DANE'S POV.
Seeing her fast asleep made me feel like the happiest man in the world. My heart was overflowing with joy. It was almost too good to be true that I had someone like Astrid right by my side all along, and I nearly lost her because of my own anger and jealousy.
We've been making good progress recently, working hard together to improve our relationship. However, poor Astrid seems to face one problem after another, never getting a moment's peace.
As she slept peacefully, I gently tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. My eyes rested on her lips for a brief moment, and I lightly traced the outline of her nose with my fingers, savouring the quietness of the moment.
She mumbled softly in her sleep, scrunching up her nose in a way that made her look incredibly cute and endearing.
As she shifted and turned her back to me, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of admiration for her beauty. The sight of her peaceful, sleeping form stirred a possessive obsession within me.
But then, my thoughts turned dark as I remembered what those men had done. The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine, and my anger flared up with each passing second.
All I wanted was for her to find a little bit of peace and quiet. I knew Astrid was overwhelmed and needed my presence, but she also required her own space. That’s why I had decided to give her a few minutes alone.
I had intended only to step away briefly and return to check on her, but I had underestimated the seriousness of the situation.
Those few minutes had nearly robbed her of her pride as Luna and Alpha. The idea of those men; those vile individuals; touching her made my skin crawl. I couldn’t help but think about what could have happened if I hadn’t arrived in time.
What if I had missed her altogether? What if I had gotten there too late to prevent their actions? The thought of dealing with the aftermath was almost unbearable.
Driven by a surge of frustration and concern, I stood up abruptly and left the room, searching for Beta Ivar. It was clear that he was nowhere to be found at the moment. I approached one of the pack guards and demanded, “Where is Beta Ivar?”
“He is out; he’s been with some men ever since you all returned home,” the pack guard informed me. My frustration boiled over as I let out a groan and ran my hands through my hair in exasperation.
“Have someone contact him immediately. He needs to meet me in my study,” I instructed, my voice tinged with urgency. The guard quickly departed to carry out my orders, and I made my way to my study.
Once inside, I sank into a couch, staring blankly at the ceiling as my mind raced through a torrent of thoughts and worries. A few minutes later, a knock interrupted my contemplation.
“Come in,” I called out, and Ivar entered the room. He kept his eyes lowered, and from his demeanour, I could already sense that things were not going well.
“The men? Have they been caught?” I asked, locking my gaze onto him, hoping for some good news.
“Unfortunately, no. We haven’t found any trace of them yet,” he replied, his voice filled with regret. “It might have been my mistake. I shouldn’t have left it unlocked.” His words revealed why he had been out searching the woods.
He explained that the men had slipped away while Astrid and I were otherwise occupied. As unlikely as it seemed, the situation left little room for action at that moment.
I realised there was nothing more to be done.
“Does anyone here actually know how to do their jobs properly?” I asked, my voice strained as I struggled to contain my pain and frustration.
“I’m sorry. We will find them soon,” Ivar said, his tone apologetic. “I promise you, we will locate them.” His apology, though sincere, did little to alleviate my concerns.
I couldn’t help but feel partially responsible; if only I had waited a few more minutes, he might have had the opportunity to search for the men sooner.
But I was unwilling to risk Astrid waking up to the same horrifying situation.
I wasn’t prepared for her to see or remember anything that could potentially harm her mental well-being, so I had chosen to keep certain details to myself.
“They must be found today. They need to face justice for what they’ve done. I want them alive, not dead. They need to be brought to justice so I can uncover who is truly behind this,” I insisted firmly.
“It didn’t happen within our pack, so Edmond can’t be involved, right?” Ivar asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
I nodded in agreement. I had hoped Edmond would be implicated, given his questionable behaviour, but he had been cleared of any involvement this time.
This was disheartening, as I had suspected him of wrongdoing in the past, but it was clear that the culprits were someone else.
“Do you think it could be Alpha Halfdan?” Beta Ivar asked, tilting his head in contemplation. I shrugged in response, muttering under my breath.
“It can’t be Alpha Halfdan. He’s not sharp enough, and besides, he wouldn’t benefit from something like this happening to Astrid. I’m confident he’s on our side in this situation,” I explained. Beta Ivar nodded, seemingly in agreement.
“Then, do you think it could be Camilla?” Ivar pressed further. Camilla had indeed been at the top of my list of suspects, but I was reluctant to believe she was involved.
“She attempted doing something crazy just a day ago; she surely wouldn’t try again so soon,” I explained, frustration evident in my voice.
“Besides, she was in the hall under my watch, and nothing seemed out of place with her. Maybe she’s not the culprit after all.” My patience was wearing thin, and my thoughts were becoming clouded with confusion.
“How about considering all possibilities?” Beta Ivar suggested. “If it isn’t Elder Edmond, Alpha Halfdan, or Camilla, then there must be someone else who wants to hurt Astrid.” I nodded in agreement; his point was valid.
“Someone is manipulating this situation, and we need to find out who it is,” I asserted with determination.
“You can continue with the search; we need to find out who is responsible for this sooner,” I instructed, before turning away and heading back to my room.
When I returned, I found Astrid still peacefully asleep. My heart ached with concern as I wondered how she'd react when she finally woke. I lay down gently beside her, careful not to disturb her rest, and placed a soft kiss on her temple.
“What more do they want from you, my dearest mate?” I whispered, my voice filled with a mix of anger and intense obsession.