Astrid's POV
“We are here, Luna Astrid!” The guard informed me, and with my heart racing rapidly, I reached for the door handle.
I took my time, the memories flashing before my eyes as I stood before the imposing door. My grip around the handle tightened, and all I wished for was a time with my father, not dead but alive.
Tears that I had tried so much to conceal, to hide within, began to trickle down from my eyes at this moment. I just wanted my father. Although he was one tough Alpha that I couldn't reach most times, I still missed him so much.
“Father…” I whispered again, sniffling this time.
“Are you okay? We can leave and come back later, Astrid… it is fine if…” Alpha Dane was going to say.
He had obviously seen me looking all weak and down, and the only suggestion he could give was to turn and leave, to leave the pack, but that wasn't what I wanted.
I wanted to see my father, and that was what I was going to do.
“No… no, Alpha Dane.” I shook my head incessantly as I wiped the tears from my face with my other hand. “I want to see him. He means a lot to me.” I let out, and without hesitation, I pushed the door open.
The first sight I saw was my mother crying right beside his corpse. She placed her head on the coffin, and I bet she felt worse than I did.
“Mother…” I whispered through tears as I rushed towards where she was.
Alpha Dane stood by the door, helping us to watch out in case there was going to be any intrusion.
“I didn't mean to… I wanted to tell you, I wanted to tell you everything, but he refused. He refused!” She cried with so much pain and anger in her tone. She couldn't hold back her grief and pain anymore.
“I understand, Mother… Please stop crying…” My thumb reached for her cheek as I wiped off the tears on her face.
Here I was, trying to be a good daughter, trying to console her, but I was crying myself. I was crying without thinking twice. It just flowed, and there was definitely no way I could stop it.
Slowly, I turned to look at my father's corpse that was before me, and that day came rushing into my mind. The last day I saw him, the day he banished me, the day he called me a disgrace for getting pregnant by someone I barely knew.
“I'm sorry, Father… I'm sorry I couldn't be the daughter you wanted,” I whimpered, my hand reaching out and rubbing the coffin.
If there was one wish I'd like to make, it would definitely be to bring my father back to life, to bring him back to the pack.
“I'm really sorry for everything!” I struck my head countless times as I kept crying endlessly.
Just as I was going to hit myself again, a strong grip held my hand, stopping me from hurting myself even more.
“It isn't your fault, Astrid!” I turned to see who it was, and I found Alpha Dane, his eyes piercing deeply into mine as he tried making me see reason with him.
“You weren't aware, and even if you were, you can't stop what has been destined to happen!” He explained briefly, his grip around my hand tightening with every passing second.
“But I…” I was going to say when he swiftly pulled me towards himself, embracing me tightly and rubbing my back gently.
“You didn't do anything! It's high time you stop blaming yourself!” He whispered into my ear, his warm embrace soothing at this moment.
The tears in my eyes fell even more at this moment. I couldn't hold them back; I couldn't stop them no matter how hard I tried.
Alpha Dane kept on holding me just the way he did until he realised that I had stopped crying.
He pulled out and, staring into my eyes, he formed a smile on his lips. “The moon goddess knows best, okay?” He stated, and because I couldn't object anymore, I nodded my head in acceptance of his words.
“Come on, it's time to head back to the pack!” He urged, and with one last glance at my mother and my father's coffin, I nodded my head.
I couldn't really utter a single word because, trust me, I had cried my eyes out already.
We left the room, and just as we got to the main entrance of the exit, Alpha Dane halted, confusion and uncertainty etched on his face.
“Is something wrong?” I fought to say, my words barely above a whisper at this moment.
“My ring, I think I forgot my ring… head to the car and wait for me with Beta Ivar! I'll be back as fast as I can!” He urged, and without a word from me, he rushed back to the house.
I had no other choice but to leave just as he had commanded. I was heading towards the car when, irritatingly, she stormed up before me. Camilla rushed towards me, blocking my path.
“Are you happy now? Now that you have taken what rightfully belonged to me!” she snarled as she glared into my eyes.
“Please, Camilla… not now!” I said, trying to avoid any form of trouble because that was what Camilla was known for, trouble.
“Not now? I'm sorry, because I can't let you go. I can't let you sleep with the legal practitioner and take my rights!” She declared, my eyes widening in anger and disbelief.
How could she say something like that? She could cause a rumour this way, and I wouldn't like it.
“I'd advise you to mind what you say, Camilla! I'm no slut like you!” I warned, and immediately, she slapped me on the face hard.
A soft cry left my lips as I cupped my cheek, my hair clinging to the tears that were on my face.
“Never you ever call me a slut, Astrid… I won't take it lightly next time you do so! Bitch!” She tsked before she turned on her heels.
She was going to leave, she wanted to walk out on me, but how could I let that happen when she had just hurt me? I couldn't be weak before her.
Without hesitation, I grabbed her hair tightly.
“Shit! What are you doing? Let go of my hair!” She shrieked as she tried pulling my hand off, but I held it tightly.
“I'm sorry, Camilla, but I can't!” Without a second thought, I tossed her to the ground, her skin scratching against the hard floor.
“Ah!” She cried out, the pain she felt etched on her face just how I wanted it.