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Patrick could feel the tension even before he was ushered into the Alpha King’s study. The air was thick, almost tangible, and the moment he stepped in, he saw why.

The Alpha King stood with his back turned to him, his shoulders rigid, and posture taut like a bowstring about to snap. The guard at the door cleared his throat lightly before announcing, "Alpha, Patrick is here."

Only then did the Alpha King move, turning slowly to acknowledge his presence. His face practically was carved from stone, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"You may leave us," Elijah said to the guard.

The guard bowed low and quietly exited, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. Even with that, Elijah made no move to sit and made no effort to invite Patrick to sit either.

Patrick, having known the Alpha King long enough, understood his temperament and what could possibly happen if he ruined his mood further. So he remained standing, waiting without complaining.

Finally, Elijah broke the silence, saying with a heavy voice.

"Asher has made a startling discovery."

He reached for a small box on the desk and opened it. Inside, he pulled out a delicate bottle filled with a milky-white liquid and without a word, rolled the bottle across the desk toward Patrick.

It rolled towards the doctor with unnerving accuracy and just before it could reach the edge and fall, Patrick caught it swiftly, halting its motion.

There was mild surprise on Patrick’s face but Elijah didn’t notice. The Alpha King seemed lost in his own grim thoughts, his expression troubled. His mind was clearly elsewhere.

"They call it Ignis," Elijah announced finally, ending the silence. "Have you seen anything like it?"

Patrick didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lifted the small bottle between his fingers, holding it up to the light, making a mock show of studying it.

Of course, Patrick knew what it was. He was the one who secretly produced it after all. But then, he was surrounded by creatures who could detect a lie through changes in heart patterns. He had to be careful.

"What does it do?" he asked instead, neatly sidestepping the question.

"It grants humans inhuman abilities just like us." Elijah’s voice was dark. "Asher found it on his trip to District One."

Patrick narrowed his eyes slightly, obvious suspicion slipping into his tone.

"What was Asher doing in District One? Wasn’t he supposed to be in school?"

"Shouldn’t you be more concerned about the drug, and not the movements of one of my heir apparents?" Elijah said coldly.

Patrick covered up smoothly, offering a half-smile. "I’m only saying I hope it’s worth the attention," he said, voice dipping low, as he inclined the scarred side of his face — the one Asher Nightshade had nearly clawed apart.

"I guess we’d test it out then," the Alpha King said simply.

Without another word, Elijah stepped out of the office and Patrick followed, without any need for instruction.They moved through the long hallways of the pack house and while they walked, Elijah said to him in a lowered voice.

"I wouldn’t want this news spreading through the pack yet. It would cause unnecessary havoc. So we’ll keep it quiet, for now."

Patrick gave a slight nod of understanding. His instincts pickled as they continued downwards, lower than Patrick had ever ventured before. Perhaps because he was feeling guilty, he hoped this wasn’t a trap and Elijah wasn’t leading him to his death.

When they stepped in fully, the smell of sweat and odour hit him first. Four werewolves were already in the room and two of them held onto a human man with torn and filthy clothes, his face drawn and fearful.

The other two stood firmly at the entrance, their bodies forming a barrier, ensuring no one else would peep or interrupt what was about to happen.

Elijah glanced briefly at the human before turning to Patrick.

"This one’s a murder suspect from District Four," he said. "Escaped into our territory, trying to outrun his crime."

A small, cruel smile touched the Alpha’s mouth. "I’m giving him a chance to stay if he agrees to fight for it."

Patrick understood immediately.

What a smart move. Since the man was already a suspect, human authorities wouldn’t waste much energy trying to find him here. And even if they did, once he crossed into Elijah’s territory, he belonged to them. The Alpha King could deal with him however he pleased.

One of the guards approached, offering a thin string with a needle attached.

Patrick took it without a word, withdrawing the Ignis liquid from the small bottle with expertise.

