Beauty in the Beast

Nick? I called to him through our pack’s mind-link, but I got no response. He must not be in his wolf form. Daniel bumped into me and tossed his head towards a house with a laundry line. I followed him and we snuck into the yard, shifting into our human forms. I reached up to the line and grabbed a t-shirt that seemed to be a man’s or a large woman’s shirt. I pulled it over my head as Daniel threw on a pair of sweatpants.

“We should be there soon.” Daniel said.

“What were you doing, Daniel?”

“I was rescuing you.” He said with a smile and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You did a bang-up job.” I responded sarcastically. “How did you get to the bunker?” I asked him.

“Nick couldn’t reach Alex so, I offered to go check it out.” I wonder if that had anything to do with Alex being the one in danger? “When I got there, the window was broken in and Alex was unconscious behind the couch.”

“Is he okay?” I asked.

“He’s with Doc.” Daniel ran his hand through his hair. “He has a concussion, his kneecap needed surgery and he had drugs in his system, so he doesn’t remember anything.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “I was so worked up about him that I didn’t even check back in with Nick. I went back to his place to try and get some evidence. I checked the place for any scent I could pick up on, but there was nothing. A bunch of guys attacked me, drugged me and I was out.” He had a confused look on his face. “One of them called me Nick.”

“He’s their target.”

“Who’s target?’

“Derek and Jackson.”

“You saw them?” He looked stunned as I nodded.

“Derek is the one who attacked Alex. He drugged me and I woke up in the same cell as you.” I tried to hide the pain on my face as I remembered the betrayal of my once best friend. “I escaped, but Jackson caught me. He pulled a bow on me.”

“A bow?” Daniel’s eyes widened. “He’s the one who shot you?” I nodded again.

“He locked me in a room with security cameras. That’s how I saw them bringing you in.”

“We need to get back to Nick.” I agreed and we took off in a jog.

Daniel led the way as we made it back to the pack house where Nick told Daniel to go. We didn’t even make it to the driveway before the door swung open and Nick came rushing out. I jumped into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist as he held me close to his body. I breathed in his sweet scent and closed my eyes. This was bliss.

“You have to stop doing this to me, little wolf.” He whispered in my ear. I couldn’t help but smile.

“One day my life will be boring again.” I responded as he set me down to my feet. He turned to Daniel and smiled.

“Doc’s on her way to check you two out. Are you good?” He asked him.

“Thanks to our Luna, I am.” He smiled at me before walking past us and into the pack house, happily greeted by the Omegas.

“We have a lot to talk about.” I said to Nick.

“After Doc checks you out.” I sighed, there was no use in arguing with him, he wasn’t going to budge on this matter.

We made our way into the pack house, straight to Nick’s office and I was surprised to find Emmett waiting for us. It shouldn’t have been too much of a shock since Daniel was trapped with me and Alex was in the hospital, Emmett was the next best thing and Nick needed him. As we waited for Dr. Morris to get to the house, I filled Nick in on everything I learned in the bunker.

“Holy shit, Emma.” Emmett was used to having Daniel fill him in like the rest of the Omegas, not hearing it all firsthand. “Now what?” He asked. Before anyone could answer a soft knock filled the room.

“Come in.” Nick instructed. Dr. Morris peaked her head in and smiled warmly at us.

“Who’s first?” She asked.

“Ladies first.” Daniel offered.

“No, Daniel, you go.” I countered.

“Emma, you were there a lot longer than me, I was barely thrown in the cage before you saved me.” Daniel fought me. Nick stood to his feet and held his hand out to me, and I took it, knowing that was his way of telling me I was going. He led me out of the office and into one of the empty bedrooms. He sat on the bed and pulled me down with him. Dr. Morris set her bag on the nightstand and took my hand in hers. My wrists were covered in bruises from the handcuffs, I’m sure my ankle looked worse from the brace laced with wolfsbane. She squeezed my hand and I winced.

“It’s hard to confirm without x-rays, but I think you have a few broken bones in your hands.” I nodded.

“I slammed my back into a wall, my hands were behind me.” I felt Nick tense beside me.

“Okay.” Dr. Morris continued her exam. My shoulder was bruised, but I felt no pain with it. “Again, I would need x-rays, but I believe your shoulder was dislocated.”

“I fell off a chair and landed on it first. It felt funny, but after I shifted it was fine.”

“You probably popped it back into place when you shifted.” Dr. Morris held a light up to my head. “This wound is probably going to need a few stitches to heal up.” She looked at the borrowed shirt I was wearing. “If you don’t mind—” I nodded and pulled the shirt over my head. Nick took it from me and squeezed the fabric like he needed something to do with his hands. “Does this hurt?” She asked as she pressed on my belly.

“No.” I said. She went higher and pressed on a bruise and I winced again.

“A few broken ribs.” She turned back to her medical bag. “You can put your shirt back on, I’m just going to stitch up your head.” Nick handed it back to me, but this time he helped me slide it in my arms and over my head. I took his hand as she got to work on putting the stitches in place. It barely took five minutes and she was cutting off her knot and putting her tools away. “Okay, Emma.” She stood to her feet. “Is there anything you would like to discuss with me privately?” She asked as her eyes darted quickly to Nick and back to me. I didn’t understand.

“No?” I shook my head, but Nick’s grip on my hand tightened as if he knew what I was missing. The anger seeped from my mate like a thick smoke.

“Are you sure?” She asked me again and I suddenly realized what she thought happened in that bunker.

“I wasn’t raped if that’s what you’re asking.” The only wound Derek was responsible for was the one she stitched.

“Okay.” She nodded. “You have my number if you need me.” I stood up, pulling Nick with me. I thanked her on my way out the door. Nick shut the door and stopped me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Are you comfortable with Dr. Morris?” I furrowed my brow at him in confusion.

“She’s a pain in my ass, but yeah, I’m comfortable with her. Why?”

“If something happened in the bunker that you don’t want her to know, you can tell me.”

“If something happened in the bunker, I would tell you. But Nick, I’ve told you everything that happened.” I squeezed his hand in reassurance. “Derek isn’t the same as I knew, but he still didn’t want me hurt, and he surely wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“I don’t think you know Derek like you wish you did.”

“That may be true, but I was tied down and completely helpless, if he wanted to make a move like that he would have.”

“Not completely helpless.” Nick reminded me as he pulled me into his arms. “Not only did you escape twice, but you didn’t leave Daniel behind.” It never once crossed my mind to leave Daniel, the second I saw him thrown in the cell I knew I had to get him out. I felt utter guilt in my gut from all of this. Derek was my best friend for years and I didn’t even see what he was doing right under my nose. Some friend I am.

“Derek and Jackson know this pack. Stefan has a whole army to back him up. How are we going to keep everyone safe?” I asked. Nick’s eyes darkened and I suddenly felt terrified for anyone who crossed him.

“I’m going to kill them all.”