Free Web NovelChapter 22: Chapter 22 Numbers Drop at Last
Elara’s POV
Once that thought clicked, everything suddenly made perfect sense to me.
Holy shit!
I was internally dying, absolutely losing it. My inner devil was doing a victory dance, hands planted firmly on her hips, and even my usually uptight angel had joined the celebration. See? Our girl crushes it wherever she goes!
My devil’s voice chimed in. Quick, slap one on the sexy merman too.
My angel shot back. Hell no! He looks like a damn zigzag!
The devil wasn’t backing down. You superficial bitch! He cries actual pearl tears! Pearls! Don’t you want those?
I shook my head. Of course I wanted pearls!
But this was still just a theory, right? I’d need to test it properly later.
——
The three guys who’d just gotten called out by the system were absolutely losing their minds with joy. This wasn’t some random announcement—it was their lifeline.
Over in Chamber Seven, Silas had pretty much cracked the code too. Staring at the vine wrapped around his wrist, he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.
Recently, they’d asked if his dropping spirit collapse numbers were from that injection he’d given himself. Silas had shut that down immediately. His levels falling could only mean one thing—Elara. What he’d injected was just regular inhibitor.
Right then, Julian shot a look at Kaelen, his eyes zeroing in on that vine bracelet around Kaelen’s paw.
Had to be something Elara crafted with her wood abilities!
Finnian was practically green with jealousy. He’d been the perfect patient every damn day, so where was his special treatment?
Alistair was having a full mental breakdown, but he’d connected the dots. Those three guys getting their numbers to drop wasn’t some fluke. They’d all been stuck here forever, and nobody’s levels had ever gone down—just those periodic meltdowns and numbers that kept climbing.
So when exactly had things started changing?
Answer: the second Elara walked through those doors.
Silas hadn’t had a breakdown in several days. In that same recent period, none of them had lost it. Before? That would’ve been impossible.
Dorian was so pumped he couldn’t even form words. The little leopard was confused as hell. Why did everyone else drop one point while he dropped three?
He glanced over at Elara, about to try nudging his head her way again, but she’d already spun around and was heading toward Chamber Four.
The leopard’s heart crashed, his eyes instantly getting watery. Wait, wait... the flowers weren’t for him?
Shit! "How dare you steal my mate’s attention, you shameless bastard!"
Dorian chomped down on the carpet, back legs thrashing against the floor, shooting death glares at Barrett.
Barrett spotted Elara coming and tried to play it cool. But his four legs had other plans. Face burning red, he stepped forward, eyes glued to that bouquet next to her meal cart.
Gorgeous. He’d never seen flowers that beautiful. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
In the Valerion Empire, flowers were rare as hell. Yet Elara had managed to find so many for him. The thought made Barrett’s chest tighten. His spirit collapse numbers were sky-high, stuck here for treatment... and he hadn’t done jack shit for her.
Why was he the only one whose levels didn’t budge? Barrett’s fists clenched in frustration. He was completely useless. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
The more he spiraled, the redder his eyes got. Pretty impressive, looking that heartbroken with a wolf’s head.
"I’ve been missing you these past few days. Did you... miss me at all?"
What the hell?!
Barrett was actually making a move?
Dead silence. Even the chewing stopped.
All six of them had their ears perked up. Only Silas quietly slipped away to change.
Their panic was pointless though. If this were some regular person getting hit with a line like that, they might’ve gotten flustered, wondering what Barrett meant. But Elara wasn’t just anyone.
She just gave a little jump, accidentally plopped a massive chunk of scrambled eggs on his plate, then slowly looked up at Barrett and said, "Don’t think sweet talk’s gonna get you extra helpings!"
Seriously, who the hell misses a wolf?
Look at that bow tie and that giant rock—like some flashy new-money type.
Just like with Julian, Barrett caught that look in her eyes crystal clear. His whole body went rigid, tears immediately pooling up. So... his mate actually couldn’t stand him?
Because she didn’t like him, even though she’d come looking, she wouldn’t acknowledge what they had.
The big wolf was crushed. Tears swimming in his eyes. Getting injured or breaking bones had never hurt this bad.
The food was steaming hot, colorful and fragrant. Elara might be dense, but she still gave him his proper portion. Like... chocolate.
Seeing he got chocolate too, Barrett immediately perked up. Didn’t matter how much Dorian got. Dorian was the young prince of the Valerion Empire, just a kid.
But giving it to him was different. She did still care about him.
Barrett pressed his lips together, lifted his two massive wolf paws, and carried the meal inside.
Wait, did Elara just see a wolf walking upright?
Walking upright???
Her eyes drifted downward, and then... Barrett, thinking he might’ve forgotten the flowers, turned around. That movement perfectly showcased the impressive potential hidden beneath all that thick fur. Even though the view was partially blocked, even though nothing was completely visible, it was exactly that teasing, half-concealed, just-the-tip quality that made it all the more... striking.
