"What do you mean you're not a werewolf?" April wasn't the only fox out there?!

"Exactly what I say. I don't shift into a wolf." Ivy responded.

My thoughts were racing. "How many of you are there?"

She looked down with a small shrug, "as far as I know, only my sister and me." She didn't include April in that; could she be something entirely different? What other Weres were out there?

"Wait, what are you?"

She didn't look me in the eyes, obviously avoiding an answer. Suddenly, she stumbled and fell to her hands and knees.

"Are you okay?" I asked,my question forgotten for the moment. "Do you want me to carry you back?"

A defiant spark of determination lit up her dull green eyes, but faded almost immediately. She sighed, giving in. "Alright. I'm probably slowing us down a lot."

I scooped her up, holding her bridal style. She blushed, but I ignored it, continuing with my questions. "Did you see where they took April?"

Ivy looked thoughtful for a moment. "I didn't see her, but I heard her fighting them before they disappeared into the trees. They probably took her to the same place as the others."

I blinked in surprise, "others?"

She nodded weakly. "Yes. There's around five or six of us in that place. They capture anyone they find a non-wolf shifter."

So it's not just foxes! "Why?"

"I don't know," Ivy shrugged. "They try to convince us into thinking our family abandoned us and that they rescued us. They tell us they are the best thing for us."

"What?" I screeched, "that's absurd!"

She nodded in agreement. "I don't think anyone believes them – we were held in cells for goodness sake! But I have a theory that they do something to us to make us forget."

"Forget?" My heart pounded. Was April going to forget all about me, about her family?

"I only remember bits and pieces of my pack and family. And like I said before, I don't think Ivy is my real name. I think they brainwash us and give us new names."

I growled. "That's messed up! If they want you so bad, how did you end up hanging in the woods?"

She blinked back tears. "I'm not sure. Maybe they decided I wasn't worth it anymore. I know they brought me out here to die. Why it was so close to your pack's territory? I don't have an answer."

I didn't bother telling her this was April's territory. "You aren't going to die. I don't know why they would leave you here, but we'll take care of you.

Ivy shrugged again seeming nonchalant about the matter. "I'm very weak, uh —"

"Xavier." I answered. "And I know, but our doctor will help."

The trees soon thinned until we ended up in April's backyard. I noticed April's parents hurrying towards us.

"Is that April? Did you find her?" Mrs. Anderson rushed her words out, her eyes wide with panic.

I shook my head as they came to a stop in front of me. I felt Ivy tighten her grip on me in fright. "No, I'm sorry. I lost her scent completely."

"Who's this?" Alpha Anderson demanded, just now noticing Ivy.

"This is Ivy," I answered calmly. "She was a victim of the rogues for a while and I found her in the woods, hanging from a tree by a rope."

"He saved my life." Ivy told them shyly.

"You poor thing!" Luna Anderson called for the Pack Doctor and he scurried over, taking the girl from my grasp. She protested and reached back out for me but I shook my head.

"You need to be treated. I'll come visit you in a second." She didn't get a chance to respond before the doctor took her inside.

"So my daughter's still out there?" Alpha Anderson demanded.

I tried not to shrink back under his stare. "Yes sir. I'm sorry, I couldn't track her scent. They hid it well and took her with them. And then I found Ivy."

He growled at me, but I held my ground, knowing his attitude was due to the grief he was feeling. When the Luna put a hand on his arm, he finally backed down and turned to the man standing next to him.

"I want search parties out there immediately, scouring the woods for any sign of her." He ordered and the man nodded his head.

"Yes, Alpha. Right away."

When he'd scurried off, the Alpha gave me one last death glare before following his pack member. I sighed and turned to the Luna.

"I love her." I whispered. "If I could turn back time, I would never have shut her out. I should've taken her back to my pack with me the moment I found out she knew everything about our way of living. Gosh, I'm such an idiot!"

"You're an idiot?" A new voice joined in to the Luna's left. "No, I'm an idiot! I could've prevented April from getting captured and stopped the whole fight when I got here!"

Luna Anderson and I looked at the newcomer strangely. "What do you mean, Emerald?" April's mother asked.

"I have these stupid powers that I freaking forgot to use!" She screeched, but I knew she was mostly screaming at herself and not us. "Idiot!"

An arm wrapped around her shoulders and I saw Alpha Williams kiss her forehead. "Don't blame yourself, Em. You hardly use them at home, so it's natural to not think about them here."

Emerald turned on him. "Except this was a dire situation! If I had frozen the fight, I could've prevented April's capture!"

"Wait," I held up my hand, "you're saying you have magic that could've prevented this?" She nodded guiltily and I lost it, lunging at her. "You mean April could be here right now?" I screeched in her face.

Her mate shoved me to the ground with a murderous growl. "Lay a hand on her, pup, and you won't see tomorrow."

Emerald lightly slapped his head. "River leave him alone, he's just lost his mate. You'd probably act the same way if I were taken away again." River just growled again, pushing himself off me and returning to his Luna's side.

Emerald turned to me with sad eyes, "If I could turn back time, I'd prevent them from taking her. I'd rip them all to shreds before they even got near her!"

"Stop it!" Luna Anderson interrupted. "Neither if you can turn back time, so we need to focus on what to do now!" We both looked at our feet guiltily. "There. Now Xavier, did Ivy tell you anything that could be helpful?"

I looked back up and met all of their eyes. "I think you need to hear the story she has to tell."