Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 560: Alaric’s Nightmare

Chapter 560: Alaric’s Nightmare

Realizing that screaming and struggling would get him nowhere, Alaric forced himself to think. Since violence wouldn’t work, maybe, just maybe, he could reach the part of his mother that still loved him.

"What do you plan to do to me, Mother?" Alaric rasped, his voice hoarse and raw from shouting.

Zara paused mid-motion, a syringe halfway filled with a clear, viscous solution intended to use on him. Her hand stilled as she turned toward him, surprise in her eyes.

It was the first time Alaric had called her "Mother" since this nightmare began. Before now, it had always been "Zara" or "Bitch," as if the word mother burned his tongue.

For a brief moment, her expression softened. She set the syringe on the metal tray and crossed to his side.

"Alaric, baby?" she whispered, testing him.

Alaric lay restrained on the cold table, sweat beading across his brow. Between the suppressor cuffs and the physical strain of fighting, he looked fragile and vulnerable. One might even said he lost weight.

"Why are you doing this to me?" His voice cracked, heavy with anguish. "Why, Mother?"

Zara cupped his face, wiping the sweat tenderly. "Because I want my son back," she said softly. "My sweet, obedient Alaric, not this violent creature who curses and fights me. I don’t even recognize you anymore."

"Fine, I’m sorry," Alaric gasped, his chest heaving. "Just remove the suppressor cuffs. I miss my wolf, Mother. It’s been days... I feel empty, and hollow inside. Please mother, it’s killing me."

Zara smiled faintly, threading her hand through his damp hair. "I know, my love. Don’t worry, the cuffs will come off soon. I can’t perform the procedure without you and your wolf in perfect equilibrium."

He forced his voice to stay

and saw the strange, crown-like device with a matte metal frame branched into delicate braided wires,

ran cold. "What

followed his gaze. "Oh, that? The

his tone calm. "Why am I only hearing about this now? You never

after we lost a subject..." Zara trailed off, realizing that was the

Alaric’s heart stopped. "Lost...?"

just wasn’t strong enough. His mind fractured and he went feral. We had no choice but to put him down. Besides, he was a convicted criminal awaiting execution, anyway. It was a

You experimented on him without his consent." His breath caught as a horrifying

guards stationed by the door. "Did you hear that?!" Alaric shouted, straining against his restraints. "You’re going to stand there and let her

the first time, hesitation showed in their eyes, a crack in their unquestioning obedience to

"Oh, come on, Alaric, stop being dramatic. Do you really

at the leather straps binding his wrists to

the Mnemosyne Crown. You can rest assured, you’re not going to die. There will be side effects, of course, but nothing

did you just

grew soothing, as if she were speaking to a frightened child. "The purpose of this procedure is simple. Once it’s done, your memories of that girl, Violet, will be completely erased. She’ll be gone from your life forever, and I’ll finally have my son back. My real son. There may be some short-term blackouts, maybe a

my God," Alaric whispered in horror.

Zara snapped. "I’m doing what any mother would do if she were about to

don’t cross in science!" Alaric roared, thrashing against the restraints. "And the fact you’re willing to do

nice. Nothing was going to change his mother, he could see it. The woman had finally