Chapter 224: Chapter 224 The Missing Pup
Caroline’s POV
After the mall incident, I became a complete homebody. At six months pregnant with quadruplets, my body felt like it was carrying a small pack of its own. The pregnancy had been challenging; my energy drained faster than I could replenish it.
"You need to rest more," Rory whispered inside my mind. "Our pups are drawing strength from both of us."
"I know," I replied silently. "I just hate feeling so vulnerable."
We decided to keep Liam home from daycare. The risk was too great with Howard still out there. Who knew what that psychopath might attempt next? My heart raced every time I thought about him finding a way past our security.
Nate had completed his rehabilitation at our home after the attack. He’d made a full recovery, but the experience left him more cautious, always checking his surroundings.
The tension in our home remained high even though Howard seemed to have disappeared after the mall. Leo and his IT team had swept all company devices, finding spyware on several phones and computers. Yet the identity of Howard’s inside informant remained elusive.
"Ready to go, sweetheart?" Draven asked, entering our bedroom.
I nodded, rubbing my enormous belly. Dr. Molina had scheduled a C-section for today. With four werewolf pups growing at an accelerated rate, natural birth wasn’t an option.
"What’s that smile about?" Draven stood behind me, kissing the top of my head.
"Just thinking about that masquerade ball in Maplewood."
His violet eyes sparkled. "Ah, first Saturday of August. Just like today."
"Do you realize what that means?" I asked, feeling suddenly emotional. "Our quadruplets will share the same birth month as when we first met."
"When fate first brought us together," he murmured, placing his hand on my stomach. "Even if I was too blind to recognize my mate that night."
How disappointed I’d been when my fated mate hadn’t recognized me due to my lack of scent. Now here we were, about to welcome four more pups into our family.
"Let’s go meet our babies," Draven said. "Everything’s ready."
"You’re sure the hospital is secure?" My anxiety spiked. "All the precautions we discussed?"
"The security team is in place. The babies will have round-the-clock surveillance. Guards will accompany any nurse who needs to move them." His voice carried the confident authority of an Alpha. "Nobody touches our pups without our knowledge."
At the hospital, Ruby, Eleanor, and the others greeted us with balloons, party hats, and confetti.
"What is this, a carnival?" I laughed despite my nervousness.
"This is the welcome party for your fantastic quartet," Ruby replied, blowing a party horn that made Liam giggle from where he sat in Eleanor’s arms.
The C-section went smoothly. By evening, I had four beautiful, healthy pups. They needed to stay in the NICU briefly as a precaution due to being born at six months, though werewolf pregnancies typically lasted only seven.
Dr. Molina kept us at the hospital for observation. With each passing day, my anxiety grew. The doctor prescribed mild sedatives to help me stay calm.
"Caroline, I have good news," Dr. Molina said, entering my room with a smile. "Your babies are thriving. They’ll move from the NICU to the regular nursery today for final observation. If all goes well, you can take them home in forty-eight hours."
"Can’t we leave today?" I asked.
"I’d prefer to monitor them a bit longer," he insisted. "Plus, we’ll remove your stitches first. Your body needs more recovery time."
I sighed, resigned. "Whatever you say, doctor."
The medication made me drowsy. I was drifting off when a security guard entered and whispered something to Draven. The urgency in his tone immediately cut through my haze.
"Don’t you dare leave without telling me what’s happening," I snapped, fully alert now.
The guard looked to Draven, who nodded grimly.
"One of your babies is missing, Luna Caroline."
I bolted upright, ignoring the sharp pain from my incision. "What? How could this happen?"
"A nurse took one for testing. The security guard went with her but was knocked unconscious. When he came to, both were gone."
Rory howled in distress inside me. I felt physical pain at the thought of my pup in danger.
Dr. Molina rushed in with two nurses, helping me back to bed as I fought against them.
"Caroline, we’ll find your baby," he assured me. "The hospital is locked down. No one gets in or out. Security footage shows they haven’t left the building yet."
Draven’s eyes had turned dark violet with fury, but his voice remained controlled. "Call Alpha Council Investigator Magnus immediately."
"Already done, Alpha," the guard replied. "And Investigator Jace was already in the building."
As if summoned, Jace appeared at the doorway. "I heard what happened. I have officers securing all exits and starting a room-by-room search."
"Thank you," Draven said. "I want every security feed reviewed. Question all staff who had access to the nursery. And get scent trackers up here now."
"That won’t help," I said, tears streaming down my face. "The babies are scentless like me. We can’t track them that way."
Draven’s expression faltered for just a moment before he composed himself. "Then we search every inch of this place. Nobody rests until our pup is found."
Beta Ryan who was standing beside Jace nodded. "With the Alpha Council investigators’ help, we’ll work faster. We specialize in these cases."
"I’ve got my best enforcers coming," Draven added, mind-linking his security team.
The door opened again, and nurses wheeled in three bassinets containing our other babies.
"We thought you’d feel better having them here," Dr. Molina explained. "I’ll stay personally to watch over them. Only trusted staff will be allowed in."
I looked at my three precious pups, then at the empty space where the fourth should be. My heart shattered anew.
"I need to call home," I whispered, reaching for my phone with shaking hands. "I need to make sure Liam is safe."
My dad and mom had come from Maplewood to meet their grandchildren and were watching Liam at our house.
Draven sat beside me on the bed, wrapping his strong arm around my shoulders. "We will find our pup, Caroline. I swear it on my life." His voice was steady but I could feel him trembling slightly. "Howard won’t get away with this."
"What if it’s not him?" I asked, the sedative making my thoughts fuzzy. "What if—"
"It’s him," Draven said firmly. "And when I find him, he’ll wish he’d never been born."
I clutched my Alpha’s hand, drawing strength from his determination even as I felt my world collapsing. One of our precious babies was out there somewhere, scared and alone, unable to feel our bond due to the cursed scentless nature I’d passed down.
"Why?" I sobbed. "Why would anyone take an innocent pup?"
Draven’s jaw tightened. "To hurt us. To hurt me. But it will be his last mistake."