Chapter 38 DINNER TOGETHER

Chapter 38 DINNER TOGETHER
Hazel P.O.V.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing happens, no matter how hard I try to summon my powers.
I can feel my wolf is awake, and my powers should be there too, but instead… nothing. It’s unnerving and worrying. What’s happening to me?
At Illumina’s, and later at the dock, my powers vanished without warning. I thought it was just exhaustion, but now I’m not so sure.
“Maybe you need to feed those too,” Lukas jokes lightly, but I catch the apprehension in his eyes. He knows something is wrong, but he doesn’t want to scare me while I’m still recovering.
“I agree,” Damon chimes in. “Let’s go eat before the food gets cold.”
We move as a group to the dining room, and my mouth practically falls open at the sight of all the mouthwatering food piled onto the Christmas-decorated table.
“I know, it’s a lot,” Cindy admits. “But Lukas and Damon eat like wolves, and this catering company makes the best food on the planet.”
Meera and I giggle, but Damon and Lukas are completely unfazed, too entranced by the feast before them.
Lukas immediately takes the farthest seat on the right. Damon sits across from him. Cindy and Meera settle next to their mates, and I slide into the seat beside Meera, opposite Amanda. That works perfectly for me—I want to keep my distance from those two for a while, before they decide I need another lecture.
We eat in peaceful silence for a bit, passing dishes around so everyone can try everything. The chicken masala is my favorite so far, but I haven't gotten to the Peking duck yet.
Erik is fast asleep in Cindy’s arms, and Lukas is cutting meat and vegetables into tiny pieces so she can eat with one hand. They’re such a sweet family. I can’t help wondering if Derek and I will ever have that—a little happy family of our own. Right now, it feels impossible.
Before I can overthink it, I blurt out, “What’s the plan to find Derek?”
The table goes uncomfortably silent. Lukas and Damon exchange a glance, then Damon finally speaks.
“We’ve tried every resource we have. So far, there’s no trace of him.”
I nod, my heart sinking. If they couldn’t find a single trail, what chance do I have on my own? Then again, the mate bond might give me some clues.
“Have you asked Danny? What happened after I passed out at the dock? Where did Derek go? Did Illumina take him again?”
I know it’s Christmas. I know I shouldn’t be ruining the festivities by discussing this at the dinner table. But I can’t focus on anything else until I have a plan.
Lukas’s expression darkens at the mention of Danny. I can only imagine his fury toward the Beta who betrayed him from the very beginning—who took the position just to get close to me and Derek, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Damon answers again, keeping his voice even.
“Danny grabbed you when you lost consciousness. Derek held off Illumina’s guards. It looked like he was giving Danny a chance to get you to safety.”
My breath catches. He’s still fighting. He’s still fighting the poison for us.
“He put you in the car and drove off. He doesn’t know what happened to Derek after that. And when he had you locked up, he tried to reach Derek but never got an answer.”
That doesn’t sound good. What happened to you, Derek? Where are you?
“We searched the warehouse at the dock and had a few spies check Illumina’s headquarters,” Lukas adds, his voice heavy with defeat. “Nothing.”
“Okay,” I say, nodding without conviction, my mind racing through every possible place Derek could be. “Tomorrow, I should go back to the Crescent Moon Pack. Derek might come looking for me there. And the pack needs its Luna.”
“No.” Cindy’s voice is firm. “It’s not safe for you there. Derek is still their Alpha. He could command your pack members to do anything.”
She’s clearly upset that I’m ready to leave so soon after being away for so long. But Derek is my mate. I’d do anything to get him back—or at least to make sure he’s safe.
“I can Alpha-command them too. That’s not a problem. I have my powers. I’ll be fine,” I reply quickly.
Lukas snorts. “Right. Because your powers helped you so much when you were locked in that basement.”
My eyebrows pull together. I don’t like his sarcastic tone.
He continues, unfazed. “And just now, you couldn’t summon them at all.”
My mouth sets into an angry pout.
“What I’m saying is,” he says, “give yourself some time to rest. To recover. Before you go back to your duties. The pack is doing fine under Damon’s care, and we’re happy to have you here.”
Great. Now if I say I still want to leave, it’ll look like I’m not happy to stay, and Cindy will be upset. Emotional blackmail. I hate it when he uses that low tactic.
I cross my arms and slump back in my chair, knowing I won’t get my way. Maybe I can talk some sense into Damon after dinner. I’m sure Meera will be on my side.
“Time for presents!” Cindy announces happily.
My heart drops. I didn’t get anyone anything. I don’t even have money or my phone. Come to think of it, I don’t even know where any of my stuff is. Did Danny clear out the apartment we were renting? Did he take my things to the basement?
I snap my head up, ready to ask Damon, but before I can open my mouth, he places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“We had someone pack up your and Danny’s things from the apartment and send them here. I think they’ll arrive tomorrow, or the day after at the latest.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely, relief washing over me. Then another thought hits. The medallion. I had it with me at the dock, but when I woke up in the cage, it was gone. Did Danny take it?
“Did you find a gold medallion with a purple stone? In the basement or among Danny’s things?”
Damon’s expression shifts to one of deep concentration, like he’s trying to remember if he’s seen it or if anyone reported it.
“No, not that I recall,” he says slowly. “But I’ll ask Derrick about it. Lukas’s new Beta.”
“Thank you. It’s precious to me.”
Damon looks at me curiously—he’s definitely never seen me wear it—and I don’t want to reveal too much, so I subtly change the subject.
“Derrick? The warrior who worked as my bodyguard for a while?” I ask, pleasantly surprised.
“That’s him.”
“Good choice. He seems trustworthy and capable. I like him.”
Damon smirks. “Good. Because he’s assigned to keeping an eye on you before you run off on your own again. Meaning, he’ll shadow your every move. You’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
My mood sours a little at that. “Aren’t Betas really busy? How does he have time to babysit me?”
Damon just laughs and heads over to the group crowding around the Christmas tree.
Some presents are already open. Most are for Erik: an activity gym with a built-in piano, a colorful cube with soft rubber tubes sticking out of it, a fabric book, and an enormous plush wolf the color of sand—one that looks a lot like his dad’s wolf.
Erik giggles happily, though I’m not sure if it’s the toys or just the excitement in the air. They say babies can really read a room.
Meera opens a present too, and being curious, I peek over her shoulder. It’s a photo album—one where she can store pictures of her newborn and record the first few months. It’s delicate, a little retro, and absolutely perfect for her.
She gushes over it, thanking Cindy and Lukas warmly. She looks so happy. Suddenly, a wave of jealousy and guilt crashes over me. I’m supposed to be her closest friend and her Luna, and I didn’t get her anything. I left her to fend for herself for two months while her mate was under compulsion and she was pregnant. She was lucky to have Cindy and Lukas to help her. I’m an awful person. I don’t deserve friends like them.
“This is for you.”
Cindy snaps me out of my brooding. She’s holding out a small red package, carefully wrapped and decorated with a mini pinecone, red berries, and pine sprigs. It’s beautiful, and it shows how much care and love she put into every gift.
“Thank you.” I can barely hide the emotions surging inside me.
My friends. The ones I can always count on. The ones who get me and understand me, even when I’m being infuriating and annoying.
“Open it,” Cindy encourages me, as I stand there like an idiot, holding the package with tears in my eyes.