Chapter 28 CAGED... AGAIN

Chapter 28 CAGED... AGAIN
Hazel P.O.V.

Any other girl would have swooned at his feet in that moment. But not me. Or at least, not the me in the dream. The real me would have already found a bedroom with a king-sized bed by now. Instead, dream-me does something utterly unbelievable: she scoffs, takes a step back, and crosses her arms over her chest in defiance.
“Then I hope you enjoy disappointment.” Before turning around, she adds, “And FYI, bossy Alphas aren’t my type.”
And just like that, the dream fades, and I begin to wake.
Now I understand where all my bad temper and attitude came from. They were deeply ingrained in my ancestress, and I suspect they’ve only gotten worse with time. Finally, I have someone to blame: great-great-great-great-great-great-grandma Hazel.
Cold. That’s the first sensation to reach my brain. Followed by uncomfortable. Then the pain in my neck. And finally, smelly—the air reeks of mold and rot.
I reluctantly open my eyes, knowing that whatever I see, I won’t like it. As expected, I find myself in a dark basement, imprisoned inside a cage. A damn cage. Again.
What is it with me and cages? Was I a bird in a previous life? Why do I always end up caged like a fucking hamster?
At least this explains the pain in my neck and limbs. The cage’s surface isn’t soft, and its bottom isn’t wide enough to stretch my legs.
Illumina’s freaks must have taken me. I wonder why they didn’t just kill me outright—it would have been easy while I was unconscious. Unless they have other plans for me. I shiver involuntarily at the thought. Those guys are sadistic monsters. They could do anything.
I need to get out of here before they get their paws on me.
I reach for my wolf, but she’s nowhere to be found. My mind is empty of her presence. So are my powers and the mind-link—they’re connected to her. That’s when I notice the choker around my neck, pressing slightly against my throat.
Is this thing blocking my wolf? Most likely, yes, considering I’m stark naked and this is the only accessory I’m wearing. Unless Mr. Lacroix is into S&M, which would be even more disturbing…
In a foolish attempt, I try to pry the cage bars open with my hands. They don’t budge. But the faint sizzle against my skin tells me they’re coated in silver. Lucky me, I’m not that susceptible to it—though for most werewolves, it’s pure poison.
Having nothing else to do, I study my surroundings. If, by some chance, I manage to escape this cage, I’ll need a plan. To make one, I need to identify every possible escape route.
After several minutes of helpless staring, I reach a grim conclusion: there is no escape route except for the flight of stairs leading up to a heavy door—most likely locked.
No windows. No weapons. No furniture. Nothing but a vast, empty, dark, moldy space.
I don’t want to panic, but Goddess—why do I always end up in these situations? Can’t I just have a normal life without drama and endless near-death experiences? Is that too much to ask?
And this time, there’s no Derek. No Mom. No Lukas or Damon coming to my rescue. This time, I’m truly on my own. Shit.
Then someone comes to mind: Danny.
Although I don’t even know if he’s still alive. He might be imprisoned like me. Guilt washes over me. Whatever happened to him is my fault. I shouldn’t have strung him along. I should have kept him safe.
And Derek—how is he? Is he still a prisoner? Maybe now that they’ve taken me, they’ve set him free, though the chances are slim. What if they hurt him? Or worse? Without my wolf, I wouldn’t even feel his death. That realization hits harder than anything. I wouldn’t even know if he’s already dead.
Hot tears prick my eyes, wanting to mourn for my mate. But I don’t let them. As far as I know, Derek is still alive, and I won’t believe otherwise until the evidence stands before me.
He’s alive. And so am I. We will find our way back together. We always do.
I sit there lost in my thoughts for a long time. I’m not sure how long—there’s no natural light down here to mark the hours. It feels like ages, though.
I’m hungry and cold. Without my wolf to lend me her warmth, I’m as vulnerable as a human—susceptible to the elements, to colds, even pneumonia. Hopefully, they’ll take me out of here before it comes to that.
My ears perk up at the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. Then comes a key turning in a lock. The door opens, and a ray of artificial light spills down the stairs, outlining the figure of a man at the top. He’s carrying something—possibly a tray.
He looks oddly familiar. I squint, trying to make out his face, but it’s still cast in shadow.
He descends slowly, deliberately. Each step echoes like the drumbeat of a horror movie soundtrack. My heartbeat aligns with its rhythm, making the atmosphere even more foreboding.
When he finally reaches the bottom, his face comes into view. My heart somersaults. I quickly scramble to my knees, grab the bars, and lean close, ready for whatever comes next.
Danny.
He’s here to save me. He’ll set me free, and then we can find Derek. I’m sure he’ll help me.
But he keeps walking at a leisurely pace. It unnerves me—I want out of here immediately.
“Danny, hurry up!” I whisper-yell, terrified my captors will hear and be alerted.
Yet Danny makes no effort to conceal his loud footsteps or imposing presence. I don’t understand what’s going through his mind. Isn’t he worried they’ll hear him?
When he’s a few steps away, he stops and finally makes eye contact with me.
“You’re awake.” It’s not a question. It’s an assertion.
“Hurry, get me out of here!” I practically order him, too eager to escape this animal cage.
He just smiles sadly, like he’s seen something pitiful. My heart does a huge flop. All the hope that surged inside me moments ago has now been crushed into the pit of my stomach. A dreadful feeling spreads through my body.
“No can do,” he says lightly, as if I’ve asked him to do something petty and he’s simply unwilling. But I’ve just asked him to save my life—and he’s refusing. What the fuck is happening?
“What do you mean you can’t? You’re here! Get a tool or something. Break the cage. Get me out!” My voice rises—panicked, angry.
Then he does the creepiest thing imaginable, the kind of scene from a thriller when the psycho killer finally reveals himself.
He laughs. A happy, merry, reverberating laugh.
Fuck, no. He’s lost his mind.
“You’re funny,” he comments, his voice still husky from laughing. “I put you in that cage. So why would I break you out? Only an idiot would do that.”
My blood freezes in my veins. Suddenly I feel even colder than before. It’s as if the temperature in the room has dropped several degrees.
“You put me in this cage?” I don’t understand. I fucking don’t.
“Yes, Luna Hazel. I brought you here. I strapped that collar around your neck. And I put you in this cage.”
Shock. That’s what I’m feeling. Numb with shock. But another feeling is already clawing its way to the surface: betrayal. Followed closely by smoldering, simmering rage.
How dare he?
“If you keep gaping like that, flies will fly into your mouth. And I don’t think that’s the kind of dinner you enjoy.”
That smug smirk. That playful attitude. I want to rip them both away from him. He doesn’t get to act all cool while I’m suffering in here. Bastard.
“Why?” I voice the question hammering my brain ever since he revealed his truth.
“Because you deserve it.” He doesn’t sound angry. Just matter-of-fact. Which confuses me even more.
“Do you understand that your answer doesn’t actually explain anything, right?” Snarky me is making an appearance. Given the situation, I suspect she’s here to stay. “So let’s try again. And this time, try to provide more details, please. Why have you put me in this cage?”
I try to sound as calm as possible. I’m not.
“Because you’re bait for a bigger fish.”
“Who?”