Chapter 34 BOMBSHELL

Chapter 34 BOMBSHELL
Hazel P.O.V.

I eye Lukas for a second, but he doesn't meet my gaze. Instead, he turns around, taking in the surroundings and lingering on the cage.
I bet thoughts of a similar past are swirling through his mind. After all, he was the one who rescued me that time too.
"He's right. You should shift," Damon encourages, trying to break the weird atmosphere that has settled between us.
I nod and call to my wolf, feeling her weaken after days of forced slumber. She still feels sluggish, but I suppose she'll be fine soon, once the lingering effects of the choker fade completely.
I ask her to shift, but she tells me feebly that we can't. She doesn't provide an explanation—just says it's not possible and goes back to sleep.
Well, I guess she still needs time to recover. Werewolves have enhanced healing in their human forms too, only it's not as fast as in wolf form. But it will have to do for now.
"I can't shift," I state, but immediately add, before they can start worrying, "I'll be fine soon, don't worry. It's nothing serious."
At my words, Lukas's eyes blaze. For a second, I swear I see smoke puff out of his nostrils, like an angry dragon.
"Nothing serious? Have you taken a look at yourself?" he yells, motioning for me to give myself a once-over. I do, and I see what he's talking about. I'm thin—too thin, unhealthily thin. My muscles have practically disappeared too, from inactivity.
"And that!" He points at the cage. "I suppose that's where he was keeping you. It's made of silver. And although it doesn't affect you as much as us, it can still poison you to a certain extent."
I look at my feet, feeling like a scolded child. I know that too. He doesn't need to point it all out.
"Lukas, calm down. She's been through a lot," Damon tries to mediate, involuntarily adding fuel to Lukas's rage.
"Do you think I can't see that?" he spits back. "And why is that? Because you had to shut us all out! You couldn't accept anyone's help because you're too stubborn and selfish. And look at you now!"
His words hurt like a thousand knives. Selfish? Does he really think that of me?
I stayed away to protect them. How is that selfish?
Fresh tears blur my vision while I glare resentfully at Lukas. I don't need this crap right now.
I turn around and, without a word, start walking toward the stairs. My legs feel weak, but I'll make it to the top without his help—just to show him how stubborn I can be.
"Where the fuck are you going now?" Lukas yells after me.
"I'm going to be selfish somewhere else! I don't need your help!" I shout back. Though even my shouting sounds weak.
Lukas growls loudly, making the basement tremble with his irritation.
Damon chuckles instead. Before I can refuse, he sweeps me up in his arms and walks swiftly up the stairs.
I let him, because in truth I need their help—and their comfort too. I lean my head on Damon's shoulder and close my eyes, cherishing his warmth and thoughtfulness. I'm so glad he's back. I was afraid we'd lost him for good.
When we finally get out into the open, sunlight filters through my eyelids. It's warm on my skin, even though the temperature outside is freezing. But with my wolf back, the cold doesn't bite anymore.
I squint my eyes open, curious to see where Danny kept me all this time. The place doesn't look familiar. It looks like an abandoned factory in the middle of nowhere. The perfect hiding spot. No one would come snooping, and if a fight occurred, no one would hear a thing.
"Where are we?" I ask Damon, who is gently carrying me toward the car. There are five of them—all black SUVs with tinted windows and bulletproof glass.
"This is the Black Mountain Pack territory."
"Emma's pack," I whisper.
"Yes. And this is the place where Derek was held captive when Emma kidnapped him."
That's just sick. Making us suffer a similar fate in the same location. I can picture Derek being chained to a chair in that dark, smelly basement, bound by silver chains, unable to free himself.
"Damon?"
"Yes?"
"Where is Derek?"
Silence. Damon's jaw twitches, and his expression looks sad for a moment before he composes himself.
My heart feels like it's being squeezed. Anxiety grows rampant in my mind as I wait for his answer—an answer that isn't coming.
"We don't know," he says at last, sounding defeated.
We reach the car. A warrior opens the door for us, and Damon places me gently on the backseat.
He pats my head gently, giving me a small smile. "Don't worry. We'll find him soon."
It's clear he's just trying to appease me. If they haven't managed to find him already, what chance do we have of finding him now? If something happened to him while my wolf was suppressed, I wouldn't even have felt it.
Panicked, I reach out through our bond, trying desperately to reach him—maybe even locate him. But I'm met with a wall. Something is blocking him, probably still the poison. At least I can feel that he's still alive. That will have to suffice for now, because I'm in no shape to start a search across the country.
Before we leave, the Moonlight Walkers pack doctor—who tagged along on this rescue mission—checks my injury and my vitals. Honestly, I find it unnecessary. I'll be fine soon. Once the effects of the silver completely fade, I'll be able to shift and heal faster.
"How far along are you?" the doctor asks. He's been checking me, prodding me, and taking blood samples for the last twenty minutes. His tone is indifferent.
I don't understand. I'm right in front of him. How far along can I be?
"In your pregnancy," he adds by way of explanation.
I stare at him for a second like he's grown two heads.
My what?
Before I can say anything, Lukas—who has been listening from a few feet away—forcefully pushes the doctor aside and blocks the car door with his wide frame. His face is scrunched up in rage. His hands grip the car door frame, knuckles white with strain.
"Did that bastard…?"
He doesn't complete the question. He can't bring himself to say the words.
Is he suggesting that Danny…?
Again, before I can answer, Damon butts in, his face pale too.
"Has Danny forced himself on you?" Damon's voice is low, dangerous—promising death to whoever dared touch me. I feel like Danny's life is hanging on my answer alone.
"Do you honestly think I'd let him rape me and get away with it?" I ask, feeling angry that they think so little of me. I'm not a damsel. I'm a white wolf and a Luna. I'm not weak.
"You let him put you in a cage, for fuck's sake!" Lukas snarls, making the car vibrate with his rage.
Okay. Point taken.
"Regardless, he didn't stick his dick in me. So this child is not his."
Lukas furrows his brows at my chosen language but doesn't comment.
"Then who's the father?" Damon asks, his gaze sharp, like he's waiting for me to lie.
"Are you seriously asking me that?" I reply, genuinely offended, my anger rising by the second. "Do you think I spread my legs for just anyone?"
At least they have the decency to look ashamed. After all the rumors that circulated when I started dating Derek, this kind of topic is sensitive for me. They should have known better than to accuse me of cheating on him.
"Can you really blame us for asking?" Lukas says, still sounding angry. "You disappeared from the face of the earth, all alone, without contacting anyone. Someone could have taken advantage of you while we weren't there to protect you!"
"But I don't need your protection!" I say, exasperated.
"Yeah, because you were doing so well on your own!" Lukas sneers. "Locked in a cage like a fucking dog!"
His words—even if spoken in anger—cut deep, making tears prick at my eyes. He thinks I'm worthless. Not even able to protect myself.
He slams the car door shut with a loud thud and barks at everyone to get in their vehicles. We're leaving.
Damon gets into the passenger seat and turns around to offer me a small smile.
"He's just angry at himself because he couldn't find you sooner. He hates knowing that you suffered. As do I." Then he adds as an afterthought, "He'll get over it. Give him some time."