Dane's POV
“You know the rules, Alpha Dane… eliminate every potential threat, and right now, I'm sure we both agree that Alpha Halfdan is a threat!” Edmond stated.
I saw what he was trying to do. He was trying to get into my head, trying to make me feel useless and incapable of having Astrid by my side. He knew something that no one else knew.
“Eliminate him? A threat?” I scoffed, sliding my hands into my pockets as I walked closer to where he stood, my eyes glaring at him.
“Is that why you made them tag him as the one responsible for the abduction and the rogues' attack, Edmond? You planned all this just to watch Alpha Halfdan get taken down?” I scoffed, my eyes rolling in disgust.
“I’m pretty sure you know what I mean, Alpha Dane! And besides, I do not know what you speak of! Kill him and make him pay for what he did!” He snarled, and just then, I couldn't help but nod my head in response.
“I'll do as you said, Edmond… but on one condition…” I bargained.
“And what must that be, my Alpha?” He bowed his head, awaiting the condition that I had to give in order to eliminate Alpha Halfdan.
“Pretty simple… leave the pack and never show yourself here again! Never come before me, and I might consider your choice… unless that isn't good enough for you, dear Edmond!” I declared, making him snap his eyes to me immediately.
“You of all people should know that I am an elder of the pack and I can't…” Just as he was going to say more, I cut in, retaliating with the same disrespect that he had given and shown me at first.
“Who cares, Edmond? You have always been a thorn in the flesh, and no one wants you. Leave and never show yourself again!” I rolled my eyes and was going to walk out on him, but just then, he made a shocking statement.
“I guess I made the right choice with your father, Dane!”
I swiftly turned to him, my eyes carrying a hint of fear at this moment.
“Edmond!!!” I growled, glaring at him.
“You must pay for this! For everything you have done! I'll make sure of that! I'm coming for you, Edmond!” I let out, not holding back this time.
“Coming for me?” He snorted, briefly averting his stare away from me before turning back.
“And how do you intend on doing that, Dane? Tying me to a pole and ripping my claws off?” He paused briefly, swallowing with pride. “Don't forget, Dane… I know so much about you. Right from your strength to your weakness and most of all…” A glint of evil beamed in his eyes as he walked closer to me.
Slowly and menacingly, he leaned closer to my ear, and with a voice deep and cold, he spoke up. “I am fully aware of your deepest secrets, thanks to your Luna over there.” He snarled before he pulled away.
My eyes bulged at this moment. As he was going to leave, I acted swiftly, grabbing his collar and pulling him closer to my face, my eyes glaring deeply into his.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
The one secret I had that Astrid knew about was the fact that I was cursed, and if Edmond knew about it, I was doomed. I was a finished Alpha King for the Red Moon pack. Seeing him use it as a threat against me made me curious and angry too because she promised never to let it out.
“Come on, Alpha Dane!” He laughed as he pulled himself out of my grip, taking two steps backward before stuffing his hands into his pockets. “It was a joke, but seeing you take it seriously means you have a deep secret no one must know about!” His eyes squinted as he stared at me.
I had just blown my cover. His words were a trap. He wanted to see my reaction, and I fell right into the hole he had dug.
“Don't be scared. You can be open to me, and I promise never to let anyone know about it. It'll be just our little secret.” He smiled, and at this moment, I needed to leave. I needed to get out of his sight before something dangerous happened.
Without a second thought, I turned on my heels and walked into the mansion, slamming the door loudly before heading straight to my room.
Shutting the door, I trudged into the room, my thoughts hovering all over the place. I couldn't think straight, I couldn't place my hand on anything that Edmond had said to me. I wasn't sure what to believe. Was I to believe everything was a trap right from when he abducted my Luna? Or was he not joking when he stated he knew my secrets?
What the fuck was I to believe?
I kept pacing all over the place, my eyes quivering in tension and uncertainty, my heart pounding against my chest.
“It isn't possible that he knows anything, right? She couldn't have told him, right?” I pondered briefly.
“If she didn't, then how did he know about secrets? What are you up to, Edmond? Or is Astrid now working hand in hand with you?” My eyes bulged at the realisation.
“What have I brought upon myself? Is she still here for ulterior motives?” Just as I kept pondering what might have caused all this, the door to the room opened, and right before me was Astrid.
“Alpha Dane, are you…” She ran over to where I was standing, and just as she was going to finish her statement, I got a strong grip on her neck, snatching it and piercing my fingers into her skin.
“Dane, I can't breathe…” She tapped my hands countless times as she tried to pull away, but I didn't let go of her, not yet. Pulling her closer to my face, I stared into her eyes before letting out the one question that I needed a response to.
“What do you think you have done? How dare you defy me, Mate?!!”