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.

the small reminder was enough to make Alaric’s

Elsie.

was instantly dimmed, his jaw unclenching and his cracking fingers lowering slightly. But the moment Patrick took another step closer, his

didn’t stop, saying

like it or not, I

Elsie’s a werewolf. She’s strong. An ordinary shock can’t take

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

Alaric," he mused. "All strong and protective. Standing over your precious

Then, the bastard chuckled.

you," Patrick’s voice turned low, sly, "my hands

were carefully chosen and deliberately misleading. Alaric knew what the bastard was doing. He

matter because it

his throat, his fangs lengthening, and his

as if to reinforce the threat, Griffin let out a thunderous roar, the sheer force of it sending a ripple of

a brief second, Patrick actually

it was brief. Too

for a man who should have been terrified out of his pants. Not that he had ever been, else he wouldn’t have risked his life to

yes, you

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

strapped to a cold table, screaming, wires piercing his skin

out." Alaric’s voice was

Patrick grinned.

considering I’m actually glad to

the walls. The man was really pushing his luck

take my leave

reaching for

"Ah." He paused.

The air changed.

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

Alaric and Griffin stiffened.

While Griffin’s growl deepened, his whole muscles tensed

the two alphas exuding auras and a stance that was considered threatening and dangerous, the doctor was totally

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

to get