Chapter 95
Chloe's POV
The Gamma's personal guard forced the rogue wolves of the detention zone to stay inside their houses, letting no one out. I was watching those tightly shut doors and windows, my heart clenched as if gripped by an iron fist.
"Everyone stay inside!" a guard captain shouted, his voice brutal and cold. "Anyone who dares come out will face the consequences!"
Muffled sounds of unrest came from within—children crying, women whispering, men cursing under their breath—but no one dared resist.
Fearful eyes peered through the cracks in the doors.
At the gym entrance stood a tall figure, radiating menace.
Leon—Jordan's father, the current Gamma of Lightning Wolf Pack.
"I want to see who dared bully my son!" Leon's voice echoed across the entire detention zone. "Hand them over! Or I'll raze this pathetic gym to the ground!"
Ivan and Frank stood at the gym entrance, both looking grim. Ivan's fists were clenched tight, his knuckles white from the pressure, while Frank struggled between rage and helplessness.
"Gamma, sir," Frank tried to remain calm, though his voice trembled with suppressed anger, "your son lost in a fair duel. We haven't violated any regulations—"
"Fair?" Leon cut him off with a cold laugh dripping with contempt. "A rogue wolf dares talk about fairness? You pack-less trash should be grateful you're allowed to live on Lightning Wolf Pack land at all! And you dare injure my son?"
He turned to the guards behind him and waved his hand. "Tear this place down! Show these lowlifes what rules mean!"
As the guards moved forward, Frank suddenly blocked the gym entrance. His muscles tensed beneath his clothes, his eyes flashing with resolute determination. Ivan stepped beside his father. Father and son stood together like two walls protecting the gym.
"Try laying a hand on us," Frank said in a low voice.
Leon's eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile crossing his face. "Good. So you want to resist. Then don't blame me for what happens next."
He took a step forward, his guards following, hands already on the weapons at their waists.
Just then, Frank suddenly turned to look at me.
The anger and disappointment in his gaze made my heart lurch.
"This is your nobles' true nature! Send a young lady to sweet-talk us first, then send people to destroy our place! You people have never seen us as equals!"
I froze.
He thought I was working with Leon? He thought I came here to lead Leon to them?
"No, I'm not—" I tried to explain, but Frank had already looked away.
Ivan also glanced at me, disappointment in his eyes. That look cut like a knife through my heart—he'd smiled at me earlier, welcomed me into the gym, said "if you truly want to learn, we welcome anyone."
Now he looked at me like I was a liar.
I bit down hard, feeling something lodged in my throat.
No, I couldn't let them misunderstand me like this.
I wasn't one of those tyrannical nobles. I wasn't here to mock them!
I genuinely wanted to learn combat, genuinely wanted to grow stronger, genuinely wanted to prove that women could be warriors too!
I took a deep breath and walked toward the gym entrance.
"Move aside," I told the guards blocking my path.
They hesitated, glancing between me and Leon, clearly not recognizing me and finding it strange that a young woman would suddenly approach.
"I said, move aside!" I spoke again, louder this time, with an authority that surprised even me.
This time, the guards made way. Perhaps it was my tone, perhaps my bearing—either way, they instinctively stepped back.
I walked to the gym entrance, stood before Frank and Ivan, then turned to face Leon and his guards.
"You want to know who bullied your son?" I said loudly. "I'll tell you! It was me, Chloe!"
Leon paused, then his expression grew more dangerous.
Of course he recognized me—as Lightning Wolf Pack's Gamma, how could he not know the Alpha's daughter?
We'd seen each other countless times at various pack gatherings. Though we'd never truly conversed, he certainly knew who I was.
"Miss Chloe," Leon's tone turned sardonic, "what are you doing in a place like this? Does the Alpha know you've come to the detention zone?"
The threat was clear—if my father knew I was here, he'd be angry.
But I didn't back down.
"Where I go is none of your concern," I said, staring at him.
Leon laughed, the sound painfully grating.
"You're saying you bullied Jordan?" He shook his head. "Miss Chloe, surely you're joking? A woman, making such claims?"
He waved dismissively, his tone growing more mocking. "Women should stay home cooking and embroidering, not meddling in outside affairs. And certainly not defending these worthless rogues. Go home, don't worry the Alpha."
