DANE'S POV
The pain kept jolting through my body, like waves crashing into me, pausing for a moment, and then crashing back again. It was relentless and overwhelming.
My mind was consumed with thoughts of Astrid. I had tried calling her several times, but there was no answer.
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Now, as I sit here, I can't help but regret all the mistakes I've made and the choices I’ve made.
Each decision feels like a heavy burden, and I’m filled with regret for not doing things differently.
If only I hadn’t spent so much time waiting to meet with that stranger, who turned out to be Halfdan.
If only I hadn't wasted my time in that meeting earlier today. I could have gone with Astrid to the hospital and stayed by her side.
Maybe, if I had been there, none of this would have happened.
The worry gnawed at me, tearing through my nerves and making the anxiety almost unbearable. I desperately hoped for a resolution, but so far, nothing seemed to be changing.
I turned to Ivar, who was sitting in the driver's seat, and asked, "Have there been any calls from the pack house?" He pulled the phone away from his ear and met my anxious gaze through the rearview mirror.
"Nothing," Ivar said, his voice filled with regret.
"I'm sorry Alpha Dane, but they haven't found anything yet. According to the maids, she seemed hesitant. They said Astrid wanted to meet with you and had left several messages, but then she went to a place and didn’t come back."
My brow furrowed deeply at his words. Astrid didn’t have an uncle in the pack; at least not one I knew of or had ever met.
If it was something truly urgent, she would have waited to speak with me directly. Why was this so hard to believe?
Something didn’t add up. It was clear now that Astrid wasn’t close. She wasn’t at the pack house; she was missing, and it was my responsibility to protect her but I didn't.
“Fuck!” I muttered a curse under my breath, my chest heaving as my heart pounded heavily.
The pain surged through me again, more intense than before, but then a sudden thought struck me, illuminating a possible solution.
I remembered the last time Astrid had been taken in her father's pack.
In a moment of desperation, I had discreetly planted a tracking device in her phone. I fumbled for my phone with renewed urgency, hoping to locate her. If she was in danger, I needed to act swiftly.
As I opened the tracking app, the pain became almost unbearable.
“Arrrggghhh!” I let out a guttural scream, a mixture of frustration and agony, my fists clenched and teeth gritted as I howled in pain.
Beta Ivar immediately slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a stop. He turned to face me with concern etched on his face.
"Is there a problem, Alpha Dane?" Ivar asked, his voice filled with worry as he brought the vehicle to a complete halt.
Something wasn’t right—there was an unsettling feeling in the air. Although the surroundings were shrouded in dense fog and trees, the tracking device was showing a different location.
The pain in my chest intensified in this area, deepening my sense of urgency. I stepped out of the car, my eyes scanning the dense forest.
I closed my eyes briefly, concentrating on the scent of the air. When I opened them again, I was certain—amidst the forest's damp, earthy smell, I detected a faint but unmistakable trace of Astrid’s scent.
"Alpha Dane?" Ivar's voice was urgent as he hurriedly stepped out of the car and moved closer to me, his face etched with worry.
His eyes flicked to my clenched fists and the pained expression on my face.
"Is everything okay? We need to leave now," Ivar said, trying to remain calm despite my distress.
"My mate is here, and she's in immediate danger!" I snapped, my voice tinged with desperation. I could feel her fear escalating with each passing second.
"What? That can't be but even if she is… We need to verify this first. I can't let you go in there alone," Ivar insisted, knowing he needed to thoroughly search the area for any threats or dangers. But my patience was wearing thin, and I couldn’t afford to waste time.
"We don't have time for that," I retorted sharply.
"I know you might not believe me, but there’s no room for questions. Astrid is somewhere in these woods. You can either help me or stay out of my way, but don’t try to stop me!"
I could see the confusion and hesitation in Ivar's eyes, mixed with his evident concern. He opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off.
"Fine! I'll go without you if I have to. Don’t try to stop me!" I snapped, turning away from him as I set off into the woods, following the faint but distinct scent of Astrid.
My heart raced as I pushed my legs to their limit, eyes darting around the dense forest, scanning for any sign of her.
I ran through the underbrush, branches whipping against my face, the scent growing stronger with each step.
When I was about eight feet away, I suddenly skidded to a halt. My heart sank as I saw a rogue wolf lunging towards Astrid.
A piercing scream tore from my throat, and a feral growl erupted from deep within me.
The rogue wolf skidded to a halt, turning to face me with a snarl, followed closely by four more wolves who charged at me with menacing growls.
Without hesitation, I bared my canines and launched into action, delivering powerful kicks and punches, my fury propelling me.
