Astrid's POV
Walking closer to me, he reached for my hair, and with slow strides, he tucked in a few strands right behind my ear, his eyes staring deeply into mine, and his warm breath brushing against my skin.
“What do you want?” I asked softly, my eyes trailing from his eyes down to his lips. They called me; they wanted me.
“Simple… Let me mark you and let me be your Alpha!” he finally declared, a smile curling up on his lips as he stared.
I wasn't sure what was happening at that moment. He was definitely the one who didn't like me, the one who never wanted anything to do with me, but here he was, trying to act like everything was okay?
A few hours ago, he had tried to kill me, he had tried to strangle me to death, not minding what anyone said or did, but now he wanted me to let him mark me? He wanted to be my Alpha now?
Several thoughts slammed through my mind. It was obvious that he was up to something, but I just couldn't place my finger on what it was. I couldn't tell what he wanted from me.
“The choice is yours, Astrid… What do you say? And I must warn you, be careful with your decision… it might make you, or it could mar you!” he warned, his fingers playing with each strand of my hair.
At that moment, I needed him. If I was going to get accepted into the pack itself, then I had to return with my mate, just as my mother had said.
I had to take him, and if marking me was all he wanted, then I guess I had to do just as he wished.
“Fine! I accept to be marked by you!” I let out after a brief thought.
“Are you sure? It won't be easy, you know!” he warned again, a frown on his face.
“If this will make you go with me, then I'm willing to let you mark me, Alpha Dane!” I declared, my eyes shutting closed as I prepared myself for what was coming.
“As you wish, Mate!” He leaned ominously closer to my neck, his breath hitting my skin.
Just then, I felt it, the sting of pain and pleasure. My eyes tightened as they were shut. I was trying to take it all in.
Then my eyes fluttered open and glowed blue, signifying that it had happened. We were linked to each other, and there was no going back now.
He pulled away soon and with a smile, he wiped the sides of his lips.
“Now, I can leave with you as your Alpha!” he declared before grabbing my hand.
The spot he had marked had stopped stinging, so I was fine immediately. He dragged me out of the mansion, and we headed for the car.
“Start the engine, Ivar!” he commanded the second we got closer to the car.
“Engine? Why, Alpha Dane?” Beta Ivar questioned, looking confused for a split second.
“Do as you are told and never question me, Ivar! Do it!” he commanded again, and immediately, Beta Ivar bowed his head and ran into the car.
Alpha Dane opened the door and let me climb into the car. He shut the door and, walking in circles, got to the other door. He climbed into the car and with a soft sigh leaving his lips, he commanded, “Drive! We are heading to my Luna's pack!”
Without hesitation, Beta Ivar nodded his head and we zoomed out of the Red Moon pack, heading right for mine.
It was a long ride, but it was mostly accompanied by anger, regret, guilt, and pain as I thought about my father. Who would have thought that he'd die this early?
Just as I kept sobbing, I felt a strong grip on my hand, making me snap my attention to who it was.
Alpha Dane's hand was on mine, and I understood that he was trying to comfort me.
“You'll be fine…” he let out, and with a nod, I accepted his every word to me.
Soon, the car slowed its pace, and it made our attention drawn to the windshield. We had arrived at the pack.
My heart thumped loudly as Beta Ivar drove the car through the gates. He stopped for the check-up by the guards.
“Alpha Dane? I'm sorry, but you can't make an entry into the pack!” one of the guards who had walked up to us explained, and I could sense Dane's fury immediately.
“And what does that mean?” he asked, his brows lifting as he stared at them.
“It means you are…” just as he was going to say, Dane cut in.
“Let me in, little one. I'd warn you not to make such mistakes… not with me!” he warned, and I was pretty sure that the next thing Dane would do was to use force, and I didn't want that.
“I'm sorry, Alpha!” He bowed and was going to shift, but immediately, I cut into their drama.
“Open the gates. I'm here because of my father, and Alpha Dane is my mate!” I declared, and at the sight of me, he bowed his head.
“I'm sorry, Luna Astrid… I didn't see you there!”
The gates opened, and we drove into the mansion. The second the car came to a halt, I was going to climb out of it, but Alpha Dane stopped me.
“Wait here,” he demanded as he walked out of the car, and without thinking twice, he opened my door.
Taking his hand, I climbed out. I felt my heart ache at the sight of the mansion before me. The day I was banished flashed through my eyes immediately.
“Come on, let's go say hi to your mother…” he urged with my hand still in his grip.
I nodded, and we walked towards the mansion doors. The second the doors opened, I was expecting to find my mother in tears, but to my greatest dismay, I caught sight of Camilla and Halfdan in my sitting room.
“And what the hell are you doing here, Astrid? Haven't you done enough? You've killed him, so why are you here?” Camilla snapped the second she caught sight of me in the house.
“Keep your voice down, Camilla… we are both sad. Don't blame me for anything!” I declared, rolling my eyes in disgust.
It was evident that the tears in her eyes were fake. She wasn't crying because of my father's death.
“I know why you are here, Astrid, but it won't work. You were banished, remember? And the next person in line to claim the pack is me! Leave now while you still can!” she demanded, making me feel disgusted immediately.
“If there's anyone who's expected to leave… trust me, Camilla, it is you and your so-called Alpha right there!” I snarled, and immediately, she got angry.
“How dare you!” She was going to slap me when Alpha Dane intervened, grabbing her hand in the air and tossing it away.
“Behave yourself, Camilla!” he warned coldly with a deep voice.
“She won't get the pack! It belongs to me!” she claimed, making it obvious that it was the reason she was in the mansion.
“I still love my father, Camilla… unlike you, who wants his property!”
“If you…” just as she was going to let out, a voice boomed from behind me, drawing our attention immediately.
“There'll be no need to drag the pack or claim it falsely!” the man uttered.
He was in a black suit and had a briefcase in his hand.
“Who are you?!” Camilla asked with a rude tone.
“I am Alpha Safiya’s legal practitioner, and right now, I'm here to declare that the pack belongs to Astrid and Alpha Dane!”
“What?”