Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 72 Clayton: Her Identity

CLAYTON

The hospital holds too many memories, and my wolf snarls and whines as it tries in desperation to sniff out any hint of Ava's scent when we arrive.

There's nothing, of course. Just the smell of the injured, the sickly, and disinfectant.

Ivy's room is in our family wing on the top floor, and I head straight there, unable to even look at the button for floor 12.

Ava's floor.

Mate, my wolf whines, and I wonder how much worse this would be if we had a fated connection instead of a chosen one. Lucas' single-minded determination has never made more sense to me than now, as we've spent over a week searching for any hint of the men who took Ava.

Someone had covered their tracks. Every airline, every taxi company, every rideshare, every car rental—their systems were hacked and wiped, so we can't even ascertain how she left.

Air? Car? Even the trains were messed up for a while as they had to go through tickets by hand to verify passengers.

There are no security cameras we can rely on. Everything in the city was wiped. Everything.

I can't imagine what level of influence is needed to take down all of these things in a major city. It's beyond any single pack in the Northwestern Territories.

Was she taken by someone outside of them? But who, and why?

There are no answers to be found.

I settle into a chair beside Ivy's bedside. The natural healing abilities of every wolf are varied in strength, and Ivy's are so low that she heals almost at the rate of a normal human.

Thanks to the medication in her veins, she sleeps in peace. All of her tests are coming back with positive signs of recovery.

If I could find the bastards who did this to her, it would be even better.

I cradle Ava's phone in my palm, running my thumb over the smooth surface. The screen remains dark and lifeless. My jaw clenches as I stare at the pitiful list of contacts—just my number and Ivy's.

As an alpha, I should have pushed harder, gotten the information I needed. It was obvious in Ava's evasiveness and refusal to divulge personal details, the way she dodged questions about her family, that she was running from something. I let it slide because I was too focused on her heat, and then on keeping her here without scaring her off.

from beneath my

to take a deep breath, reining in

past. She must have bought it when she was shopping

have no one capable of hacking into it or the high-level skills required to overcome everything the abductors had wrought in their wake.

tightens around the phone. The pack's technology will rise. No more relying on outside resources when our security is at stake. I need to hire more experienced

have them in droves, but few are willing to work with the shifters, even in our cautious alliance—as if the last remaining bastion

packs think of dominating this world, knowing the humans existence betters all of our lives. Without their numbers, their talents, and their sheer work force, our societies would regress at an alarming

no good thing to come

my reverie, and I look up to see Rowan's concerned gaze. My beta has been a steadfast pillar

news?" he asks, stepping into

head, forcing the words past the lump in my throat. "Not yet.

out last week. Why don't they know

of the technical jargon is over my head. I'm not even sure they're making

tonight. He's forwarded all the evidence they've gathered against Blackwood. They brought in an

I'd forgotten all about that

Westwood in case they need

the time

fighting chance at head-on combat, but Lucas will need manpower after they take over the territory, keeping

sending out whatever orders will

frustration, feeling a headache settle

just as

Where are you, Ava?

you running

note in Rowan's

snatching his phone, my gaze fixed on the image before me. There she is, unmistakable with her dark blonde hair and striking blue eyes. They've

stamp confirms my worst fears—the very day she vanished from the

my throat as I take in the details, my blood running cold when I recognize the man beside her. Phoenix Grey has his hand on

Why?

study the image again, committing

struggle to contain the wolf clawing at my insides, desperate to give chase. Mate! They

Airport. They must have flown her out immediately after

They.