ASTRID'S POV.
My eyes slowly opened, and the first thing I noticed was Dane's strikingly beautiful eyes gazing intently at me. I had to make a real effort to keep from smiling, but the happiness I felt was so intense that it was almost impossible.
My stomach felt like it was fluttering with butterflies, and I swallowed hard as a grin began to spread across my face.
I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy. Why was Dane being so incredibly kind to me?
Recently, he had been nothing short of amazing—he had saved my life on two separate occasions, gone out of his way to pamper me, and constantly showered me with love and attention.
His support had been extraordinary, and I couldn’t imagine how I could have managed without him.
He felt like one of the greatest gifts the moon goddess had bestowed upon me in a long time.
“Why are you smiling?” Dane asked playfully, his voice soft and warm.
“You have this funny look in your eyes, you know; they keep twitching.” He reached out and gently tapped my nose with his fingers, his touch tender and affectionate.
I wanted to hold onto this moment forever—just the two of us, nothing else intruding, no jokes or puns.
All I wanted was a peaceful, happy life with him. But why did it feel like everything was going to get out of control?
I bit my lip nervously, struggling to keep my composure. The fear inside me was growing.
I was terrified that things might go back to how they used to be—waking up to find him distant and cold, shutting me out completely.
I couldn’t bear the thought of reliving that pain.
“Talk to me. What’s on your mind?” Dane’s voice was gentle, yet insistent. I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I slowly pushed myself up from the bed.
I wasn’t entirely sure how to approach this delicate subject, but I knew it was something I needed to address directly.
“Tell me, what exactly is the problem?” he urged, his voice slightly audible as I sat up in bed, my fingers gripping the edge of the duvet for comfort.
“I’ve been curious and worried, Dane. When I first arrived, why did you really try so hard to hate me? Why were you so distant for so long?” I asked, my heart racing.
I wasn’t sure how to handle the conversation, but I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I had been holding back my feelings, but now I had to speak up.
“It’s okay; don’t get worked up over things from the past,” Dane said soothingly, his tone gentle but firm.
“Please don’t say anything that will make me upset. I never really hated you, and if that's how you felt, I'm sorry and I’m not going to change, alright?” His response seemed evasive, avoiding my direct question, but his words were reassuring enough that I felt no need to push him further.
“Now, come on, get dressed. There’s something important we need to do… We have to go somewhere and don't ask me “where?” he said, his voice filled with a mix of urgency and affection.
He leaned in and pressed a soft, reassuring kiss to my lips before standing up from the bed.
“I’ll take care of a few things, and then I’ll be ready to leave soon, okay?” he added, his tone encouraging as he moved towards the door.
I gave him a warm smile in response, and he returned it before walking out of the room.
As I began to rise from the bed, I could hardly find any peace or quiet, but I knew I had a task ahead of me.
I headed to the bathroom, humming softly to myself, trying to clear my mind. My thoughts were scattered, consumed with curiosity about what Dane had planned and where we were going.
I stepped out of the bathroom, drying off with a towel, and glanced over to the closet. As I was about to start selecting an outfit, I suddenly felt an unsettling chill, as if someone else was in the room with me.
I turned around, scanning the room for any signs of intrusion, but everything appeared in order.
Turning back to the closet, I began rummaging through my clothes, trying to find an outfit that would be appropriate for whatever Dane had planned.
My ears were tuned in to any faint or unusual sounds, but everything seemed eerily quiet.
A sudden shiver ran down my spine as I realised the room had grown significantly colder. I turned towards the window, which had been firmly closed before I went to the bathroom.
Now, however, it was wide open, letting in a draft that made the room feel even colder.
As I was about to process this and go shut the window, I felt a cold, unexpected touch graze over my hand.
I exclaimed as I turned to see who it was and immediately, I let out a loud scream, my heart racing with fear.
My eyes widened in terror as I saw a man standing menacingly before me. He was an intruder, his face covered by a mask and a knife clutched tightly in his hand. The sight of him filled me with a paralysing fear.
I staggered backward, trying desperately to escape, but my legs gave way, and I collapsed to the floor.
The man crouched down to my level, his eyes glinting with a cruel intent that made my skin crawl. He loomed over me, his menacing presence overwhelming.
Without warning, he reached out and seized my neck with a vice-like grip. I gasped for air, unable to cry out or make any sound.
My attempts to break free were futile; his hold was too strong. I felt a surge of panic as I struggled helplessly against him.
“Please …” I managed to choke out, writhing as best as I could. My mind raced, fearing that this was the end. Just then, the intruder’s grip suddenly loosened, his hold on me easing in a way that allowed me to break free.
I scrambled backwards, my hands scraping against the floor as I tried to escape. My back slammed into the wardrobe behind me, the impact jarring but providing some relief from his frightening presence.
“What … What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice trembling and filled with panic. I looked at him desperately, searching for any sign of what he might want.
He remained silent, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something unexpected: guilt, regret, and a kind of shock that seemed out of place given the situation.
It was as though my weakness had affected him deeply. Or something more different.
“You are…” he began to speak, his voice faltering. But before he could continue, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed loudly in the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.
Snapping his gaze to the door, startled and realising he had been discovered, stood up and leaped through the open window, vanishing into the outside before I could get a grip of him.
Dane burst into the room just as I was trying to get back on my feet, his face a picture of alarm and deep concern.
His eyes scanned the room quickly, taking in the scene with an intensity that conveyed his worry.
I was still struggling to steady my breath, my heart racing wildly from the shock and fear of the encounter. Every beat felt like a drum in my chest as I fought to regain my composure.
“What’s wrong? I heard a scream as I was coming here. Are you okay?” Dane's voice was filled with urgent concern, and he hurried over to me.
I shook my head slowly, too shaken to speak clearly, and moved to the spot on the floor where I had fallen. My heartbeat pounded in my chest, and I tried to focus on calming my frayed nerves.
“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have left you alone,” Dane said softly, his tone full of regret as he reached out to offer comfort.
I looked at him with a mixture of relief and exasperation, my emotions still raw from the frightening experience.
I rolled my eyes slightly, a gesture that was more about trying to manage my overwhelming feelings than actual irritation.
I then made my way to the couch, sinking into its cushions as I tried to gather my thoughts and calm down from the confusion.
“Astrid, you can…” Dane began, but I interrupted him before he could finish.
“No, it’s nothing. I was probably hallucinating,” I said, lying through my teeth. I knew what I had seen was real, but I wasn’t ready to add more stress or drama to the situation.
“Are you sure?” Dane asked, his gaze sharp and filled with suspicion. I nodded slowly, trying to muster a convincing smile that I wasn’t even sure I believed myself.
“Let’s not be late, and I don’t want any other issues. Make sure to stay by my side,” he said, his voice firm.
“We wouldn’t want you hallucinating again, would we?” His words made it clear that he wasn’t entirely convinced by my story.
Dane helped me out of the house, and I followed closely behind him, my mind swirling with confusion and fear.
I kept silent, choosing not to share my thoughts or the disturbing encounter I had just experienced. Despite the rage inside me, I felt a small measure of comfort simply being near him.
As I glanced back towards the house, my gaze fell on the window frame. For a brief moment, I caught sight of someone hanging outside, their presence sending a fresh wave of anxiety through me. Dane, unaware of the figure, left the door open as he led me to the car.
Once inside the vehicle, I settled into the seat and fastened my seatbelt, but my thoughts were consumed by what had just happened.
My mind raced with questions: Who was that mam, and what could he possibly want from me?