HALFDAN'S POV
With my hands clasped tightly behind my back and my face pressed against the cold windowpane, I let out a long, weary sigh as I stared into the empty street below.
My mind felt like a tangled mess, swirling with confusion and frustration.
The chaos began the night Dane launched a brutal attack on our group, targeting Camilla with ruthless intent.
Since then, my thoughts had been consumed by the question: What was Camilla really after?
Camilla’s relentless attempts to end Astrid’s life had been both numerous and unsuccessful. Each time she tried, it seemed to end in failure, yet she showed no sign of giving up.
It was as if her determination was boundless, and I couldn’t understand her motives or what she hoped to achieve.
I regretted ever agreeing to marry her; the loveless situation I found myself in felt unbearable, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep enduring it.
Astrid and I were meant for each other; I still loved her deeply, but she had been taken away from me.
Even when she was gravely ill and on the brink of death, she refused to give up her feelings for Dane. She was determined to fight for him, despite everything.
Meanwhile, here I was, yearning for a woman whom I had pushed away; a woman who was no longer mine.
It felt like a cruel twist of fate, especially when I thought of the other annoying person I had to deal with.
The sound of persistent knocking at the door broke me from my gloomy thoughts.
“It’s Beta Drake,” a voice called out.
“Come in,” I replied, my voice tinged with impatience. The door creaked open, and Beta Drake entered. He gave a small, respectful bow and then walked towards me, stopping just a few inches away.
“What’s going on?” I asked, noticing the tension in his posture and the anxious look on his face.
“Not much, just that I have an update on the task you assigned me,” Drake said, his voice steady but his expression tense.
I nodded in acknowledgment and slowly walked over to the door. With a deliberate motion, I closed it, then turned back to face Beta Drake, feeling the anticipation build within me.
“Go on. What did you find out?” I asked, barely containing my eagerness.
“I met with Doctor Miles from the Red Moon Pack just minutes ago,” Drake began. He paused, his gaze locked with mine. The unease in the air was evident, and I could tell from his demeanor that the news was likely unsettling.
“Speak up; don’t keep me waiting, Drake,” I said, my voice edged with frustration as my impatience grew.
Drake took a deep breath before continuing. “Doctor Miles was acting rather suspiciously. When I approached him, he seemed uneasy and evasive. I asked him for medication for Camilla.”
I could see that Drake was struggling to find the right words. “And?” I urged him, my curiosity mingling with a growing sense of dread.
Drake finally spoke, “When I asked for the drugs, Doctor Miles thought that since Camilla and I were working together against you, he opened up to me. He told me that Camilla isn’t actually pregnant. According to him, it’s all been a ruse… and the drugs he gave her had finished.”
In that moment, everything Drake said sank in clearly. His words were precise and chilling, causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin as if I had been struck with a heavy blow.
I had braced myself for many things from Camilla, but this deception was beyond what I could have anticipated.
“Are you absolutely sure about this, Drake?” I asked, clinging to the hope that I had misunderstood. Drake's solemn nod and shake of his head confirmed the grim truth.
“Be direct and honest with me, Drake. Is everything you’re saying accurate? Are you certain you didn’t mishear something or make an error?” I demanded, my frustration causing my voice to rise with intensity.
Drake’s expression remained earnest as he responded, “Yes, I’m sorry if this sounds strange, but I am telling you the truth. Doctor Miles has no reason to lie to me. He doesn’t know I’m not working with Camilla, so his words should be reliable. Camilla orchestrated this entire ruse to get back at you, so you would reject her.”
As I listened to Drake’s sincere explanation, a profound realisation hit me: he was right. Camilla had been playing me for a fool all along.
I had turned my back on my true mate for her, stood by her through countless trials, and endured the embarrassment she brought upon me. My decisions and actions had been futile, driven by misplaced trust and hope.
Despite everything, I had held on to the hope of our child, trying to overlook Camilla’s serious crimes and protect her from harm.
While I had dedicated myself to protecting her and our supposed child, all she was concerned about was whether I would accept the deception. Lying about the existence of a child—how low and bitter could she be?
I had sacrificed so much for her and for the sake of our unborn child, yet all she did was deceive me out of greed, hatred, and spite.
A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I raked my hands through my hair. Overcome with anger, I kicked a vase on the table, sending it crashing to the floor.
“That conniving bitch!” I shouted in fury. The rage inside me made me want to strangle her, to choke the life out of her. How could she deceive me so cruelly? Lie to me with such blatant disregard? How dare she treat me like a fool!
Even as I vented my anger, I found myself pacing back and forth, unable to contain my frustration. Her audacity to toy with me as if I were a child was infuriating.
