ASTRID'S POV
The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving behind streaks of pink and orange in the sky. Darkness was creeping in, and soon the night would fully take over.
I sat there, staring blankly at the wall, my thoughts scattered and my heart heavy. The room felt colder, quieter, and lonelier as the minutes dragged on.
Dane was still nowhere to be seen. After I had poured my heart out to him, explaining everything, he just left, without a word, and hadn’t come back.
The silence of his absence was suffocating, and the uncertainty gnawed at me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how he might react once he’d had time to process it all.
Ethan had been hovering over me since then, not letting me out of his sight. He insisted I stay in bed and rest, even though I felt like I was losing my mind in this small room.
He left briefly to grab some food, but aside from that, the day had been an endless cycle of waiting and worrying.
Then there was Halfdan. He had barged in earlier, making a complete scene in front of everyone.
He shouted and raged, claiming the baby was his, but it was all just a desperate attempt to regain some control.
He stormed out afterward, his face red with anger, but all I felt was pity for him.
He had never seemed more pathetic or lost to me.
I sighed deeply, the weight of it all pressing down on my chest, leaving me feeling more burdened than I ever thought possible.
I should have realized sooner that it was Alpha Dane. Now that I had spoken the truth out loud, things were starting to fall into place.
But why did I feel so bound before this moment? Why had I been so blind to the signs?
I couldn’t remember ever feeling his touch, the warmth of his hand against my skin, or even the scent that usually came with being near him.
It was as if my mind had been clouded, keeping me from connecting the dots. Why hadn’t I realized sooner that Alpha Dane was the father of my baby? How could I have been so absentminded about something so important?
Now that I finally understood, it felt like it was too late. Maybe things would’ve turned out differently if I hadn’t gone to visit Uncle Han that day.
Maybe if I had stayed home, none of this would have happened. These "what-ifs" circled around in my mind as I sat there waiting for Dane and Ethan to finish their conversation. My patience was wearing thin.
As time dragged on, I felt my energy drain. I wanted—no, needed—to talk to Dane. I had to know what was going through his mind and where we stood.
I needed to gather my own thoughts and face the reality of what was happening.
Just as I was sinking deeper into my weariness, the doorknob began to turn. A small smile tugged at my lips, thinking it was Ethan finally returning.
But the moment I saw who it really was, that smile vanished, replaced by a surge of anger, bitterness, and disgust.
Standing there, in the doorway, was Camilla.
“Get out!” I spat, my voice sharp and cold as she made her way toward my bed. The sight of her filled me with nothing but fury, and I had no patience left for her games.
“Take a chill pill, cousin; I’m not here to hurt you. In fact, I’m here to help you,” Camilla responded with that smug grin that only made me angrier.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the cheek. The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the room.
Her head snapped to the side from the impact, and for a moment, she was stunned. She slowly brought her hand up to touch her cheek, her eyes wide in shock.
“What was that about? I didn’t even do anything, Astrid!” she snapped, her voice filled with indignation.
I watched with satisfaction as a red mark bloomed across her cheek, the spot where I had struck her. Seeing her like that, so caught off guard, brought a brief sense of satisfaction.
“You’re here to help me? After everything you’ve done? After you tried to murder me countless times! After all the sick games you and your father played on me, and now you dare to stand in front of me and talk about helping me? Are you out of your mind?” I could feel my blood boiling as I glared at her, my hands trembling with anger.
Camilla scoffed, folding her arms over her chest as if my words had no effect on her. Her arrogance was infuriating.
“I’m not here to grovel before you, Astrid. I’m here to make you an offer. Yes, we’ve been on bad terms, but this offer would benefit us both,” she said calmly, her voice smooth as if she held all the cards.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. A laugh of disbelief escaped me, but it was bitter and filled with contempt. Did she really think I would entertain anything she had to say after all she had done?
“Are you crazy? How dare you? After everything, how on earth do you think I would listen to anything you have to say? Your manipulative tricks won’t work on me, not anymore!” I spat, glaring at her, my patience long gone.
Camilla stood there, unfazed, her eyes locked on mine, as if she was waiting for me to crack. But I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Not this time.
“Cousin, I have a deal for you. And it’s worth it; all these baseless yapping isn’t going to help us,” she replied, her frown deepening as she stood her ground.
“Am I supposed to believe that nonsense? Fine. You have five minutes. It had better be worth my time,” I shot back, crossing my arms defiantly.
