<b>Chapter </b>173
Adrian’s POV
Steam rose from the hot spring as 1 rxed with several pack members. The mineral water soothed my muscles after days of <b>Alpha </b><b>King </b>Election preparations. Ryder lounged nearby, while Garrett and Xavier were discussing a movie I’d never heard of.
Our peaceful moment shattered when Lydia burst in wrapped in a towel. The men in the pool erupted into chaos.
“Is this the massage therapist Alpha King arranged for us?” a wolf warrior joked, eyebrows raised suggestively.
“Shut up,” I growled, immediately sensing something was wrong. Lydia’s face was etched with panic, and more importantly, Skye <b>wasn’t </b>with her.
I quickly climbed out of the water, grabbing a towel to wrap around my waist. “Lydia, what are you doing here<b>? </b>Where’s Skye<i>?</i>”
“She’s gone, Alpha Adrian,” Lydia said, her voice tight with anxiety. “Skye is missing.”
“What?” Ryder jumped up from the water, not bothering with modesty as he stepped onto the stone tiles<b>. </b>“What do you mean missing<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Garrett and Xavier also moved to the edge of the pool, concern evident on their faces.
“She went to the bathroom about an hour ago,” Lydia exined, her words tumbling out. “When she didn’te back, <b>I </b>checked everywhere. The bathroom, changing rooms<b>, </b>even the lobby. I tried mind–linking her multiple times but got nothing. I thought maybe she came here to find you, but…”
I immediately attempted to mind–link with Skye. <i>Skye</i><i>? </i><i>Skye</i>, <i>can </i><i>you </i><i>hear </i><i>me</i><i>? </i>Nothing but silence answered me.
“It must be Maya,” Lydia continued, anger shing in her eyes. “She and her friends were harassing <b>us </b>at the women’s spring. Skye defended me and threw them out. Maya threatened that it wasn’t over.”
I scanned the spring, noticing Leon and Ethan were no longer present. “Ryder, get dressed. We’re going to find her.”
I quickly pulled on my clothes and rushed outside. Leon and Ethan were just climbing into their SUV when I called out to them.
Leon turned, surprise flickering across his face before his expression hardened. “What do you want?” he asked coldly.
I strode forward and grabbed his cor, pushing him against the vehicle. “Where’s Maya?<b>” </b>
Leon shoved me back, his eyes shing with anger. “What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t you have enough women in your own pack? Why do you always go after women from mine?”
“Skye is missing,” I snarled. “And I think your little friend Maya had something to do with it.”
Ethan stepped between us, his face serious<b>. </b>“Missing? What are you talking about?”
By now, Ryder, Garrett, and Xavier had joined us outside, forming a protective semicircle behind me.
Leon’s expression shifted slightly. He pulled out his phone and made a call. “Maya,e to the parking lot. Now.”
<b>10:30 </b><b>Fri</b>, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M
Within minutes, Maya appeared, her wet hair suggesting she’d just left the hot springs. Her confidence wavered when she saw the assembled group.
‘What did you do to Skye? Leon demanded. “Didn’t I tell you to stop causing trouble? What did you promise me yesterday?
Maya shifted ufortably. “I just said a few words to her. She nearly choked my friend to death! We’re even now.”
“Did you take her?” I asked, stepping forward. “Where is she?”
Confusion crossed Maya’s face. “Take her? Why would I do that? She’s the one who kicked us out of the springs.”
Ethan crossed his arms. “Maya, Skye is missing. Are you absolutely sure you had nothing to do with it?”
“I hate her, yes,” Maya admitted. “I’d love to p that smug look off her <b>face </b>sometime. But kidnap her? Kill her? I’m not insane.” She nced at her watch. “How long has she been missing? Ten minutes? Half an hour? You’re all making a big deal out of nothing. Are all Oasisborn pack members this fragile? Maybe she went back to the springs or returned to the hotel.”
I had no good response. She made a valid point, even if I didn’t want to admit it.
“Lydia,” I said, turning to her. “Go back and check the springs and changing rooms again.”
“Ryder, head to the hotel immediately,” I ordered.
Leon grabbed Maya’s arm. “If I find out you’re lying, or if you cause any more problems, I’ll have you expelled from the pack. I’ve had enough of your childish behavior.”
Ethan stepped forward. “We’ll help search. She couldn’t have gone far.”
An hourter, we reconvened in the hotel lobby. Lydia had checked every inch of the hot springs. Ryder had searched our rooms and the hotel grounds. Xavier and Garrett had questioned staff and other guests. Ethan and Leon had driven around the surrounding area.
No one had seen Skye. No one had heard from her. She had simply vanished. <fn5fc7> Newest update provided by ?ovelFind</fn5fc7>
My heart sank as the reality hit me. This wasn’t a misunderstanding or Skye wandering off. The woman who had be so important to me, my pack, and my future wasn’t just missing.
Skye had truly been taken.