CHAPTER 24

He was relieved because he was safe from contracting the virus, but now he's proven never to be able to be Beast-bound. Also, he feared for his future.

'What happens next?'

Was he now about to get dissected and shared?

Axton slowly took his hand away from Ren and slowly swerved the chair around to stare at Ren's face.

For the very first time, a faint, almost dismissible smirk curved up Axton's lips.

He ghosted his hand over Ren's face, his eyes piercing right into Ren's soul, "You're valuable, after all." He murmured lowly, his fingertips pressing lightly over Ren's good cheek.

Corvin cleared his throat, "Captain," He called slowly.

Axton once again found himself pulled out of that strong pull.

He stepped back and faced Corvin, "Why was he attacked?" He asked directly, his brows raising.

Corvin frowned, "Um, I wasn't there, Captain. I was hoping you'd be more interested in immediately looking for a way to announce Renault's worth to the whole Factions, elevating your status higher while we focus on finding a means to extract Renault's plasma for the ultimate serum cure." He spoke cautiously.

Corvin knew he was a little forward, but, as a doctor, he couldn't wait to start with the main thing, the main cure.

Axton didn't respond. He simply stared at Corvin, throwing icy chills down the doctor's spine.

"I'm sorry, Captain. My excitement is quite overboard," Corbin bowed his head.

"I decide Renault's worth, I decide when to tell the world about him. And you..." he moved close to Corvin.

Corvin gulped, his shoulder hands stopped hurting from the last time Axton dislocated them, and he couldn't handle another pain.

He should learn how to tone his ambitions down.

"Captain, I'm sorry, I won't speak out of place again," Corvin pleaded, stepping back.

Axton paused, "Answer my question, Corvin. Why was he attacked?" He asked again.

Ren saw the confusion in Corvin's face and decided to help the doctor out.

He stood from the chair, walking over to the doctor, "Uhm, what the captain meant to ask is, why was the Beast-bound drawn to me?" He rephrased, glancing at Axton.

"Am I right, Captain?" Ren's voice shook, but he didn't look away.

Axton didn't spare him a glance. Instead, he spoke to Corvin, "Answer his question." He ordered.

Corvin finally understood what Axton wanted to know; he felt dumb for answering otherwise.

"Uh... the virus is a parasite. It seeks a host, and once it has one, it modifies the host's genetic code to replicate and survive. Renault's DNA is unique. It's unaffected, but more than that, it possesses an active regenerative property—a healing factor at the cellular level," Corvin pointed to the microscope.

"This property emits a specific energy signature, a kind of genetic resonance that the virus, and by extension, the Beast-bound cells, can detect," He glanced at Axton, clearing his throat.

​"Think of it like a biological homing beacon. The Beast-bound are not in control of this. Their mutated cells are instinctively drawn to Renault's cellular frequency, the source of the only thing that can kill the virus within them. They don't want you, Renault; their virus wants what you have. It's not a matter of choice; it's a matter of affinity. A purely biological, involuntary compulsion. They want to be saved," Corvin's eyes pinned on Axton's as the last words left his mouth.

Axton narrowed his eyes at Ren, "Want to be saved... how?" He questioned curiously.

Ren was curious as well. He stared at Corvin for more emphasis.

Corvin scratched the side of his head, "Ah... well, theoretically, I think that even without extracting his blood plasma for serum, there should be some kind of healing energy Renault releases just by a single touch... that is why the Beast-bound wanted to get close to him. By the scratch, it wasn't entirely trying to hurt Renault. It was reaching out for relief, but because its reasoning was gone, it only knew how to be rabid... hurting him." He proposed.

"You're saying..." Axton walked toward Ren, extending his hand to him.

Ren stared at Axton's hand, his mind telling him to move away, but he didn't. Slowly and cautiously, he raised his to Axton's, hoping for the best.

This time, Axton didn't move his hand away. He clasped his hand around Ren's as Ren cautiously placed his hand on his.

"His touch will heal an infected?" Axton's voice had a little tone to it. It wasn't a rough or cold one. It was a steady, maybe even hopeful one.

"I will only be certain of that after I have taken him to the general infirmary," Corvin replied, staring at Ren's hand in Axton's.

"Then, take him there," Axton glanced at Ren's face and slowly released his hand.

Ren felt relief wash over him as Axton let go of his hand. He really felt like a captive each time Axton touched him.

Corvin slowly nodded, "Yes, Captain. Renault, please follow me." He said and pointed to the door.

"Okay..." Ren murmured, his tone resigned.

This was what he signed for, after all. It was no surprise that they were treating him like an experimental tool.

"Take my elevator," Axton spoke, walking past them to press an elevator open.

Ren had never been in that particular elevator before. The walls were black, unlike the silver or grey walls used in the other elevator.

No wonder it was Axton's. It reflected his soul.

Ren didn't think Axton was going with them, but he immediately adjusted closer to Corvin when he saw Axton walk inside the elevator.

With his keen eyes, he watched Axton place his thumb over a small screen by the side of the elevator. Immediately, a flash of green light ran over his thumb, and the elevator smoothly closed.

Ren realised that there was no way they would have used the elevator without Axton. It was fingerprint-sensored.

Throughout the elevator ride, Ren didn't breathe freely, Axton gazed openly at him, and he could feel it, something had changed since the moment Corvin confirmed that he really was the cure.

'Stop staring at me,' Ren balled his fists behind him, facing the doors of the moving elevator.