Chapter 137
Chloe's POV
The horse's scream tore through the blizzard, followed by the heavy thud of its collapse.
I was thrown from the saddle, my body spinning through the air. Instinct made me curl inward, protecting my abdomen—where Ivan's and my child grew. The instant I hit the ground, agony exploded through my shoulder, but I bit down hard, refusing to let myself black out.
The snow was cold, cold as knives. I struggled to my feet, each breath pulling at the damaged meridians inside me, that tearing pain threatening to swallow me whole.
A dragging ache pulsed in my abdomen. I pressed a trembling hand against it, praying the baby was all right.
Behind me lay the direction of the Lightning Wolf Pack.
I glanced back. At the edge of the sky, that eerie dark purple mist still churned, the black magic barrier swallowing the entire Wolf House hall. Ivan was still in there—facing two witches alone.
He'd told me to run, told me to survive, but what about him?
"I'm sorry..." I choked out in a whisper. "I'm sorry, Ivan. I have to go."
Not because I feared death, but because I was the only one who could save him. Frank was right—only Walter of the Silver Moon Pack could break that damned barrier.
I had to live, had to bring back reinforcements, or Ivan's sacrifice would mean nothing.
I forced myself to stand. The warhorse lay in the snow, steam from its nostrils freezing instantly in the bitter wind. It had run too hard; its heart couldn't take it. I touched its mane once, then turned and pressed forward.
No horse? Then I'd walk.
Every step felt like treading on knife points. The damage to my meridians sent tearing jolts through my limbs, and the dragging pain in my abdomen grew stronger. I knew this wasn't a good sign, but I couldn't stop. The snow fell heavier, and soon my vision blurred.
The Silver Moon Pack's border outpost should be just ahead.
I remembered Walter saying he'd be stationed in the northern territory for a while. If I could just reach the outpost, just see him—
"Halt!"
A sharp command rang out, accompanied by the sound of bowstrings drawing taut. I lifted my head to see a dozen Silver Moon guards emerging from the snow fog, surrounding me in a circle. Their arrows pointed at me, their eyes wary and cold.
"I..." I opened my mouth to explain, but my voice came out terribly hoarse. "I'm looking for Walter, the Silver Moon Pack's Alpha heir Walter—"
"Another lunatic," one guard interrupted impatiently. "The border's been restless lately—lots of rogues and madwomen."
"I'm not a rogue!" I forced myself to sound coherent. "I'm Chloe, daughter of the Lightning Pack's Alpha. I need to see Walter, immediately!"
The guards exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced.
Small wonder—I was in rags, covered in blood, hair wild. I probably did look insane.
"An Alpha's daughter running to the border alone?" The lead guard sneered. "Girl, if you're going to make up stories, at least make them believable."
"I don't have time for this!" I was practically shouting now. "The Lightning Pack is under attack—two witches have trapped everyone with black magic! If you don't let me see Walter, the entire pack will die!"
"Enough." The lead guard gestured, and the others raised their bows. "Final warning. Leave now, or—"
"Walter!" I screamed his name with everything I had left. "Walter! I'm Chloe! Remember that night at the ball? We agreed that if I ever needed help—"
"Stand down."
A low voice came from behind the guards. They all turned, parting to form a path.
Walter emerged from the snow fog. He wore a heavy fur-lined coat, his golden hair still brilliant despite the storm. When he got a clear look at me, unmistakable shock flashed in those ice-blue eyes.
"Chloe?" He strode toward me, disbelief in his voice. "God, what happened to—"
My legs gave out.
All the will that had carried me here crumbled the moment I saw him. I grabbed his coat, nearly collapsing at his feet. "Help me... please help me... Ivan's still there, they're all still there..."
Walter immediately pulled off his coat and wrapped it around my shaking body. His hand paused when it touched my abdomen, his expression growing even more grave. "You're pregnant?"
I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "One month... please, Walter, save them..."
"Get her into the tent!" Walter ordered the guards, then helped me toward the outpost. "Quick, fetch a doctor!"
Inside the tent, it was warm. The hearth blazed, its orange glow letting my frozen body relax slightly. Walter had someone bring hot tea and blankets, but I refused to rest.
"There's no time." I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "Witch invasion, spatial barrier lockdown, Ivan fighting the entire controlled pack alone..."
Each word felt like a blade scraping my throat, but I had to make it clear. Walter needed to know the enemy's strength, needed to understand how dire the situation was.
"And the Blood River Pack," I added, my voice trembling with fear. "They orchestrated all of this. The witches serve Blood River. Their target is the thunder element. If Ivan falls, if the lightning power ends up in Louis's hands..."
"The Silver Moon Pack will be the next target," Walter finished, his gaze sharpening. "They'll come for the ice element..."
I nodded. Thank God, he understood.
"But mobilizing troops isn't trivial," Walter frowned. "I need to report to my father, get approval. That process alone would take—"
"There's no time!" I cut him off, struggling to stand. "By the time you finish the bureaucracy, Ivan will be dead! The entire Lightning Pack will be dead!"
I knew I was forcing him into a difficult decision. Deploying forces without orders, defying his father's authority—for an heir, that was an enormous risk. But I had no choice.
"Walter." I looked into his eyes, forcing myself to stand straight even though every second felt like dancing on knife edges. "Remember what you said that night at the ball? You said you were tired of those hollow political marriages, tired of treating mates like bargaining chips."
His expression wavered.
"Ivan is my mate, the father of my child," my voice trembled, but each word rang clear and strong. "He stayed behind in that barrier so I could escape. He's no hero. He's just a man trying to protect his family."
I took a deep breath and continued. "Blood River has already absorbed the Witch Forest, controlled the Lightning Pack. If Ivan falls and the thunder element lands in their hands, the next pack to be annihilated will be the one with ice powers—yours. This isn't just my personal plea, Walter. This concerns the survival of everyone you know."
Silence.
Only the crackling of the hearth filled the tent. Walter stared at me for a long time, long enough that I thought he'd refuse. But finally, he turned toward the door.
"Assemble the Frostwolf Guard!" His voice echoed through the snowy night. "Now! Everyone, full combat gear!"
I could barely believe my ears.
"You..."
"I'm invoking the heir's emergency deployment authority," Walter said, glancing back with a bitter smile. "My father will be furious, but that's a problem for later. Right now, we're going to save your mate."
A horn blast tore through the silent, snowy night.
I stood at the tent entrance, watching Silver Moon's elite warriors converge from all directions. They wore silver armor, carried weapons, forming ranks in the snow. Hundreds of massive silver-white wolves emerged from the crowd, howling at the sky, radiating killing intent.
Walter approached and draped a heavy cloak over my shoulders. "Your condition isn't fit for battle, but I know I can't stop you."
"Thank you," I said hoarsely.
"Don't thank me yet," he said, helping me onto the war chariot. "Let's just hope we're not too late."
The chariot lurched forward. The silver wolf pack led the way, crushing snow beneath their paws as they charged south. I glanced back at the Silver Moon outpost, where the bonfire flickered in the wind like a lamp that would never go out.
Then I turned forward, toward the Lightning Pack's direction.
That streak of dark purple mist still roiled at the horizon, like a wound that wouldn't heal.
Ivan was there. Frank was there. Everyone was there.
"Wait for me," I whispered in my heart. "Please wait, Ivan. I'm bringing help. So you have to stay alive."