Chapter 121
Chloe's POV
I drove the carriage back to the wolf manor alone, passing through the final stone gate.
I had expected to see layers of guards, warriors on patrol, Alphas, Betas, and Gammas deliberating in the council hall.
But the sight before me made me frown—the manor's defenses were strangely sparse.
Only two young Omegas stood watch at the main gate. When they saw my carriage, they didn't even step forward to question me, simply yawned and waved me through.
I parked the carriage in the side courtyard. After stepping down, I looked around—the entire manor was unnaturally quiet. The warriors who usually shouted across the training grounds were nowhere to be seen, and even the elders' council windows were dark.
This was strange. But I had no time to dwell on it.
I took a deep breath, pushing down my unease, and headed quickly toward the main building.
The eerie silence made my heart race.
Perhaps this was a rare opportunity.
I climbed the stairs, turned two corners, and arrived at the corridor where Father's study was located. The door stood ahead—a heavy oak door carved with the Lightning Wolf Pack's emblem.
I reached for the door handle, but just as my fingers were about to touch it, a voice stopped me.
"Chloe."
I whirled around to see Jordan stepping out from the shadows. He wore black training clothes, his expression more serious than I'd ever seen.
My first instinct was wariness—this Gamma's son who had once humiliated me, whom I'd defeated in the training grounds, appearing here now was no coincidence.
"What are you doing here?" I asked in a low voice, my hand quietly moving to my waist.
Though I had no weapon, if he intended to stop me, I wouldn't mind beating him again.
Jordan didn't answer my question. He simply pulled a key from his pocket, dangled it in the moonlight, then tossed it lightly toward me.
I caught it instinctively and looked down—it was an old brass key etched with complex runes.
"This is..." I looked up at him, confusion written across my face.
"The key to that safe," Jordan said, his tone calm, even carrying a hint of irony. "Of course you couldn't find it. He gave all the keys to my father for safekeeping. I stole this one from him."
I froze.
Jordan—who had mocked me, humiliated me—was helping me?
This was so unexpected that for a moment I didn't know what to say.
"Why?" I finally found my voice. "Why are you helping me?"
Jordan sighed, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.
"Don't thank me," he said, his voice carrying complex emotions. "Actually, everyone knows it was you and Ivan who saved everyone. In Thunder Canyon, if not for you two, those recruits would have been wiped out. You should have been recognized as passing the trial. The Alpha was wrong."
He paused, his eyes flickering with something I couldn't read.
"It's just that no one dares openly defy the Alpha's orders."
My throat tightened. I hadn't expected to hear such words from Jordan. This person who had once seen me as an enemy was now, in his own way, acknowledging my worth.
"Today is a rare opportunity," Jordan continued, pushing off from the wall. "The elders have all gone out, along with those beast tamers. Grab the medicine quickly and run away with your mate."
His words hit me like cold water. Beast tamers? My heart seized. Grace had mentioned before that those beast tamers were hunting Lightning. Now they were all mobilized...
A sense of foreboding washed over me.
"Where did they go?" I gripped Jordan's arm tightly. "Those beast tamers—where did they go?"
Jordan frowned, seeming surprised by my reaction. "I don't know the exact location. But I heard they went near Thunder Canyon." He stared into my eyes. "What's wrong?"
I released him and turned to run, but he grabbed me back.
"Chloe! Where are you going?"
"I have to warn Ivan." I pulled free, my voice trembling with urgency. "If they find Lightning..."
I didn't finish, because I couldn't bear to imagine it. Ivan's leg was injured—if the beast tamers surrounded him, if they hurt Lightning, if...
"Get the medicine first!" Jordan's voice called from behind me. "You can't make it in time anyway! Get the medicine first—at least then you'll have leverage!"
He was right. I clenched my teeth, turned back, and rushed toward the study door. It swung open.
Father's study was as neat and solemn as ever.
I ran straight to the safe I remembered, positioned in the corner behind the desk.
I knelt down and used the key to open it. Inside lay several items arranged neatly: a scroll of parchment, an ancient badge, and a small crystal vial. The vial contained silver-blue liquid that glowed faintly in the moonlight, giving off a crisp, mint-like scent.
This was it.
The legendary potion that could cure black magic.
I reached out and took the vial, feeling it warm and heavy in my palm.
For a moment, I almost laughed—I'd actually gotten it!
I'd actually found what could save Ivan!
But before the smile could fully bloom, it was interrupted by lightning flashing outside the window.
I jerked my head up to look outside.
In the direction of Thunder Canyon, storm clouds were gathering, lightning churning through them like some massive creature struggling. This wasn't ordinary thunder—this was elemental power fluctuating.
My heart sank.
"Ivan..." I whispered, gripping the vial tightly. "Please be alright."
I stood up, tucked the vial into my clothes, and rushed out of the study.
Jordan still stood in the corridor. When he saw me emerge, he opened his mouth to say something, but I didn't stop to listen. I only murmured "thank you" as I passed him, then rushed down the stairs.
The lightning in the sky grew denser, thunder rumbling as if the entire world was trembling.
I could feel Ivan—through our mate bond, I could feel his anger, his pain, and that unyielding will of his.
"Hold on," I said through clenched teeth, tears blurring my vision. "Hold on, Ivan. I'm coming."