Chapter 71
Alexander’s POV
I drummed my fingers against the polished oak table, growing increasingly irritated as the Emergency Pack Council Meeting dragged on. Orion, my wolf, paced restlessly beneath my skin, mirroring my mood with every tense breath I took.
Three hours.
We’d been sitting here for three damn hours, circling the same points, and still no real action taken. My mind kept drifting–to Felix, still recovering, and to Summer. Always Summer. I wondered if she’d eaten.
If she’d thought about me at all.
“-and until we can determine the origin of these foreign scents, I suggest doubling the eastern patrol
rotations,” Elder Morgan was saying, his voice droning on like he had all day.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Normally, I wouldn’t interrupt council proceedings, but when I saw
Summer’s name flashing on the screen, instinct took over. I raised my hand, cutting off Elder Morgan mid
-sentence.
“Excuse me,” I said, stepping away from the table. “I need to take this.”
The moment I answered, I could hear the panic in her voice.
“Alexander!” Summer’s voice cracked. “Felix is gone. He’s missing from the hospital!”
My blood turned to ice. “What do you mean ‘missing‘?” I demanded, my voice dropping to a dangerous
octave.
“I was going to visit him this morning, but Natalia showed up at the house,” she explained frantically. “I had to deal with her first, and then right after she left, Dr. Miller called saying Felix wasn’t in his room!
Oh God, Alexander–I think Alpha Foster took him.”
The mention of Natalia momentarily confused me–what the hell was she doing at my house?-but Felix’s disappearance immediately took precedence.
“I’ll be there in three minutes,” I growled, ending the call.
I turned to the council members who were watching with concerned expressions. “Meeting adjourned. There’s been an incident with Felix.”
The drive to the hospital was a blur of rage and fear. Orion was practically taking over, demanding we find our mate’s pup immediately. Though Felix wasn’t biologically mine, both my wolf and I had formed a profound bond with the boy. He was ours to protect.
I found Summer in the hallway outside Felix’s room, her face ashen, eyes wild with fear. When she saw
1/2
Chapter 71
+15 BONUS
me, something broke in her expression, and she rushed into my arms.
“They can’t find him anywhere,” she whispered against my chest, her body trembling. I could feel her tears soaking through my shirt.
I pulled back just enough to cup her face, wiping away tears with my thumbs. “We’ll find him, Summer. I promise you that.” My voice was steady despite the murderous rage building inside me. “When was the last time anyone actually saw him?”
“The day nurse checked on him this morning, but-” Summer’s words faltered as she struggled to maintain composure.
I scanned the area, inhaling deeply. The corridor was thick with hospital scents–antiseptic, illness, medications–but beneath it all, something else lingered. Something wrong.
My attention snapped to the four pack guards stationed at Felix’s door. They stood with heads bowed, shoulders slumped in shame. I stalked toward them, Alpha power rolling off me in waves that had them both dropping to their knees before I’d even spoken.
“EXPLAIN!” I roared, my eyes blazing gold as Orion pushed forward. The windows in the hallway rattled
with the force of my anger. “How does a child disappear on YOUR WATCH?”
The taller guard, Ryan, kept his eyes on the floor as he spoke. “Alpha, we don’t know how it happened.
Last night, during our shift, we caught an unusual scent–something sweet and dense in the air. Then
everything got… foggy. We both felt drowsy. Next thing we knew, it was morning.”
My claws extended involuntarily, drawing blood from my own palms. “You’re telling me,” I snarled, barely
containing my shift, “that someone drugged you LAST NIGHT, and Felix has likely been missing for
HOURS?”
The guards trembled visibly. “We’ll accept any punishment, Alpha,” the second one whispered.
I grabbed Ryan by the throat, lifting him until his feet dangled above the floor. “I trusted you with my mate’s child,” I growled, my voice distorted by my lengthening fangs. “Do you have ANY IDEA what
you’ve done?”
Orion howled for blood. For retribution. For their throats between our jaws.
“Alexander,” Summer’s gentle touch on my arm was the only thing that prevented me from shifting fully.” They were drugged. It wasn’t their fault.”
