Chapter 9: The Elder's Secret

The footsteps stopped outside the archive.

No one spoke.

Julian quietly moved behind the door and signaled the Enforcer to take position.

The handle slowly turned.

Then the door slammed open.

Head Elder Harrison stood in the doorway.

His expression was calm, but his eyes immediately locked onto the document in my hands.

"Give that to me, Cora."

I held the paper tighter.

"You ordered someone to remove me from the Sanctuary."

Harrison's face remained emotionless.

"You don't understand what you're reading."

"Then explain it."

He stepped into the room.

"The Sanctuary is facing a crisis. There are forces inside the packs that want to destroy everything we've built."

"And somehow killing the Ironclaw Luna and framing me was part of protecting the Sanctuary?"

His eyes hardened.

"The Luna knew too much."

My stomach dropped.

"Too much about what?"

Harrison didn't answer.

Instead, he looked toward Julian.

"You should leave this matter alone, Beta Assistant."

Julian stepped beside me.

"Not anymore."

For the first time, Harrison looked genuinely surprised.

The Enforcer raised his weapon.

"Head Elder, you're under investigation. Don't make this worse."

Harrison suddenly smiled.

"You think this document is proof?"

He pointed at the paper in my hands.

"That order was written years ago."

"It has nothing to do with tonight's incident."

I looked down at the date.

He was right.

The order had been issued nearly two years ago.

My chest tightened.

"Then why was my file accessed tonight?"

Harrison's expression changed.

That tiny reaction was enough.

He knew something.

Before he could answer, a violent explosion shook the entire Sanctuary.

The archive walls trembled.

Glass shattered somewhere in the eastern wing.

The lights went out again.

A scream echoed through the corridor.

"Fire!"

The Enforcer rushed toward the doorway.

"Everyone out!"

Smoke began pouring into the archive.

Julian grabbed my wheelchair and pushed me toward the emergency exit.

Harrison remained where he was.

He looked directly at me through the smoke.

"Cora, if you want to survive tonight, stop digging."

"Why?" I demanded.

"Because the person you think is your enemy isn't the one you should fear."

Then he disappeared into the smoke.

I stared after him.

A red warning appeared before my eyes.

【HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT ONE THING.】

My heart pounded.

Another line appeared.

【THE REAL ENEMY IS ALREADY INSIDE THE SANCTUARY.】

Then I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Cora!"

I turned.

Stella stood at the end of the corridor.

Her hands were bound with silver restraints.

But she wasn't alone.

A masked wolf stood behind her, one claw pressed against her throat.

He looked directly at me.

Then he smiled.

"Finally. The healer we've been waiting for."