?" She let out a hollow breath. "I don’t see them swallowing that with everything else going on."

Ezra rubbed his hand down his face. "We already have a zombie epidemic in Aster City. Surely they can believe their sons spoke to us through a mirror."

The Cardinal Alphas went still.

Asher’s eyes narrowed instantly. "What do you mean by zombie epidemic?"

Alaric frowned. "What zombie epidemic?"

Roman blinked. "Wait. Are we approaching the apocalypse now? Because I’d like some notice before the end of the world."

"Yeah, I think I’ll sit this one out," Nancy muttered, moving to the edge of the bed. Her knees felt weak. She couldn’t stand anymore.

Ezra shot her a concerned look but didn’t push. Instead, he turned back to the mirror and, over the next few minutes, carefully narrated the events that led to the emergence of the zombie outbreak — how the first case came about, the rapid spread, the containment zones, the emergency meetings, and contingency plans.

The room grew quieter with every detail.

"At least they can’t turn werewolves into zombies," Griffin said at last, a faint relief in his voice. "That would be devastating."

"Not yet," Asher said ominously. "We would be idiots to rule out the possibility of the virus mutating. Nothing about its emergence feels natural in the first place."

"Wait a minute," Roman said slowly. "You’re trying to say this is supernatural?"

His expression shifted as a dangerous thought crept in.

"...That the goddess—"

He shook his head quickly, as if physically rejecting the idea.

"No. No way."

He looked at Asher like he’d just committed blasphemy. "Why would you even think that?"

Asher’s gaze didn’t waver.

"Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that humans have been ingesting Ignis for a while with no effect. And then suddenly one human rips out a werewolf’s heart and consumes it on the night of a full moon. Doesn’t that sound like the kind of act that invites a curse?"

"Or perhaps it ties back to the prophecy Violet told me about. The one Mary gave her about Night coming. A war." He lifted a brow. "And the goddess placing her final bet."

"Tell me then, what better way to force humans and werewolves to coexist," Asher continued, "than to give them a common enemy? Something neither side can defeat alone. That say they band together. Survive. Then peace."

Silence followed after Asher’s speech and

the frightening part was that it made sense.

Alaric finally broke it. "Supernatural event or not, Asher’s right about one thing. Viruses mutate. They strain over time."

He faced Ezra directly.

"Are we certain there are no infected werewolves? Or has it simply not shown up yet?"

Ezra rubbed the back of his neck. "I honestly don’t know. Our focus has been containment and eliminating infected humans before spread increases. Your father, Caspian is handling the experimental research. He and Patrick."

"Patrick?" all five of them said at once.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention we captured him. Elijah ordered him to come up with a cure for the mess he created. Or his death won’t be an easy one."

"As if," Asher scoffed. "I know Patrick. And something tells me he genuinely doesn’t know where things went wrong this time."

His eyes darkened.

"And if this is supernatural—"

"He won’t be able to figure it out," Alaric finished flatly.

"At least he won’t be able to spread more Ignis. That is a good thing, right?" Violet said, like she was grasping for something good in all of this.

"Mmhmm." Griffin was the only one who answered.

Then there was silence.

"You guys need to come home." Ezra finally said it.

That broke the stillness.

The Cardinal Alphas exchanged a look.

None of them spoke.

Ezra frowned at the silence. "Is there something I’m missing?"

"There’s a lot going on here, Ezra" Roman said, his usual teasing tone absent for once. "We can’t leave yet."

Ezra frowned at the mirror. "Like what?"

Violet hesitated before she confessed.

"I told you, I’m a princess," she began carefully. "And I have to go through certain trials to claim my crown. It’s not just a title. There’s a trial and a whole political mess attached to it." She swallowed. "And my birth mother is trying to help me control my powers properly. Safely."

She held his gaze.

"Trust me, the human realm doesn’t need me right now."

Ezra absorbed that, then shifted his attention.

"And what about you, Asher?"

His tone was heavier now.

"You need to come back and settle things in the West Pack. I’ve gotten most of it under control, yes. But this zombie virus means I’m not always present. And to be honest I’m not comfortable with the idea that one of your father’s blood thirsty alphas might get ideas."

Asher’s expression didn’t shift.

"I’m sorry," he said. "But I can’t come home either."

Ezra’s gaze flicked back to Violet.

"You want to protect her."

"The others can do that," Ezra pressed. "The West Pack needs you at a time like this."

Asher exhaled. "It’s not just that."

But Ezra wouldn’t have it until Alaric stepped in.

"Asher is next."

Ezra blinked. "Next?"

"To be bonded," Griffin clarified. "We believe it could trigger at any time now."

Roman said, "Which means he can’t be separated from her."

Understanding slowly dawned on Ezra’s face. No wonder, he should have known.

His shoulders eased slightly.

"I get it," Ezra said after a moment. His eyes softened as they settled on Asher. "I wish you the best, son."

He straightened.

"I’ll hold things down here. Try to keep everything from burning to the ground."

Roman smirked. "Much appreciated, papa Ezra."

But Ezra’s eyes were still on Asher.

"Just don’t take too long."

"Yeah, we can only hope the goddess doesn’t punish me any further." Asher said sarcastically.

"She won’t." Violet suddenly said. She looked at Asher with great conviction. "I can feel it in my bones. It’s going to happen soon."

"I sure hope so."