Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 823: Meeting Of Alphas

A ripple in the fabric of reality had Griffin stepping out of it.

The sun shone overhead as he looked around the spacious compound, immediately recognizing it as the West pack house.

He was still taking in his surroundings when the fabric behind him tore open again and a startled scream made him whip around.

Roman came hurtling straight toward him.

Instinct took over. Griffin reached out and caught him effortlessly in his arms, cradling him like a child.

For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other.

Griffin had one arm under Roman’s legs and the other around his back, while Roman’s arm was looped loosely around Griffin’s neck.

"Well," Roman drawled, "this is comfy, darling."

Click.

The cocking of guns snapped through the air.

Griffin dropped Roman at once, raising his hands into the air. Roman hit the ground with a hard thud.

"Aww. Not cool," Roman complained from where he lay sprawled face-first on the ground.

But Griffin was already standing still, hands raised, while armed guards closed in around them.

"Alpha Griffin?" One of the soldiers recognized him, his eyes widening in shock. Then his gaze flicked down to Roman, "And you..."

"Yeah. The one and only Roman Draven." He threw up a peace sign, looking absurdly relaxed for someone still lying face-first on the ground.

The guard gestured to the others, and two men quickly stepped forward to help Roman to his feet.

Now that Griffin had a proper look at him, he realized the soldier was Mark, Ezra’s beta from his pack in the city.

Mark shook his head like he still couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. "When Ezra said one of you might be returning soon, I thought he’d finally lost his mind. You guys have been gone so long we all thought you were dead."

"Well..." Roman dusted himself off. "Clearly, the universe loves us too much."

Griffin ignored him. "Where’s Ezra? We need to speak to him."

Mark scratched the back of his head. "About that, you just missed him."

Griffin frowned. "What?"

"Ezra and Luna Nancy left for Aster City. Alpha King Elijah called another meeting. Probably about the zombie virus." Mark checked his watch. "It should be starting in an hour or so."

Griffin and Roman exchanged a look.

"We need to get to that meeting," Roman said with a sense of urgency, his voice having lost all trace of playfulness. "Something big is about to go down, and trust me when I say our presence is essential."

Mark looked uneasy, but quickly straightened himself. "Then you need to get there fast. Would a chopper do?"

A pleased look crossed both Griffin’s and Roman’s faces.

"That," Roman said, "would be the sexiest thing anyone’s ever offered me."

Griffin sighed. "That would be great, Mark."

________

Cars after cars streamed through Elijah’s compound, one after the other, carrying alphas and sub-alphas making their entrance. Security was heavy like never before.

Men dressed in black tactical uniforms stood stationed at every point of entry, earpieces clipped to their ears, and assault rifles slung across their bodies. Some carried sidearms at their waists, while others had knives strapped to their thighs. Their eyes moved constantly, scanning every vehicle, and face stepping into the compound.

No one was taking chances.

Even the alphas who had come did not come alone. Each arrived with enough armed men to shield them should a zombie attack break out on the way.

Moreover, some packs, like the South pack and the North pack, had deployed the strategy of moving their sub-alphas together. There was strength in numbers, after all. Far safer than being isolated and picked off one by one by those creatures.

The parts with the zombie infestation had been marked and distributed ahead of time, allowing the packs to avoid them on their way in. Still, the atmosphere remained tense.

Alpha King Elijah’s residence was bustling with activity as staff hurried across the grounds, directing vehicles toward designated parking spaces while attendants rushed to open doors.

And one by one, the alphas stepped out in all their glory. The air reeked of testosterone, power, and dominance. Well, not just the men.

Aeron stepped out first, stopping a nearby staff member from opening the passenger door. He reached for it himself and pulled it open, revealing Irene.

She stepped out with effortless elegance, dressed in a cream-colored suit set that looked both refined and commanding. It was cut in such a way that reminded everyone she was Alpha yet every bit a woman.

Aeron offered her his hand and she took it with a smile that might as well have lit up the world. Some of the sub-alphas from rival packs couldn’t help but stare.

And honestly? Who could blame them?

There was something dangerously alluring about a woman like Irene—an Alpha in her own right, powerful and commanding, yet still able to bask so naturally in her femininity.

Aeron noticed. A low growl rumbled out of him before he could stop it.

It was enough. The men quickly looked away and minded their business.

As if it wasn’t already bad enough having this many alphas packed into one space—each one’s dominance scraping against the other and stirring his wolf’s aggression—now they were staring at his wife too.

Yeah. No.

"You should let them," Irene said, not sounding bothered in the slightest. "It’s not a crime to stare."

Aeron grumbled under his breath. "Yeah, they can stare after I pluck out their eyes. They can admire you sightlessly."

Irene only shook her head. These men and their possessiveness.

Right at that moment, a black Range Rover rolled into the compound. Both Irene and Aeron turned their attention to it as Alpha Ezra stepped out first, followed closely by his mate, Nancy King.

"Nancy," Irene called out with a smile, immediately closing the distance between them.

Nancy smiled back, and the two women embraced in a brief but affectionate hug.

When they pulled apart, Irene looked her over with clear approval. "You look dazzling."

Nancy wore a soft sage-green midi dress patterned with cream floral embroidery. The cut was thoughtful, the high waist giving way to a flowing silhouette that curved over her growing bump. Long sleeves framed her arms, the entire look matured and graceful.

Nancy smirked. "And you look magnificent as well," she said, winking.

"Well, thank you."

Behind them, Aeron stepped forward and addressed the other Alpha. "Alpha Ezra."

"Aeron," Ezra returned, dipping his head slightly.

Something unspoken passed between the two men. Respect and tension. As well as

the understanding of wolves who knew exactly how ugly things could get if today went wrong.

"Are you ready?" Irene asked Nancy carefully, her words carrying weight.

Nancy let out a measured breath. "Ready as the day I was born."

That got a small smile out of Irene. Not caring in the slightest that she was supposed to be acting all composed and Alpha-like, Irene looped her arm through Nancy’s and began walking ahead with her, leaving their husbands behind.

Ezra and Aaron stared at their wives with the look of men who knew some things, apparently, even Alphas could not win against.