I leaned closer, my voice low and serious. “The only reason you’re alive is that you come from the Alpha bloodline, and unlike you, I have power.”
“But let me make one thing clear: if this is one of your silly tricks, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you and then myself as punishment for allowing your games to continue,” I warned, ensuring my tone was menacing enough to make my point clear.
She smirked, unfazed. “Don’t you think it’s strange that your mate stormed out of the room as soon as he heard you were really pregnant with his child and hasn't returned yet?” Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“How do you know about that?” I demanded, feeling my heart race. A sly smile spread across her lips, and it made my skin crawl.
“Oh please, I have eyes and ears everywhere. Your child is in danger. He would be killed, sacrificed in place of your precious Alpha Dane.”
“He’s really cursed, and we both know that is true. Only the blood of his child can break his curse, which puts you and the baby in a very tight spot,” she explained, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
“Is this one of your many schemes? Are you trying to turn me against Alpha Dane?” I asked, my eyes wide with disbelief.
“None of that. Just a little goodwill from me. But how does it feel to know your mate isn’t who you thought he was? He would gladly sacrifice his own child to break his curse and...”
Before she could finish, I slapped her cheek again, my anger boiling over. She froze, her eyes wide, and I could see her swallow hard, struggling to regain her composure.
“Get out, Camilla! This instant, or we might as well go down together!” I snapped, my voice firm and unwavering. I wasn’t going to let her twist my thoughts any longer.
She glared at me, her eyes filled with fury, but I didn’t flinch. After a tense moment, she tightened her fist and stormed out, slamming the door behind her with a loud bang that echoed in the silence.
A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I settled back onto the couch, rolling my eyes at the chaos she brought with her. I was done with her games.
I sank back into the bed, staring at the ceiling and waiting for Dane to return. The hours ticked by, and soon night fell, but he still hadn’t shown up. My heart sank further with each passing minute.
The doctor approached my bedside, checking the IV drips and adjusting the infusion. “You’re doing well, but you still need rest,” he said, glancing at me with a mix of concern and professionalism.
“I think I’m fine now; I’m feeling better, right?” I replied, hoping to convince him.
“Better, yes, but you still need to take it easy,” he explained firmly.
“Then come treat me at the packhouse. Let’s make it a home treatment session. I’m leaving now; I have other things to take care of.” I didn’t wait for him to argue. I sprang to my feet, determination coursing through me, and bolted out the door.
I quickly hailed a cab from down the street, my mind racing as it drove me back toward the pack house.
Camilla’s words echoed in my head, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread they brought. I needed to figure out what was going on before it was too late.
Camilla was always causing a fuss, making my life a living nightmare. I knew Dane wasn’t the type of person to hurt anyone, but what if there was even a slight chance that she was right? Just what if it was possible?
The hospital atmosphere only heightened my anxiety. I felt more tense than I should have, especially since Dane hadn’t come to see me. I needed to find him.
The door to our room stood open, but he wasn’t there. I quickened my pace toward the study, knowing he often spent his time in there, lost in thought or work.
As I approached the door, my hand hovered over the knob. I could hear voices inside, a conversation I wasn’t meant to overhear.
“So what’s the plan now? What should we do?” Beta Ivar’s voice asked, and I swallowed hard, my heart racing.
“Now that she is pregnant with my child, I really don’t know… I mean I am happy or I was but recalling…. I don't know, Ivar.” Dane replied, his tone tense and uncertain.
My breath caught in my throat as I stood there, frozen, caught between the need to know and the fear of what I might hear next.
“You can’t be confused; you know the rules of your bloodline. You have a heir now, and the child must be killed to break the curse. What plan do you have for that?” Beta Ivar asked, and my heart sank into my stomach.
Those were the very words Camilla had spoken, and they echoed ominously in my mind.
“I want to do it,” Alpha Dane replied, his voice steady but chilling.
A loud gasp escaped my lips as I processed his words. It felt as if the ground had dropped out from under me.
My feet moved on their own, and I ran as fast as I could away from the entrance. Each step felt like a betrayal, and my life flashed before my eyes.
Camilla’s lies now seemed like harsh truths, revealing a side of Dane I never wanted to believe.
How could he be so cruel? The thought that he intended to kill his own child to break some ancient curse shattered my heart.
I needed to escape. I needed to leave this place behind, to cross the pack boundaries and protect my child from the man I thought I knew.
I wouldn’t let Dane hurt my baby. I had to find safety, no matter what it took.