Chapter 0365

An unfamiliar urge to shield them surged through me, stronger than ever.

The twins grew fussy. Athena announced she was taking them to eat. Sebastian and Brianna departed for home, leaving Alexander and me by ourselves.

“There’s something else, isn’t there?” I asked.

“I’m implementing additional safeguards.”

“In case something happens to you. Correct?”

He released a heavy breath. “A contingency always existed. I had siblings. But if something happens to both myself and Athena now, the boys are far too young to assume command. I require a Black capable of holding the position until they mature. You are more than capable of leading a pack.”

“It won’t come to that.”

“Precautions are necessary,” he murmured.

I nodded. Knowing his plans earlier wouldn’t have changed my decision. I still would have agreed.

“I also need to review our pack’s history with you,” he added. “Just as a precaution. But first, I want to check on Caleb.”

We moved toward the gates. The last place I anticipated finding Caleb. Alexander informed me the other guard left abruptly after his wife went into labor.

Caleb was engaged in conversation with the second guard but raised a hand in acknowledgment as we approached.

“What is that?” Something dark lay further up the road toward the main thoroughfare. A sprawled object nearly concealed by the tree shadows.

I detected no scent.

“Open the gates!” I shouted, moving closer.

Caleb gave me a puzzled look but pulled the gate open just enough for me to slip through.

I instructed Alexander to stay back. If this was a trap, only one of us should risk it. I advanced until the faint scent of a Human reached me. Slowing my pace, I scanned the surrounding trees, sniffing the air. Only familiar pack scents and the Human’s odor were present.

“Shit.” Red hair peeked out from under the hood.

“What is it?” Alexander called out.

“Get Luc!” I yelled back, turning the person onto their back.

Hannah’s eyes were closed. A deep gash ran from her temple, across her right eye, down to her chin. She needed stitches. And antibiotics.

I lifted her from the ground and hurried back through the gates. “Stop standing there!” I snapped at Caleb and the other guard. “Secure the gates!” How had they missed her? How had they missed her attacker?

“Theodore is at the hospital,” Alexander informed me. I didn’t hesitate, charging across the grounds.

“Hannah?” Theodore muttered as I burst through the doors. “You found her?”

“She was outside the gates. Like this. Alexander is locating Luc. She no longer smells like a Lycan.”

He ignored me, examining the facial wound. “She’s not healing either.”

He worked swiftly, cleaning the injury as I checked her hands. Blood, skin fragments, and hair were trapped beneath her nails. I’d seen it countless times in my human life. She had fought her attacker. Tried to leave a mark. Had she escaped him? Had she returned here alone?

“WHERE IS SHE?!” Luc roared.

“She’s with Theodore,” Alexander told him. “Allow him to assess her condition.”

“Are you certain it’s her? All I scent is Human.”

I stepped out of the room. “It’s her. He did to her what he did to Seraphina and the other woman.”

He shoved past me into the room, only to immediately turn and exit.

“Luc.” Alexander blocked his path. “You must maintain control.”

“I am not part of your pack,” he growled back.

“Charging out there blindly, with no knowledge of how she returned, helps neither you nor her.”

“I believe she returned alone,” I interjected, describing what I found under her nails. “I don’t think she was dumped here.”

Luc narrowed his eyes at me. “You found her?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“Outside the gates.”

“And who was guarding the gates?” he demanded.

“None of your concern.”

He looked to Alexander for answers.

“I side with Zachary on this. I cannot allow you to confront my pack members without information. Sit down. Hope your mate recovers.”

Luc glared at us both but sat in the chair outside Hannah’s room.

Theodore emerged a short while later.

“She’s mildly dehydrated. I’ve sutured the wound. Her body shows no signs of healing, so scarring is inevitable. And it’s not the only scar. I discovered deep scratches on her back as well. Likely from a Lycan. Judging by the cuts on her feet, she was running before she collapsed.”

Neither man at the gates had seen her.