Dane's POV.
Just as I turned on my heels, ready to leave, ready to exit the room, and head for the exit of the mansion, I was instantly made to break off right on my tracks by Astrid's grip from behind.
She had suddenly embraced me tightly and wasn't willing to let go, no matter what I did at this point.
“What are you doing?” My heart raced rapidly as I tried to understand what was happening to me. An electrifying sensation ran down my spine as I could feel her body compress against mine from behind.
“I know you hate me so badly, but please, don't kill yourself out there!” She let out softly, her voice carrying a sense of stillness but also fear.
‘Was she scared of me dying? Was she scared of losing me?’ I thought inwardly as my eyes fluttered for a split second, several thoughts racing through my mind. We weren't friends, so this behaviour was new and weird.
Just as I tried getting my head together, a knock came at the door, pulling me out of my thoughts and making Astrid take a step backwards and away from me.
“Alpha Dane, it is time!” Beta Ivar's voice rang out from outside the room respectfully. “We are ready to deal with them!” He added abruptly, determination tinged in his tone.
For a second, I wished that her embrace around me wasn't going to end. I turned to look at her, and I couldn't find the right words to say. I wished to be kind to her too, but it was pretty difficult to do so at this juncture.
“Just make sure you don't leave the room, Astrid.” I muttered before I spun on my heels for the second time. I swiftly left the room, not waiting to know if she had anything else to say to me.
Opening the door, I was met with Beta Ivar and two Gammas behind him bowing their heads to me.
“Let's go!” I commanded them and walked right before them. They followed suit till we got to the exit of the mansion.
I went ahead to stand right before the army that stood before the mansion gates. The rogues were coming to attack, and we were ready.
Just then, as we awaited in silent breaths, the thought of Astrid came into my mind. Her words rang into my head countless times, and it felt as though she was standing closer to me.
“Stop it, Dane... She's the enemy!" I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts off without thinking twice.
After a few seconds, the noise from outside the pack's mansion began to increase by every second of the night. Everywhere was still dark, and this was the best time to kill a lot of us.
They got to the gates, and they began to roar at the top of their voices. They were willing to break down the gates if we didn't respond to their calls.
“Alpha?” Beta Ivar turned to me with a curious stare. In a way, he was trying to ask if it was okay to open the gates.
“Open the gates for our guests... We wouldn't want to keep them waiting, you know!” I barked, a sneer curling up on my lips as I glared in the direction of the gate.
Just then, they opened the gates, and because the rogues would remain the most stupid and foolish group that only based their thoughts on revenge and ruthlessness, I allowed them to come into the pack knowing we had more strength to defeat them inside.
“Get the Alpha's head!” their leader mandated, and they shouted at the top of their lungs as they ran towards us.
“Shouldn't we attack them yet?” Ivar questioned me as he was now positioned, and waiting for my order.
“A second…” I smirked, seeing that they were falling right into my trap.
The second they crossed the middle line, I turned to Ivar maliciously.
“Attack!!!!” Beta Ivar bellowed, and immediately, everyone charged towards them, killing, ripping, and dealing with each rogue that crossed their path.
Because of what their leader had said, I got to defend myself from more rogues than others. They wanted my head.
I swiftly grabbed one by the neck, and with my eyes glaring into his, I tightened my grip, my fingers digging into his skin as my intentions were simple: to rip his throat out of his fucking neck.
“You must pay for this!” He grimaced at me as his final words left his lips, his blood splashing on my skin.
The next attacker came, and I didn't hesitate to end his life. I didn't give any of them a chance to lay a single finger on me, because if they accomplish such, I'd be too weak for them.
I had kept on killing each of them that got closer to where I was, but suddenly, I felt dizzy, and my eyes became blurry. It felt as though I was going to collapse before everyone, and that wasn't going to be right; it would make the rogues take full control over my pack.
I shut my eyes briefly and shook my head as I stood at a place. The voices, roars, and screams filled the air as they echoed loudly in my ear.
“What the fuck is going on?” I tried to get my head together when, unfortunately, I got slashed from behind on my right hand.
The searing pain sent an electrifying sensation down my spine, and I didn't hesitate to react swiftly, clutching my hand.
I couldn't fight back at this moment because of my situation, the full moon still had an effect on me. He was going to slash me again, to take off my head, when, from behind, Beta Ivar rushed towards where he was and killed him, his claws digging into his skin.
He fell to the ground immediately, and Beta Ivar didn't hesitate to rush towards me.
“Alpha Dane, are you okay?” He asked, staring at me.
I looked around, and to my surprise, I saw just my pack members standing before me.
“What happened just now?” I questioned, my brows creasing.
“The Rogues retreated because they couldn't get you... You are bleeding, Alpha Dane!” Ivar said.
He was going to reach for my hand, but then I pulled back.
Without hesitation, I turned around and headed for just one place: Astrid's room.
Getting there, I pushed the door open, hoping to find Astrid in the room, but to my utmost shock, she was nowhere to be found in the room.
“Where's my mate?”