CHAPTER 225: CHAPTER 225 THE HOSPITAL LOCKDOWN

Jace’s POV

When I decided to stop by the hospital today to see the newborn pups, I never imagined I’d find myself in the middle of a pack emergency.

I had just finished investigating a rogue sighting nearby and was in the car with three enforcement officers when I mentioned wanting to visit Alpha Draven and Luna Caroline’s new litter.

Officer Renata got excited, eager to meet the quadruplets. Soon everyone was asking to join - my team had been tracking Howard for weeks, and they’d all met Alpha Draven and his mate at some point during our investigation.

Renata insisted on stopping at the gift shop to buy comfort items for the Luna and toys for the pups. Before I knew it, everyone was pooling money - we purchased balloons, specialty chocolates, and plush wolf toys.

Minutes later, we stood in front of the nursery window, watching those tiny ones sleeping peacefully. I immediately noticed something off, there were only three pups in the nursery.

I frowned and questioned the security guard, who claimed one of the babies had been taken for special testing.

"But why separate just one?" I asked, my wolf instincts flaring with suspicion. The guard couldn’t provide a satisfactory answer.

I spotted a nurse approaching the nursery door and intercepted her, asking why only one pup required testing. She studied me carefully, noting my enforcement uniform with the Alpha Council insignia on my tactical vest and the investigator badge. She asked me to wait, went inside to check the computer, then returned with a troubled expression.

"Investigator, I believe we have a situation. None of these pups have any scheduled tests. I need to alert security immediately."

"Do that now!" I ordered, then turned to the guard who was already shifting nervously. "Which direction did they go?" He pointed toward a corridor, and I immediately sent a mind-link to Dr. Molina. "Doctor, initiate lockdown protocol now! One of Alpha Draven and Luna Caroline’s pups is missing. Move quickly!"

Before ending the call, I heard the hospital’s code pink alarm blaring - the emergency signal for a missing child. As a pack-run hospital, they had protocols specifically designed for werewolf emergencies. I knew this would seal off the entire building within seconds, activating the special silver-infused security barriers at all exits that would prevent even the strongest wolf from breaking through.

I raced down the corridor the guard had indicated. When I reached the fire escape door, I managed to pull it open and found the security guard unconscious inside. I dragged him back onto the floor just as the security door locked automatically behind me.

A doctor rushed over to assist with the unconscious guard, who had a nasty wound on his head. He mumbled through his disorientation, explaining how he’d been struck from behind immediately after entering the stairwell. The doctor insisted on treating the wound and running tests for concussion, so I left him to it and headed back to brief my team.

To my frustration, the door between wings had already sealed due to the lockdown. I mind-linked Dr. Molina directly, "I need access through the secured doors."

Moments later, the door unlocked. I requested access to the fire escape as well, which he granted, waiting with two security guards while two others accompanied me. I descended the stairs rapidly, my wolf senses heightened, searching for any trace of the missing pup - though I knew Luna Caroline’s scentless nature likely extended to her offspring, making traditional tracking impossible.

Finding nothing, I returned to the maternity floor where the hospital’s head of security was coordinating with his team, clearly agitated.

"Dr. Molina, do you have surveillance footage?" I demanded.

"Yes, this way. We’re reviewing it now."

I summoned the three enforcement officers who had accompanied me, and we followed Dr. Molina to a security room. The head of security was already reviewing footage that showed a woman in nursing scrubs carrying a small bundle. We observed her being stopped by one guard who then called another guard to escort her. We tracked their movement through multiple cameras until the woman quickened her pace and entered the stairwell with the guard following. After that, nothing.

We checked entrance footage and identified the woman entering with what appeared to be legitimate credentials. Remarkably, we couldn’t find any evidence of her or an accomplice leaving the hospital in the brief window between the pup’s abduction and the lockdown.

"The baby must still be inside," I concluded, studying the monitors. "And we’re looking for at least two people, the woman couldn’t have knocked out the guard while carrying a newborn. Someone helped her."

"Let’s talk to Alpha Draven and Luna Caroline," I said. "Dr. Molina, I think we should move the other three babies to their parents’ room. It will be safer there and might help comfort the Luna. Plus, it will free up our staff to help with the search."

"Excellent suggestion," Dr. Molina agreed, turning to a nearby guard. "Continue monitoring all footage. Check if she exited the stairwell on any floor. Look for anyone suspicious."

When we entered Luna Caroline’s room, Draven’s security team was already telling them what had happened. Caroline looked heartbroken.

"I can’t believe this is happening again," Alpha Draven said quietly as he walked me to the door. I could hear the pain in his voice - Howard had already tried to hurt his mate and oldest son before, and now another one of his babies was in danger.

"Stay with your Luna and remaining pups, Alpha," I said firmly. "My team will find your missing child. I swear it on my position with the Alpha Council."

Outside the room, I organized search teams. The hospital had twenty floors, and we were currently on the fifteenth. Besides my three officers, there were seven of Draven’s security guards - four remained to protect the family, one was receiving treatment, and the rest joined the search effort.

With the elevators locked down due to protocol, we could only use the stairs. Dr. Molina provided me with a master security key and access card that would open any door in the facility. If necessary, I would tear the hospital apart brick by brick to find that pup.

We started on the maternity floor and found nothing. Then we proceeded to search methodically, floor by floor. I sent updates through mind-link to Dr. Molina and directly to Alpha Draven with each completed search.

Four hours later, we reached the administrative level on the first floor. Despite our thorough search, we’d found nothing.

It was as if the woman, her accomplice, and the pup had vanished into thin air or had a powerful witch casting concealment spells.