Camilla's Pov.
“What was that about?” Halfdan demanded, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief as he glared at me. The intensity of his gaze made it clear that he was struggling to understand what had just transpired.
I swallowed hard, feeling the heat of both fury and humiliation rising within me.
My mind was filled with raw emotions; rage, jealousy, and pain all colliding in a storm of confusion.
I forced myself to maintain a frown, struggling to keep my composure amidst the anger I felt.
As the emotions boiled over, my face flushed a deep red. I could barely think straight; the haze of anger clouded my judgement.
I was consumed by a fierce need to exact revenge for the humiliation I felt, my thoughts fixated on retaliating against Astrid.
“Tell me, what exactly are you up to?” Halfdan pressed again, his grin now tainted with a mix of derision and curiosity.
His relentless questioning only served to aggravate me further, making me feel like he was deliberately antagonising me.
“You tried to murder her?” Alpha Halfdan’s voice rose with anger.
“What on earth is wrong with you? How could you possibly do something so despicable?” His words cut through me with the force of an accusation.
The mounting pressure was more than I could bear. His relentless scrutiny wasn’t just annoying; it was infuriating. He was crossing a line, pushing my buttons in a way that made me feel both sick and enraged.
“Talk to me. Why on earth are you so mad at me?” I erupted, my voice sharp with frustration.
“Is it really because I tried to kill her? My only regret is that she isn’t dead!” I spat, the bitterness in my tone evident.
Halfdan’s expression shifted to one of shock, clearly taken aback by my vehement words.
Everyone, except for him, understood the depth of my hatred for Astrid. She always seemed to have the upper hand, basking in the spotlight while I was made to live in her shadow.
It was infuriating to see even my own mate more concerned about her than me.
Halfdan had witnessed my humiliation earlier; when I was slapped across the face and left to endure the embarrassment in front of everyone.
He had stood there, silent and passive, offering no support or intervention. His reluctance had only fueled my sense of injustice.
Yet, when I reached out in anger towards Astrid, Dane had intervened. He had stepped in front of me, threatening me and asserting his protection over her. Halfdan would have never stood in for me that way.
His actions were a clear slap in the face, showing his possessiveness to Astrid.
As I glared at Halfdan, I could see the look in his eyes; something akin to admiration or even infatuation. It was as if Astrid had somehow bewitched him, captivating him in a way that left me feeling completely sidelined.
The unfairness of it all was overwhelming. No one seemed to care about my feelings or my position.
They were all too eager to rally around Astrid, leaving me feeling like a pariah. If no one else cared about me, why should I continue to care about them?
“Don’t tell me you’re lusting after Astrid like that!” I exploded, the words coming out in a fierce, accusing rush. “You’ve fallen head over heels for her again… do you still love her?” I demanded, my gaze locking onto Halfdan’s. His eyes rolled with a mix of frustration and exasperation as he listened.
“Maybe I wouldn’t have fallen for her if you hadn’t lied about having the pack in the first place,” he shot back, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and disappointment.
“I didn’t lie to you about having the pack, Halfdan. You were just greedy!” I snapped, my voice rising with the intensity of my frustration.
Halfdan’s reaction was immediate; he swiftly raised his hands in a gesture of disbelief, then let them fall back to his sides.
He was panting heavily, his face flushed and eyes bloodshot with barely contained rage. I had never seen him this angry before.
His anger seemed petty to me, especially given how he had neglected the pack’s needs himself.
“Go on! I dare you! Hit me!” I screamed, pushing him further. Halfdan recoiled from me, his face contorting with a mix of disgust and hurt.
“This is all about Astrid, isn’t it?” I continued, my voice dripping with accusatory bitterness.
“You want her now, don’t you? Now that I am not the Alpha of the Bluestone pack.” My words were sharp, aimed to cut deep. Halfdan didn’t respond, his silence speaking volumes.
Without a word, he turned on his heel and strode toward the door but halted briefly.
“Let this be the last time you play such games with me,” Halfdan’s voice was a low, dangerous growl as he levelled his gaze at me.
“Don’t drag me down with you, and don’t test my patience. One day, I might really hit you. This is your warning, Camilla; you really don’t want to get on my bad side.” With that, he stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind him with a resounding finality that left me in a heavy silence.
The force of his exit left me reeling. I swallowed hard, struggling to control the seething anger that threatened to consume me.
With a fierce, frustrated cry, I collapsed onto the sofa, my emotions boiling over. I screamed at the top of my lungs, the sound echoing through the room, a raw expression of my rage and helplessness.
The walls seemed to vibrate with my fury.
I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Halfdan to Astrid. The way he looked at her, the intensity in his eyes; it was clear he was drawn to her again. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
I had already sacrificed so much, lost so much to her. Losing him too was unacceptable.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, my mind raced, trying to find a way to reclaim control.
Then, an idea sparked in my mind, a plan that made a dark grin creep across my face.
I grabbed my phone with renewed determination and swiftly typed out a message, my fingers moving with purpose.
“Meet me by the riverbank tonight. I have something for you to do,” I sent, the message carrying an undercurrent of menace and resolve.
As I hit send, the intensity of my plan solidified in my mind.