Chapter 8: The Hidden Records

The emergency lights flickered on, bathing the hallway in a dim red glow.

Chaos erupted throughout the Sanctuary.

Healers rushed from one corridor to another while Enforcers shouted orders.

I looked at Julian.

"Where is the medicine vault?"

He pointed toward the eastern wing.

"Two floors below us."

Before I could say anything, a deafening crash echoed from below.

Someone had broken through another security door.

Julian grabbed my wheelchair handles.

"We need to get you somewhere safe."

"No."

I stopped him.

"If someone is stealing restricted medicine and accessing my records, hiding won't help me."

His expression tightened.

"Cora, you're injured."

"And someone is trying to make sure I stay injured—or worse."

He stared at me for a moment before finally nodding.

We headed toward the eastern wing.

The closer we got, the stronger the smell of burned herbs became.

When we reached the medicine vault, two Enforcers were already standing outside.

The reinforced door was hanging open.

Inside, shelves had been overturned and dozens of sealed vials were scattered across the floor.

One Enforcer crouched beside a broken cabinet.

"Someone knew exactly what they were looking for."

I scanned the room.

Most of the medicine was untouched.

Only three specific compounds were missing.

My blood ran cold.

I recognized them immediately.

They were rare suppressants used to interfere with a werewolf's healing ability.

"Those aren't random medicines," I whispered.

"They're designed to stop a healer from recovering."

Julian's face changed.

"Then whoever took them wasn't planning another attack on the Luna."

"No," I said.

"They were planning to silence someone who knows the truth."

A red message appeared before my eyes.

【THE MISSING MEDICINES WILL BE USED ON YOU.】

My fingers tightened around the wheelchair.

Another line appeared.

【BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT EVIDENCE IS STILL HIDDEN IN THE RESTRICTED ARCHIVES.】

I immediately turned toward Julian.

"Take me to the archives."

"Cora, that's restricted."

"Exactly."

We hurried through the darkened corridor.

When we reached the archive entrance, the security panel was already damaged.

Someone had forced their way inside.

The Enforcer following us raised his weapon.

"Stay behind me."

We entered carefully.

Rows of ancient records filled the room.

Most of them were untouched.

Then I noticed one drawer pulled halfway open.

My name was written on the label.

I stared at it in disbelief.

Inside was my complete medical history from the past ten years.

But there was something else beneath the records.

A sealed document bearing the Head Elder's personal crest.

Julian looked at me.

"Cora, don't open that."

I broke the seal anyway.

The first page contained a list of names.

The second contained payment records.

And the final page made my blood run cold.

At the bottom was a signature I recognized instantly.

Head Elder Harrison.

Beside it was a handwritten order.

"Remove Cora from the Sanctuary by any means necessary."

I stared at the words, unable to breathe.

Then footsteps echoed outside the archive.

Someone was coming.

The red warning appeared one final time.

【HE FOUND YOU.】