Chapter 0368

"More than any of us." Theodore confirms.

I should have seen it coming. I should have spent more time with Isabella. Maybe then I could have prevented this. Or maybe this was fate. The higher powers always played their twisted games. That truth was becoming clearer every day.

"How long until she wakes?" I ask.

"Several hours, most likely. Her recovery will be different now, as you know."

"Good. I have business to attend to."

"You should remain here." Theodore blocks my path.

"You said she'll be asleep. I need to find the bastard responsible."

"Who?" He challenges me.

"I don't know yet. But I will."

"Let Zachary and Alexander handle the investigation. Someone must have seen something." Theodore speaks with too much optimism. He would never have survived as a Hunter.

"I can't just sit here. That's not who I am."

"What should I tell her when she wakes?"

"Tell her I'm going to kill the one who did this."

I shove past him and throw open the hospital doors. Darkness blankets the pack grounds. An unusual silence hangs heavy in the air. A few Wolves and Lycans wander about, but the usual energy is absent.

I jog toward the gates. I need to question the guards. I also need to see where Zachary found her. Perhaps there are tracks they missed. Perhaps I will see what they could not.

Caleb stands guard at the entrance. His focus is directed outside the pack, while his Wolf faces inward. An improvement over the usual chatter among guards.

"Caleb!" I call out. He doesn't move.

"Hunter!" He growls in response. "Is the girl alright?"

"She'll live. Seen anything unusual?"

"Nothing."

"You didn't notice Hannah either, did you?"

"I thought it was a fallen log." He mutters. "No movement. No sound. No scent."

"You need to be closer to catch human scent." I reply. His Wolf glares at me.

"Dane informed me. I've been around Lycans too long. It won't happen again."

I have no reason to trust him. I doubt I ever will.

"You relieved Finn, correct?" I press him.

"Yes."

The Wolf avoids my gaze now. He actively prevents our eyes from meeting. Even when I step closer, he looks over my shoulder.

"You're being very quiet." I smile coldly. "What's your name?" I consider calling him coward. "Grant!" He spits out.

"Friends with Finn?" I ask.

"I have nothing to say." His green eyes glare daggers.

"No? Your avoidance suggests otherwise."

"I didn't see anything." He grumbles.

"Not a very competent guard, are you?" I muse. He holds his ground but looks ready to flee. "I'll have to inform Alexander. He won't want weakness at the gates."

"I only meant..."

"What this idiot means is he has a problem with me guarding the gate." Caleb remarks. "We were arguing when Alexander and Zachary arrived with the girl. I already told them both."

"Lycans don't belong on gate duty." Grant snarls at me.

"Is that your decision?" I muse. "Or are you deflecting because you know something about what happened to Hannah?"

"I know nothing about that."

The infuriating part was he told the truth about Hannah. But he was hiding something else.