Astrid's POV
“Where am I?” I mumbled as I struggled to open my eyes slightly. My body ached so badly that for a second, I felt nothing but pain and regret gnawing at my insides.
“How did this happen...” I muttered, my words catching in my throat as I tried to figure out where I was. The second my eyes opened entirely, I wasn't just welcomed by a warm environment; I was welcomed by the darkness that enveloped the place.
It reeked of filth, and the scent of rogues hovered in the air, making me feel increasingly scared and anxious.
The last thing I could remember before finding myself in this situation was being in my room, just as Alpha Dane had commanded.
He had strictly advised me not to leave the room, and I promised to obey. He was calm and kind to me, so there was absolutely no reason for me to run away from the pack.
I prayed silently that the moon goddess would protect him from any harm and from the rogues, hoping he wouldn't die. I wished with every part of my being that he'd come back strong, even though I knew he didn't really like me.
But as I paced in my room, a knock came at the door, making me curious because the last I checked, they were still fighting. For someone to show up in my room meant they either needed help or were there to help me.
I thought it might be Alpha Dane or that he had sent his guards. Reluctantly, I reached for the door, and upon opening it, I was shocked to see masked rogues standing before me.
Before I could react swiftly and shut the door in their faces, they had already stormed into the room. They didn't delay in carrying me out of the mansion after blindfolding me.
When I tried to fight against them, they punched me, and that was the last thing I could recall before ending up here.
“I need to run!” I said with determination coursing through my veins. Just as I was about to stand and flee from the darkness, I was halted by the ropes that were tied around my body.
I was tied to a chair, and there was no easy way to escape at this point.
“What do I do?” I pondered, biting my lower lip. I couldn't hear anyone in the background, which meant I was alone in the dark room. If I wanted to escape, I needed to act immediately.
“It's best if I use my abilities!” I mumbled, immediately shutting my eyes. I wished to shift into my wolf form, but as I opened my eyes, set to unleash my claws, I was met with searing pain that sent an electrifying pang down my spine.
“Ahhhh!” I cried out. The pain I felt throughout my body was unbearable, but there was no way I was going to give up.
I was the daughter of Alpha Safiya, and giving up wasn't in my nature.
I tried again to shift to my wolf form, but it happened again, and even worse this time. The pain was so intense that I felt as if my bones were about to be crushed.
“What’s happening? Why can’t I break free from these ropes?” I cried softly as I looked down at the ropes, but I couldn't see anything clearly.
“We are doomed, Astrid. The ropes are made of silver. You can’t use your powers, and the more you try, the more you'll hurt yourself and become weaker!” Lyla, my inner wolf, suddenly explained, noticing that I wasn’t going to stop trying to use my abilities.
“But I have to get out of here, Lyla. Do something, you’re my inner wolf!” I begged in the most intense way because the pain was becoming unbearable.
“You don’t have to do anything, Astrid. Just stay calm and wait,” she demanded, but I was too stubborn to listen.
“No! I can’t stay here and act like everything is okay! I must escape before they come back!” I shut my eyes, and as I tried to shift again, Lyla made a shocking statement that stopped me in my tracks.
“Astrid, listen to me. Staying calm is the only way. Remember, you are pregnant! If you keep trying to shift, you’ll harm your baby and weaken me to the point of no return. You wouldn’t want to kill your baby and your inner wolf, would you?”
Just then, I froze and instantly remembered my pregnancy. I had forgotten for a while that I was carrying a stranger’s child. How could I have forgotten?
“Is my baby okay?” I mumbled as I stared down at my tummy. Just as I was trying to be sure my child was alright, the sound of approaching steps echoed in the darkness, drawing my attention immediately.
“Who’s there?” I asked, squinting my eyes to see if anyone would show up, but I was only left with the sinking feeling of approaching footsteps.
“Hello, Luna Astrid,” he spoke up, and I was certain I knew the voice. I had heard it somewhere before, but I just couldn’t place it.
“Who are you?” I panicked because I couldn’t see anything and had no idea what his next move would be.
“You shouldn’t be concerned about who I am. You should be concerned about surviving tonight without anyone coming to save you,” he notified me, and I could sense nothing but mischief in his tone.
“Alpha Dane won’t let you survive if you dare lay a finger on me!” I snarled, struggling to free myself from the ropes binding my hands behind the chair.
“Alpha Dane? Please... Do you think he’s going to come? He wants you dead, just like everyone else in the Redmoon pack, Astrid! No one wants you, but you could be of use right now!” he stated, pausing ominously.
The second his footsteps stopped, a lamp in the room came on, shining directly on him. He wore a mask, and his eyes were unrecognizable. He looked like a rogue, but I was sure I knew his voice.
“I won’t help you!” I declared defiantly.
“Sure you will, Astrid, unless you want to die in my arms!” he replied threateningly.