Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 144: Doctor Patrick

If there was anyone Alaric and Griffin hated with every fiber of their being, it was the man standing before them.

Patrick Vale.

The bastard doctor.

Patrick still had the same smug, polished appearance, the same unsettling detached amusement in his expression, like he was dissecting them with his eyes, assessing them as nothing more than test subjects.

His youthful appearance might have deceived anyone else, might have made one believe he hadn’t aged a day, but Alaric and Griffin knew better. The bastard had carved up enough bodies to know how to preserve his own.

Yet, even though the surgeries had been flawless, it was not perfect.

The procedures couldn’t completely erase the grotesque, jagged scars marring the side of his right face—a permanent signature of Asher’s wrath and a reminder of his past failure. It was the delightful legacy of the night Asher had compelled him to stab himself with a scalpel.

The stitches had been neat and the tissue repaired fine, but the skin remained slightly warped. Hence, the scarred flesh stretched in places where it shouldn’t, pulling ever so slightly whenever he smirked.

Alaric had never been a fan of Asher’s methods. But this? He agreed for once.

And if only Asher had killed the bastard that day, things would have been so much better.

But then again, even Alaric knew that if Patrick had died, Elijah would have simply found another sadist to take his place.

Perhaps even someone worse.

Alaric’s blue gaze connected with Patrick’s dark, beady eyes. But it was his right eye—the unnatural one—that made his stomach twist.

He knew Patrick had stabbed that eye out that day thanks to Asher’s compulsion. And yet, here it was.

The bastard must have had it replaced. Whatever it was now, it wasn’t normal, and staring at it sent a prickle of unease down his spine.

A deep, instinctual revulsion crept up Alaric’s spine, and his disgust manifested physically with lightning crackling between his fingertips, the air around him charged with volatile energy.

Patrick noticed. He always noticed. And the bastard had the audacity to smirk.

"Easy there," Patrick crooned, taking a leisurely step forward. "Easy, thunder boy. You’ve already put one person in a hospital bed. We wouldn’t want another unfortunate victim, would we?"

Although Patrick’s words dripped with false sympathy, his eyes gleamed with accusation, obviously blaming Alaric for the incident.

small reminder was enough to make Alaric’s breath

Elsie.

fingers lowering slightly. But the moment Patrick took

Patrick didn’t stop,

you like it or not, I have

She’s strong. An ordinary shock can’t take her down."

tilted his head, something dark gleaming behind his eyes. His voice dropped, dripping with sick

mused. "All strong

Then, the bastard chuckled.

voice turned low, sly, "my hands have already

misleading. Alaric knew what the bastard was doing.

didn’t matter because

snarl tore from his throat, his fangs lengthening,

let out a thunderous roar, the sheer force of it sending a ripple of wind

brief second,

it was brief.

Not that he had ever been, else he wouldn’t have risked his

curled. "And yes, you too, Griffin,

suddenly carried a sudden edge. "All of you are so impressive now. Such powerful Alphas." His eyes gleamed sharply. "Though I can’t say I

inside of Alaric snapped as the memory returned. He recalled being strapped to a cold

"Get out." Alaric’s

Patrick grinned.

quite disappointing, considering I’m

the walls. The man was really pushing his

my leave then."

for the door,

"Ah." He paused.

The air changed.

back with lazy amusement. "Before I go... I don’t suppose you know a Violet

Alaric and Griffin stiffened.

While Griffin’s growl

and dangerous, the doctor was totally unfazed even though he was a mere human with no extra

Patrick smirked. "She’s your girlfriend, after all." He gave a sleazy grin,

can’t wait to