Since the night Dane attacked, she had been hiding with her father. Perhaps she feared Dane might come after her again, but she was mistaken. This time, I would be the one to bring about her downfall.
I stormed toward the door, my anger boiling over, but Beta Drake grabbed my arm to stop me.
“Let me go! Someone needs to teach that rotten brat a lesson!” I shouted, struggling to free myself.
“You can’t go right now. Hans, her father, has his house heavily guarded. Plus, it’s not the right time to cause a scene. I also have some important news,” Drake said firmly.
I halted and turned to face him, my brows knitted together in frustration, waiting for him to explain further.
“This better be important, Drake,” I warned, my voice edged with menace. “If it’s not, I’ll deal with you before going after Camilla.” Drake nodded, acknowledging the seriousness of my threat.
“I found out that Astrid suddenly collapsed at the pack house,” he said.
The news hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart raced uncontrollably. Suddenly, my anger towards Camilla seemed less urgent. Astrid’s condition was now my top priority.
“What happened to her? Why did she pass out? Is she okay? Where is she now?” I fired off the questions in rapid succession, barely giving Drake a moment to respond.
“I swear, if Camilla had anything to do with this, I’ll make her pay dearly!” I snapped, but Drake shook his head in response, signaling that this wasn’t the case.
“It has nothing to do with Camilla,” Drake said, cutting into my frantic questioning.
“I found out from the hospital; there were many rumors circulating. I have strong reason to believe that Astrid is pregnant,” Drake continued.
The statement hit me like a thunderbolt. I stared blankly at Drake, trying to process his words as they echoed in my mind.
“How certain are you about this? And when did you find out?” I asked, leaning in closer, desperate for more details.
Drake took a deep breath before answering, “I discovered she was pregnant just before she mated with Dane.”
The news was shocking. I gasped, the realisation hitting me hard.
“That child is mine!” I shouted, my voice filled with raw emotion. “If Astrid was pregnant before she married Dane, then that child is definitely mine!”
My heart pounded furiously in my chest as I grabbed my keys from the table. Without wasting another moment, I stormed toward the door, my mind set on finding Astrid.
I had to see her, speak with her, and confirm my place as the father of the child. Even if there were doubts, I had to claim my role.
I started the engine of my car and drove at breakneck speed toward the Red Moon Pack hospital.
As I arrived, a broad smile spread across my face, a mix of excitement and relief flooding my senses.
I stormed up to the reception counter, my frustration evident. The two receptionists behind the desk looked up at me with resigned expressions, clearly unprepared for my intensity.
“I’m here to see Astrid,” I said firmly, hoping they would understand the urgency.
One of the receptionists replied, “Are you family or next of kin? She’s not allowed visitors at the moment. Perhaps you should fill out a visitor’s form.”
The response was infuriating. “Are you out of your mind?” I snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence. “How dare you question me like this?”
I swallowed hard, glaring at both receptionists with a mix of anger and determination. “Do you even know who I am? I am the Alpha of the Greenstone pack and I have every right to see Astrid whenever I choose. I will not be treated with such disrespect by anyone, especially not by you!”
As I was about to continue my protest, a sudden voice interrupted. “Why are you causing a fuss in my pack?” I turned to see Dane standing there, a smug grin spreading across his face.
A surge of satisfaction rushed through me as I met his gaze. “Well, look who it is—the man who’s been playing second fiddle to my mate,” I retorted, moving closer to confront him.
My anger flared as I faced him, eager to assert my dominance and make it clear that I wouldn’t be sidelined.
“I’m not here for jokes, you bastard. Why are you here?” Alpha Dane demanded, his eyes locking onto mine with a steely glare.
“Get out of my way, Dane. I’m here to see my mate and my unborn child,” I responded, barely concealing my irritation.
A faint, mocking laugh escaped Dane’s lips as we stood just inches apart, the tension between us thick.
“When were you two even together? What makes you so sure the child she’s carrying is yours, Halfdan?” Dane asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. I shot him a piercing glare in response, my patience wearing thin.
“You may not want to accept the truth, but that baby is mine,” I said curtly, my voice firm as I pushed past him.
Dane’s reaction was swift and aggressive. He grabbed me by the neck with a vice-like grip and forcefully shoved me to the ground. I lost my footing and crashed onto the floor with a loud thud, the impact harsh.
“You can’t deny an unborn child its father; trying to fight me off is pointless!” I snapped, struggling to get back on my feet.
Dane moved in closer, his face a mask of frustration as he bent down to my level. “Listen carefully, Halfdan,” he said, his voice low and intense.
“The baby Astrid is carrying is mine! The Alpha Heir of the RED MOON PACK!”