Bella's POV
"Is there something down there you can use to climb up?" I called down to the trapped man below.
His response came as a broken whimper that tore at something deep in my chest. The raw desperation in his voice made my stomach clench with sympathy.
"There's some kind of lever here," he managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.
Derek and I locked eyes for a moment. The intensity of his stare sent an unexpected flutter through my pulse. Maybe we were onto something. These rocks blocking the cave entrance might be more than just debris - they could be part of some ancient mechanism.
The possibility hung heavy in the air between us until Derek broke the silence. "My wolf form can fit through that gap. He's built for tight spaces, even if it means taking some damage in the process."
His attempt at confidence didn't mask the underlying tension in his voice. Something cold slithered down my spine.
