Astrid's POV.
"Even if you didn't commit the offence, Luna, I strongly suggest that you humble yourself and offer her a sincere apology." His words dripped with malice, his lips twisting into a contemptuous sneer.
As he spoke, I couldn't shake the feeling that his motives were sinister. It was unclear why he was pressuring me to apologise, but it was evident that his intentions were not for the benefit of Alpha Dane.
Deep down, I sensed that my presence within the pack posed a threat to Alpha Dane. While I knew he had deep hatred for me, I still couldn't bring myself to intentionally harm him.
The weight of guilt settled heavily upon me as I realised the consequences of the false accusations against Alpha Dane.
It was my fault he was unjustly targeted, my fault he endured such hardship. With a heavy heart, I lowered my gaze to the ground, consumed by remorse.
Despite the gnawing guilt, the idea of apologising to Camilla started to appeal to me.
Perhaps extending an olive branch would stop some of the tension, but I couldn't let her off the hook so easily. No, she would face consequences for attempting to publicly shame me.
"I..." My voice faltered as I prepared to address Edmond, but his distant stare gave me pause. Following his gaze, I froze in place as my eyes locked onto Alpha Dane's furious expression outside my window.
His anger was evident, directed not just at Edmond and me, but at the situation that had unfolded.
Alpha Dane had noticed my absence from my room, and I knew he was coming for me.
"Um, excuse me, Edmond... I should really go now," I said, ready to retreat. But before I could step away, Edmond grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks and pulling me back to where I had been standing.
I gasped in surprise, wondering what he was up to. "What's he planning?" I wondered silently, my eyes wide with uncertainty.
Turning to face me, Edmond wore a sinister smirk on his lips.
"Hold on, Luna. Our conversation isn't over yet," he said, his words sending a shiver down my spine as a sense of disgust churned in my stomach.
"No, release me!" I pleaded, attempting to free my hand from his grasp, but his hold remained firm, refusing to let me go.
Glancing back at Alpha Dane, I could see the rage building within him, his fury palpable even from a distance.
Caught up in watching Alpha Dane, I was startled when Edmond leaned in close to my ear, interrupting my thoughts.
"I can tell Alpha Dane has quite the soft spot for you," he whispered, his words causing me to inwardly scoff.
It was absurd to think that Alpha Dane, who had harboured animosity towards me since childhood, could possibly have any affection for me.
"What's your game, Edmond?" I demanded, my voice laced with frustration and growing anger.
His response was chillingly simple.
"What I want? Well, that's pretty simple… I want to know the Alpha's weakness," he declared, his words dripping with a sinister undertone.
"And in return, I'll grant you the freedom you desire, along with a wealth beyond your wildest dreams."
His proposition left me reeling with disbelief. Without a second thought, I forcefully pushed him away, unable to fathom that he would stoop so low as to manipulate me for his own gain.
"Never!" I retorted vehemently, my fury evident in the steely glare I fixed upon him.
I refused to be used as a pawn in his twisted game to bring Alpha Dane down.
His next scornful words pierced through me like daggers, each one a reminder of the disdain Alpha Dane held for me.
"Too weak for a Luna who's despised by her mate," he sneered, his gaze filled with contempt.
“I'll be waiting for you, Astrid," he uttered with a final taunt before walking a few steps away, leaving me seething with anger.
"You'll never see me!" I shot back, my fist clenched in frustration at his audacity. But he didn't seem deterred by my defiance.
"Playing hard to get, I see," he remarked casually, pausing briefly in his tracks to glance back at me.
"You're no different from Dane's other Luna," he asserted confidently.
"They always come crawling back to me, begging for my favour. You're no exception, Astrid." With that smug declaration, he disappeared from my sight, leaving me feeling both enraged and disgusted by his arrogance.
His parting words echoed in my mind, a cruel reminder of the power he believed he held over Alpha Dane's Luna.
I couldn't help but think about his words to me again. The recall of Dane's other Luna raised an alarm in my head, but immediately, I shook my head, taking the thoughts off my mind.
As I turned to where Alpha Dane had stood moments before, my heart sank at the realisation that he was no longer there.
The absence of his gaze felt like a weight lifted, but it was quickly replaced by a sinking feeling of dread.
"Crap!" I muttered under my breath, biting down on my lower lip as I assessed the dire situation I now found myself in.
Just as I prepared to make my hasty retreat, a sudden, iron-like grip seized my wrist from behind, stopping me dead in my tracks.
The strength of the hold took me by surprise, and before I could react, I was forcefully pulled back, my body colliding with Alpha Dane's sturdy frame.
As my hand made contact with his chest, I lifted my gaze to meet him, dread flooding my senses as I realised the gravity of the situation.
A nervous lump formed in my throat as I attempted to withdraw from his grasp, but his hold only tightened, sending a wave of discomfort coursing through my body. It felt like my bones were being squeezed in a vice grip.
Before I could utter a word, Alpha Dane released my wrist, only to encircle me with his powerful arms, pulling me close against his chest with an intensity that left me breathless.
My breath caught in my throat as I met his piercing gaze, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race even faster.
I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins as I stared back at him, my eyes widening in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.
Just as I started to absorb the gravity of the situation, he uttered words that sent a chill down my spine and ignited a spark of irritation within me.
“Am I not old enough for you, Mate?”