ASTRID'S POV.
A wave of unease washed over me, making my stomach churn. I swallowed hard, trying to brace myself for whatever nightmare was about to unfold.
My anger surged with each passing second, intertwining with the primal rage of my wolf.
A low growl escaped my lips, and I felt my fingers shift, transforming into sharp claws. With newfound strength, I yanked my hands free from the grip of the two men who had dragged me forward.
Fueled by determination, I swiftly kicked one of the men in the groin, watching as he doubled over in pain.
I then swung my claws into the side of the other man, feeling the satisfying resistance against his flesh.
My baby! I had to save my baby. A desperate scream tore from my throat as I suddenly fell to my right knee, struck hard from behind.
I turned to glare at Camilla, my anger boiling over as I realized how quickly things had escalated.
I pushed myself away from her, kicking at the belly of the man who had struck me, and threw several wild punches towards Camilla's throat.
He fell to the ground with a loud thud, but my victory was short-lived. A blunt force slammed into the back of my neck, and I felt new hands pin me down, holding me in place.
Camilla stormed toward me, her eyes blazing with fury. She raised her hand high and struck my cheek, the force of her slap stinging painfully.
The world spun around me, and I struggled to regain my footing, knowing I had to fight for my life and my child's safety.
I yanked at Camilla's hand with a fierce grin, my adrenaline pumping as I aimed for her neck, determined to strangle her while kicking her to the side.
She groaned in pain, trying to squirm away from my grip, but I was resolute—I needed to hurt her before she had a chance to hurt me.
Suddenly, a sharp, stinging force struck my side, causing me to flinch backward from Mr. Han's blow. I glared at him, my focus wavering for just a moment, but I quickly returned my attention to Camilla.
A creepy smile spread across her face as she regained her stance, reaching for a knife tucked at her side.
"I'll have my revenge now!" she snapped, her voice dripping with malice. My heart raced at the thought of how deadly silver was to wolves, the mere presence of the weapon sending a chill down my spine. She raised her hand, ready to plunge the knife into me.
But just then, an arrow shot through the air in her direction, landing close enough to startle her into freezing in place.
"Something is wrong; we have to leave now!" Mr. Han shouted, panic evident in his voice.
"Not until she's dead!" Camilla yelled back, raising her hand towards me once more. I could see the fury in her eyes.
Another arrow flew through the air, narrowly missing Camilla and embedding itself into a nearby tree.
“No one dare hurt my mate!” Dane’s voice boomed from behind us, filling the space with a protective intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
Mr. Han hesitated for a brief moment, his eyes widening in fear before he picked up his pace, sprinting away from the scene.
"You are bleeding!" he yelled, panic lacing his voice as he reached towards me, but I instinctively pulled away from him.
Alpha Dane’s presence was overwhelming. He turned his full attention to Camilla, who was visibly shaken.
Her lips trembled as she swallowed hard, realizing that her plans had unraveled before her eyes. In a swift, fluid motion, Dane raised his claws and slashed at her, the silver blade glinting ominously as it cut through the air.
Blood poured from the wound as she stumbled back, falling to the ground with her eyes closed, taking me by surprise. I hadn’t expected him to act so decisively.
Dane turned to me, his expression shifting from fury to concern as he wrapped his arms around me tightly. "You are not bleeding anymore; the wound is healed. It’s fast," he announced, his voice a mixture of relief and astonishment.
I nodded, feeling the truth of his words resonate within me as I marveled at how quickly my body had responded.
“How?” he asked, leaning closer to me, his eyes searching mine for answers.
“I’m not sure,” I replied, pulling away from him, the tension still thick between us.
Dane’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand you. What’s wrong, Astrid?” His concern was evident, but a scoff escaped my lips as I turned my gaze back to the spot where Camilla had fallen.
“Camilla, where is she?” I demanded, my voice rising in urgency.
“She escaped; she’s missing!” I added, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach. The thought of her lurking somewhere, plotting her next move, sent chills down my spine.
Dane’s eyes darted to the ground where she had been, then shifted to the men standing nearby, ready for his orders.
“Everyone should find her and bring her back now!” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for disobedience.
They all nodded, acknowledging his authority, before rushing off in different directions, determination etched on their faces.
“Let’s get you settled into the car,” he said gently, his eyes softening as he reached for me.
“Stay away from me!” I snapped, my voice laced with anger and hurt.
“Stay away from you? You are my mate! You should be with me in the pack house!” Dane insisted, his tone becoming increasingly unsettled.
“You want my child dead! I heard it all—your conversation with Beta Ivar. I overheard you saying you wanted my baby dead! How sure am I too that you didn't kill my first child? How dare you?” My voice rose in fury, each word filled with betrayal.
“Astrid, there’s a misunderstanding and I didn't know you were pregnant in the past! You heard me wrongly and I'm sure I don't want my Heir dead… please.” He shook his head vigorously, desperation flickering in his eyes.
“I would never do such a thing! I love you; that baby is my blood! I won't do anything to harm you or our child. I’m sorry for everything; please, just don’t ever leave my side again. I love you!”
His voice was filled with emotion, and I could sense the hurt behind his words.
He stepped closer, closing the distance between us, and before I could react, he wrapped his arms around my neck, pulling me into an embrace.
His lips found mine, and I felt a rush of conflicting emotions; fear, anger, but also a flicker of the love we once had.