The human, sensing something off, shifted nervously. Patrick approached him, the needle gleaming faintly under the dull light.

Before Patrick could inject him, the human lifted a trembling hand.

"Wait," he croaked, locking eyes with Elijah. "All I have to do is fight you and you’ll hide me from the authorities, right?"

Elijah didn’t even blink.

"You have my word," he said.

Something in the human’s shoulders stiffened, like a man making peace with the devil. However, he still hardened his heart, and set his jaw. His mind was made up.

Patrick didn’t hesitate any longer, he pressed the needle into the man’s skin and

the man winced slightly at the sharp pinch of pain.

Although the human wasn’t taller than the Alpha King, he was broader, carrying more weight across his frame. Patrick stepped back as he finished, handing the used stringe back to one of the wolf who immediately disposed of it.

Then the room shifted into a thick, pregnant, every eye fixed on the man standing in the center. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the man groaned.

It started low, almost like a grunt of discomfort, but quickly grew into something worse. He clutched at his chest, bending forward as a loud, raw cry tore from his throat.

For a terrifying moment, it seemed like he was about to die right there on the basement floor.

He dropped to one knee, gasping, choking, his face twisted in agony. The wolves exchanged uncertain looks, except Patrick. Not that anyone noticed, they were worried about the man.

One of the guards took a half-step forward, but Elijah held up a hand, stopping him.

And just as suddenly as it began, the man snapped upright with a loud, rattling gasp.

His chest heaved as he stared down at his hands, wide-eyed, almost disbelieving. It was as if he was seeing himself for the first time.

"God," he breathed, awe-struck, flexing his fingers slowly. "I’ve not felt this light in a long time. I feel so powerful."

He looked around the room, a wild grin starting to form on his face, he was full of power. Whatever Ignis was supposed to do, it had worked.

Elijah pulled off his shirt in one smooth motion, tossing it to the side without care. His muscles, built from years of battles and born strength, flexed as he approached the human now filled with unnatural power.

The man grinned wide, almost feral. Then

the fight began before anyone could blink.

The human struck first. It was a brutal punch that caught Elijah square in the ribs, the force so heavy that it drove the Alpha King back three staggering steps. A gasp ripped from Elijah’s mouth.

Stunned, he looked up quickly, eyes narrowing. So it was true, Asher hadn’t been exaggerating about the drug after all.

The human saw the slight opening and lunged again, drunk on his newfound strength. He had made up his mind at that moment, if he could kill Elijah now, he would not need to wait on a promise he might not keep. He could kill the Alpha king and be free.

And Elijah noticed his intention. There was a shift in the man’s eyes. A dark, desperate hunger for more than just survival. This wasn’t a fight to win favor anymore. The human wanted him dead.

The next clash was rougher, and faster.

Elijah dodged a brutal swing aimed at his neck, twisted low, and slammed a savage elbow into the man’s ribs. The crack of bone echoed through the basement.

The human snarled and retaliated, landing a heavy fist against Elijah’s jaw. The Alpha King’s head snapped to the side, blood pooling at the corner of his mouth, but he only smiled. A dangerous, deadly one.

Enough was enough.

Elijah caught the next punch midair, yanking the man forward, then slammed his forehead against the human’s nose with a sickening crunch.

The human staggered, dazed, but Elijah didn’t give him time to recover. He attacked him, letting his fists fly relentlessly and mercilessly. Blow after blow rained down till the man’s knees buckled under the force.

Elijah then grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground like a rag doll.

The human struggled weakly, kicking, clawing, but it was useless. With a brutal twist of his arm, Elijah snapped the man’s neck.

Silence crashed over the room.

Elijah let go as if he was holding dirt and the lifeless body hit the ground with a dull thud.

He then turned slowly toward Patrick, blood splattered across his bare chest, his breathing rough but steady.

His cold and furious eyes locked onto him.

"Find the composition of that drug at once."