I felt Frank and Ivan's gazes on my back, but I didn't turn around.
"I may be a woman," I said, enunciating each word, "but I can still discipline your son!"
Leon's smile froze.
His expression darkened, a flash of anger in his eyes. The surrounding guards exchanged glances, clearly not expecting the Alpha's daughter to say such things.
"Miss Chloe, you go too far," Leon said in a low voice, threat underlying his words. "I respect your position, but you cannot insult me and my son like this."
"Insult?" I laughed coldly. "Your son arbitrarily changed the boundaries set by the Alpha, oppressing the detention zone wolves—that's what insults the Alpha's authority!"
I pointed at the white line Jordan had redrawn on the ground. "Years ago, my father the Alpha drew this boundary, giving rogue wolves a place in Lightning Wolf Pack. Now your son Jordan has unilaterally changed this boundary, shrinking the detention zone by a full ten paces!"
Leon's expression shifted.
"Leon," I stared at him, my voice growing colder, "is your family planning treason?"
Leon's face went deathly pale.
"No, no!" He waved his hands frantically, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "I didn't... Jordan is just... just young and ignorant..."
His words tumbled out incoherently, clearly terrified by the accusation of treason.
In wolf society, treason was the gravest charge, enough to destroy an entire family line.
I pressed forward. "You ordered your guards to threaten the Alpha's daughter with weapons—such audacity! Or do you think your position is high enough to disregard the Alpha's authority?"
"I didn't!" Leon's voice cracked. "I only... I only wanted justice for my son..."
"Justice?" I sneered. "Your son broke the rules first and lost in fair combat—that is justice! Now you bring your guards to destroy property and threaten detention zone wolves—that's what breaks the rules!"
Leon opened his mouth but couldn't speak.
I knew he was weighing his options—if this escalated and reached my father's ears, how would he handle it? Whose side would the Alpha take?
"Leon," I softened my tone slightly but remained firm, "I suggest you take your people and leave now. Let this matter end here. Otherwise, I'll tell my father everything that happened today."
Leon's face alternated between ashen and flushed.
Finally, he took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Retreat! We're leaving!"
The guards fled with relief, quickly following Leon from the detention zone. They moved fast, almost running. Leon's retreating figure looked utterly defeated, nothing like his earlier arrogance.
I stood in place, watching their humiliating departure, my heart still pounding. My palms were slick with sweat, my legs trembling slightly.
In that moment, I'd been truly afraid—what if Leon hadn't backed down? What if he'd truly decided to force the issue?
But I couldn't show it. I had to appear strong, confident.
Rustling sounds came from behind me.
I turned to see detention zone residents emerging from their houses. They looked at me with silent hope and gratitude. Some even shed tears—the tears of those oppressed for too long finally seeing hope.
A young girl approached, saying timidly, "Thank you..."
Her voice was small, but her eyes were sincere.
I shook my head, saying nothing.
I didn't know what to say. I'd simply done what needed doing, nothing more.
Then I turned to face Ivan and Frank.
Ivan's expression was complex—a mixture of shock, gratitude, and guilt. He opened his mouth as if to speak but ultimately said nothing.
Frank still had a stern face, but the hostility in his eyes had vanished. He looked at me with something else in his gaze—perhaps respect, perhaps a reassessment.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I didn't tell the truth earlier. I am of noble birth. I'm the Alpha's daughter. But I truly want to learn combat—that's not a lie."
I paused, then continued, "I know you don't trust nobles. I understand. But I'm not like those who abuse their power. I just... I just want to prove that women can be warriors too."
Frank remained silent for a long time.
Ivan glanced between his father and me, clearly wanting to speak but holding back.
Finally, Frank spoke.
"Fifty silver coins per week," his voice still hard. "Stay and train."
I froze.
Ivan also looked at his father in surprise, clearly not expecting him to agree.
Frank added expressionlessly, "Since you truly want to learn, we'll teach you. But rules are rules—you'll pay every coin of tuition. And here, there's no such thing as the Alpha's daughter. Only students."
Warmth surged in my throat, my eyes stinging. I blinked hard, struggling to control my emotions.
"Alright," I nodded, forcing my voice to sound calm. "I'll pay tuition on time."