Chapter 35 Q&A

Chapter 35 Q&A
Hazel P.O.V.

The trip to the Moonlight Walker Pack will take around three hours. Although I'm already feeling drowsy, and my mind is still reeling from the news of my pregnancy—which I still don't fully believe—I want to ask Damon at least a thousand questions.
Lukas has taken another car, probably too angry to be around me. And that's fine. I'm angry too. If we were to talk right now, we'd definitely end up arguing again, and I don't want that. I've longed to see the people I love for so long, and I don't want to spend the time hurling mean words at them.
"So, how did you find me?" I ask Damon, who is currently messaging on his phone.
He looks up but doesn't reply immediately.
"I mean, the choker and the cage were blocking the mindlink and suppressing my wolf. And I'm sure Danny hasn't been stupid enough to let anything slip."
Damon laughs, making me frown. Nothing about this is funny.
"Actually, the first alarm bell was Danny himself. After you two were attacked by Illumina, his reports started to become more sporadic, less believable. And then Meera was adamant that you were in danger, so we put two and two together."
"That little weasel!" I exclaim, punching the air with my fist. "I should have known he was sneaking out information about me! I should never have trusted him!"
"Yeah, you shouldn't have. But at least he was helping us keep tabs on you." Damon shrugs, as if having someone follow me is the most normal thing in the world.
"You still haven't told me how you found me," I point out.
"Right, about that. I need to tell you something else first. Something that might surprise you."
My interest is piqued. I'm practically hanging on his lips.
"Do you remember Meera having those sporadic episodes where she could sense if someone was in danger or something bad would happen?"
I nod.
"Well, it turns out it wasn't just instinct…"
"She's a witch," I say outright, cutting Damon off mid-sentence.
His eyes bulge out of their sockets. He stares at me for a long moment.
"You knew?"
"Not really. But I had my suspicions."
"And you're okay with that?" he asks, trying to gauge my reaction.
"What do you mean? Of course I'm okay with that! Meera being a witch doesn't change a thing. She's still my friend and my Beta." Then I eye him with narrowed eyes, my tone accusatory. "What did you think I'd do? Chase her out of the pack?"
Damon puts his hands up in surrender.
"Hey, I was worried. With those witches trying to kill you, I worried you might feel threatened by her."
Right. I hadn't thought of that.
"Meera isn't like those witches. She would never hurt me. I'm sure of it."
And it's true. I'm certain.
"Good, because you're right. She'll never do anything to hurt you. Actually, these past few months have been hard for her. With me under mind control and you AWOL—the Goddess knows doing what—she was very worried about you."
The underlying scolding doesn't go unnoticed. I dip my head with guilt, knowing I made her suffer with my absence. I should have at least mindlinked her more. I'm a terrible friend and Luna.
"I'm sorry," I offer.
"I'm not the one you should apologize to," Damon says pointedly, giving me a look. And I know. I will apologize to Meera as soon as I see her.
"Anyway, to summarize the whole story: after the nth failed attempt at an antidote, Meera started getting very anxious. At the time, she was around the start of her fifth month, and she'd already had a few strange episodes where odd things happened around her—like stuff flying around on their own, and shit like that. During that last failed attempt, maybe due to her strong emotions, her power flared. She busted every breakable thing in the lab, including glass doors and windows.
"After that, she couldn't deny it anymore. She was a witch, even if she'd never known it. That same day, something awakened inside her. She let it guide her to me, and when she touched me, her magic cleared the compulsion away.
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth."
"Believe me, I believe you. Crazy is my normal."
Damon smirks and shakes his head, like he still can't believe what happened.
"Did she manage to free the rest of the pack as well?" I ask, eager to get up to speed.
"She did. The pack is kind of back to normal now. Although everyone still feels strange—they've missed three months of their lives. I've set up expert counseling for those who need it."
"Good call. The pack is lucky to have a Beta like you." Guilt eats at me. I should have been there for my pack, not in a cage playing house with Danny. I'm the worst Luna ever.
But Damon shakes his head, a bitter smile on his face.
"No, Hazel. I'm the one who put the poison in the pack's water system. I'm the one to blame for all this mess."
Damon runs a hand through his hair, his gaze anguished, full of guilt.
"No. Illumina is to blame. They did something to you that day in the forest, didn't they?"
Damon nods sadly.
Fuck that. I knew it.
"They used magic on me. When it activated, it was like I was possessed. I couldn't control my own body. I took a bottle from Derek's office—I didn't even know it was there or who put it—and poured it into the drinking water supply system. The rest you already know."
His head is bowed in shame and guilt. My heart aches for him. He shouldn't blame himself. He's a victim, like everyone else.
I place my hand on his shoulder and squeeze lightly, trying to comfort him.
"Stop blaming yourself. You're not at fault. And it doesn't help with anything."
Damon raises his head and quirks a brow.
"You should work on your comforting skills, Luna."
I laugh—a sound I haven't made in quite a while. Immediately, my heart feels a little lighter.
"Nah, I think I'm good as I am," I reply cheekily.
"If you say so," Damon comments, not convinced at all.
I miss this light banter. I miss all my friends. I'm so lucky to have them.
"So, was Meera the one who found out where Danny was hiding me?" I return to the original question.
"Right, yes. After sensing that you were in danger, she practically flew to Lukas's office, where he keeps a map of all the surrounding packs. She pointed out your location, and here we are."
"Wow. That's some serious superhero stuff. Meera is definitely my new favorite heroine." I feel a surge of admiration for that timid young girl who, when we first met, couldn't even look me in the eye without blushing. She's come so far. I'm so proud of her. And grateful. She saved me, and she saved the pack. I owe her so much.
The car finally pulls up at the Moonlight Walkers packhouse. Although I feel exhausted, I'm also excited to see Cindy and Meera, and my little nephew.
Damon gets out first and opens the rear door for me. As soon as I'm out, Cindy tackles me, crushing me in a tight hug. Her familiar scent alone makes me feel at home. I'm about to cry tears of happiness when she pulls back from the hug and pins me with a stern gaze. She gives me a once-over, and her frown deepens. Her bottom lip trembles.
It looks like she wants to scold me, beat me, and cry—all at the same time.
"I'm sorry," I croak out before she can say anything. My own tears now fall like raindrops.
She sobs, and her tears break loose. She hugs me again, and I hug her back tightly.
"I'm sorry." I repeat these two words over and over, like a mantra, hoping it can ease some of the pain I've caused them.
Lukas spares us a glance and storms inside the house without a word. Someone is still angry.
"Don't mind him. He's angrier at himself than at you. He'll come around," Cindy reassures me, steering me slowly toward the staircase at the main entrance.
I spot Meera near the entrance door. She's talking in hushed tones with Damon, and she looks like she's about to cry too. Her belly is now showing—a small, round, cute bump that makes her look even cuter.
When she sees me approach, she stares for a few moments, her lips parted slightly, as if she wants to say something but isn't sure she should.
I quickly close the distance between us and hug her tightly, careful not to squeeze her abdomen.
"I'm sorry. And thank you. You saved me and the pack. I will forever be in your debt."
Her tears start flowing. To my surprise, I feel the wound on my neck healing.
"I was afraid I'd never see you again!" Meera says between sobs.
"But here I am. Safe and sound, and now healed. All thanks to you." I beam at her while drying the tears on her cheeks.
"And to me and Lukas, who did the dirty work," Damon interjects.
"I already thanked you. Don't be greedy!" I scold jokingly, making Meera and Cindy laugh.
I prefer their laughter to their tears, even if those are tears of joy and relief.
"And now," I announce, "I want to see my nephew."