Defy The Alpha(s) novel Chapter 881

Chapter 881: Hope

Unlike Duskmoon Village, Lunaris Academy was drowning in grief. The atmosphere itself was heavy, weighed down by the gore, exhaustion, and the kind of silence that came only after the loss of lives.

The human students had already been sent back to their dormitories hours ago. Only a few remained behind in the infirmary under Adele’s instructions, helping carry supplies, changing bandages, and trying not to panic at the sight of so much blood. The rest of the academy belonged to the wolves now.

They patrolled every corner of the academy. Some of them watched the barriers anxiously, terrified the magic would weaken and allow the zombie horde outside to pour in. Hence every distant growl from beyond the wards stretched their nerves tightly.

Inside the infirmary, Alpha King Elijah stood near the window of one of the private rooms, staring blankly into the darkness outside.

For the first time in his entire life, he felt utterly useless. His reflection stared back at him through the glass, pale, exhausted and hollow.

He remembered the fight clearly. Though he tried his best, Angus had overpowered him as if he were nothing but a child. He had failed his people, woefully.

Twelve bodies currently lay covered in white sheets inside the storage room downstairs awaiting transportation back to their respective packs.

Three had died immediately after crossing through the portal. Two more while Adele fought desperately to save them. The others had already been dead when their bodies were dragged through.

Elijah’s jaw clenched painfully.

A knock came from the door before Christian stepped inside.

The beta’s arm was wrapped heavily in bandages, blood still somewhat seeping through the white cloth despite the treatment. Yet the man stood straight regardless.

"We’re ready," Christian informed him.

Elijah nodded with no words. What was there left to say?

Together, they stepped out into the hallway escorted by a few wolves.

The moment they entered the infirmary corridors, the smell of antiseptic, blood and

burnt flesh from magical wounds hit him.

Pain.

Moans echoed from nearby rooms. Some wolves groaned in their sleep while others cried out quietly as Adele and the students practically overworked herself trying to reset broken bones that were healing wrongly.

One of the wolves had his entire chest wrapped in bloodied cloth and was trying his best not to scream out the torment he was currently in.

Elijah looked away, shame churning violently inside him. All of this would have been preventable if only he had gotten rid of Angus from the very start. If he could go back in time, he won’t be making the same mistake again.

By the time they exited the infirmary and reached the school grounds, nearly every wolf in Lunaris Academy had gathered.

The atmosphere was painfully subdued.

No one spoke loudly or dared to smile.

The surviving wolves stood assembled beneath the lights surrounding the academy courtyard, their expressions grief-stricken.

Christian remained beside him as they climbed the wide staircase leading to the academy entrance. From there Elijah stood at the top, looking down at his people.

So many wounded faces stared back. So many grieving ones. Suddenly the Alpha King understood something horrifying.

They were looking at him for hope. Even now.

"Tonight we mourn." Elijah’s deep voice carried across the courtyard. "We mourn our brothers. Our family. Our pack."

Silence swallowed the grounds completely.

"I know your pain because I feel it too."

His gaze swept across them. "Every life lost today weighs on me. Every drop of blood spilled in that battle is something I will carry for the rest of my life."

Several wolves lowered their heads while others looked away entirely, trying to hide the pain.

Elijah continued, "Angus wanted to break us today." Bitterness crept into his tone.

"He wanted us to be afraid. Divided. Hopeless."

His eyes hardened.

"But evil has always mistaken suffering for weakness. Yes, the future ahead of us is dark. Perhaps darker than anything our people have ever faced before. We are trapped behind these walls while monsters roam outside and another monster hunts us from within."

His fists clenched behind his back.

"But we are still standing."

That earned small reactions

"And as long as we still stand, the fight is not over."

Among the crowd stood Irene Hale, her face perfectly blank. She looked in control but inwardly, she was unraveling.

Griffin was unconscious. Roman captured.

And Aeron... Her chest constricted painfully.

No. She refused to believe he was dead.

That stubborn bastard was too difficult to kill. They would bring him back. They had to.

Elijah’s voice rang out again. "The Goddess has not abandoned us. Darkness may rise, but it has never once outlasted the dawn."

Then suddenly, the atmosphere rippled violently and every wolf froze. Energy distorted near the center of the courtyard and reality itself seemed to split open.

A portal appeared and chaos broke out immediately.

"FORMATION!" Ezra barked.

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