Astrid's POV.
"Come on, Mom… What is wrong? Why do you sound like you've been crying all night?" I asked, my heart racing with uncertainty and tension at this moment. I just wanted to know what the true issue was. I needed to know how I could comfort her.
All this while, she had been quiet and had refused to call me. She had acted like I didn't exist, and maybe it was because of my father, but seeing her acting this way right now made me so suspicious and, above all, uncomfortable.
"Astrid, I'm really sorry. I should have told you all this while! I should have!" She mumbled bitterly, the guilt and pain in her tone pretty evident at this moment.
"You keep speaking in parables, Mom. What is wrong? Can you just open up already?" I urged, anticipation overwhelming me at this moment.
"It's your father, Astrid…" she started, but her soft sobs choked her words immediately.
"And what about my father? What about Dad?" I asked, pressing the phone against my ear tightly just so I could hear every single word she had to say to me.
"He's dead! Your father is dead, and you must find your way back to the pack immediately!" she declared, my entire body freezing in my tracks. I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't understand it either.
What did she mean by my father being dead? Last time I checked, he was okay, he was strong, he was healthy. How in the world was he dead now? How in the world was the Alpha of the pack dead?
"You are joking right now, right? It can't be true, right?" I asked, trying to conceal the tears that had threatened to trickle down from my eyes.
"Return with your Alpha, and that's all I can say. I'll be waiting, Astrid!" my mother concluded, and before I could ask anything, she had already ended the call.
"This can't be true!" My heart pounded as several memories with my father came back to me bit by bit. He might have been the cruel Alpha and wicked father others tagged him as, but trust me, he was the best. He meant a lot to me.
I swiftly picked up my phone again and dialled my mother's contact. I placed it to my ear, but no one responded to the call. I was just wasting so much time.
At this moment, my head wasn't straight. I couldn't think straight. I was left in the cold darkness. I was left to fend for myself.
"Daddy…" I sobbed painfully as I wrapped my arms around my body, tears beginning to trickle down my eyes. I couldn't hold it back anymore.
I just needed to do one thing, and that was to head over to the pack just as my mother had declared. I needed to head over to the pack with my mate.
"Alpha Dane!" The words escaped my lips as I turned around. Last I checked, we had argued before I ran out of the mansion, so how in the world was I expected to head back to him to inform him that we needed to head over to my own pack?
Wiping my eyes, I came to a conclusion. "I need to see the remains of my father at least… I need to see him!" I sniffled before heading back into the mansion.
I gradually headed for the room. The second I got to the door, I paused. I was trying to know if I was going to hear any sound from inside the room, but I didn't.
"He must come with me…" I pushed the door open, and at the sight of him, I felt my heart and body melt immediately.
"Alpha Dane…" I mumbled, the next words hooking in my throat as I tried to say them.
"Astrid? What is wrong?" He rushed to me, his hand immediately placed on my shoulders as he stared into my eyes.
Truth be told, I was shocked and surprised to see him in such a way. He was the one who was all grumpy and rude a few hours ago, but now, he cares about me? He had concerns!
"Why do you have tears in your eyes? Did someone hurt you?" He urged me to speak, but at this moment, I couldn't say a single word. I was heartbroken, but above all, I was about to go insane.
Just then, he pulled me into a tight embrace, his scent wafting through my nostrils as I stayed in his embrace. "I'm sorry for how I acted earlier… I was just being a jerk… I'm sorry if I made you this way." He caressed my hair gently as I remained in his warm embrace.
"No, no, Alpha Dane… it's not because of you!" I finally let out, making him confused. He gently pulled me out of his embrace, and staring deep into my eyes, he sought answers.
"Then why are you like this, Astrid?" His grip around my arm tightened as he watched me, still in tears.
"It's my father…" I started softly.
"The man who banished you? What about him?" He sounded furious at the mention of my father. It seemed as though he disliked him.
"He is dead, Alpha Safiya is dead!" I finally divulged, a sigh leaving his lips immediately.
"And so what? Is that why you are being this way? Last time I checked, Astrid… he wasn't nice to you… he never treated you like his!" Alpha Dane notified, disgust tinged in his tone as he spoke to me.
"But that doesn't mean he isn't my father. We have to head over to the pack… that's the best I can do," I explained, but just then, Alpha Dane let go of my arm, taking two steps backward with his hands sliding right into his pockets.
"I'm sorry, Astrid, but I can't go there!" he declared defiantly.
"What? Why? You are my mate, and I am expected to bring my mate along with me… please let's…" I was going to say, but then, he cut in.
"I don't like that pack, and I'm pretty sure you know about it. But since you are insisting, then I'll go, but on one condition!" he bargained, his eyes piercing deeply into mine.
I felt tense in his presence at this moment, but I wasn't sure how to react.
"What do you want, Alpha Dane?" I asked, my fists clenched tightly as I watched him from where I stood.
Taking daunting strides towards me, he reached for my hair and gently tucked it behind my ear. "As your Alpha, you are expected to bear my mark…"
I knew where he was going with this. I understood him clearly from here.
"So, what do you say I mark you as mine first? And once I do, there'll be no going back!"