For a brief moment, the primal rage of my wolf took over, pushing me into a fierce battle with the attackers.
When I briefly regained control, I saw all five wolves sprawled on the ground, battered and bruised, unable to move.
With the immediate threat subdued, I sprinted towards Astrid. She lay on the ground, exposed, her skin pale and cold.
I scooped her up into my arms, but my heart sank as I noticed the signs of poisoning. Her tongue was a deep, unsettling purple, and her eyelids drooped halfway, barely open.
The sight of her in such a pitiful state was agonising. My vision blurred with tears as I held her close, feeling an intense ache in my chest.
"Stay with me, Astrid; please stay with me," I whispered desperately, my voice trembling.
As I cradled her fragile form, the sound of approaching footsteps drew nearer.
Ivar arrived, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the sight of the defeated wolves scattered on the ground before shifting his gaze back to me.
"You were right," Ivar said, his voice laced with disbelief.
"We need to get her to the hospital, Ivar!" I snapped urgently, lifting Astrid and making my way back to the car.
I carefully placed her in the backseat, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible, before sliding in beside her.
"Drive faster!" I shouted at Ivar, panic rising in my voice as I noticed Astrid’s breathing growing shallow and weak, her eyes closing more with each passing moment.
Ivar sped through the streets, racing towards the hospital.
We passed through the hospital gates and headed straight for the entrance, my heart pounding as I clung to the hope that we would get there in time.
"Someone help my mate now!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the emergency room as medical staff rushed to our aid.
They quickly brought out stretchers and began moving Astrid towards the emergency unit.
I followed closely, my heart pounding furiously in my chest, each beat echoing my desperation. My breath came in ragged gasps as I struggled to keep up.
A nurse stepped in front of me, holding up a hand to block my way. "Please, Alpha Dane, you’ll have to wait here. You are not allowed inside."
I clenched my jaw tightly, frustration boiling over. My hands gripped the edges of my hair as I let out a groan of exasperation. I wanted nothing more than to be with Astrid, to hold her and ensure she was safe.
With a deep breath, I tucked my hands behind my back and began to pace the waiting area.
My eyes remained locked on the door to the emergency unit, my patience wearing thin with each passing second.
I was consumed with worry, unable to shake the gnawing fear of not knowing what was happening to her.
“What's the situation with Luna, Alpha Dane?” Ivar’s voice cut through my spiralling thoughts as he approached. He must have gone around to pack the car, his concern evident.
“I’m not sure. She’s been inside there for what feels like an eternity,” I replied, turning to face Ivar. My voice was tight, barely containing the edge of panic.
“Find out who did this. Find out who is responsible for trying to harm my mate!” I demanded, my voice sharp with urgency.
Ivar nodded swiftly, his expression serious.
“On it, Alpha!” he responded before quickly leaving the waiting room, determination in his stride.
I continued to pace, each step heavy with anxiety. My mind was a chaotic whirl of thoughts and fears.
The doors to the emergency unit finally swung open, and a doctor emerged, his face grave and tired.
I rushed toward him, my heart racing as I grabbed his arm.
“How is she? What happened to her?” I asked, my voice nearly breaking.
“She was poisoned with wolfsbane,” Doctor Miles began, his voice steady but grim.
“The toxin has caused significant damage to her system, including the tragic loss of her unborn baby. The only reason she’s still alive is because of her Alpha blood; it’s giving her a fighting chance. However…”
The words hit me like a sledgehammer. “Wait, what do you mean by her baby? Was she pregnant? When?” I interrupted, my voice tinged with shock and confusion.
My mind raced as worry lines deepened on my forehead.
A baby? Pregnant? Astrid had never mentioned anything about being pregnant. All she had spoken about was feeling unwell and needing to come to the hospital.
Doctor Miles looked taken aback. “She didn’t tell you?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
I bit down hard on my lower lip, trying to piece together the puzzle. Was this why she had been so secretive, why she hadn't wanted me around or to accompany her to the hospital? The realisation hit me with a jolt.
“What are you talking about, Doctor Miles?” I pressed again, desperation creeping into my voice.
The hesitation on his face was evident, and I could see him struggling with how much to reveal.
“I have to leave now, Alpha Dane,” Doctor Miles said, his voice clipped with urgency.
“There’s a pregnant Omega in labour that I need to attend to.” Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of sight and down the hall, his footsteps echoing with his hurried exit.
My fists clenched tightly at my sides as I made my way to Astrid’s room.
Each step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by a deep sense of guilt and helplessness. I entered the room and looked down at Astrid’s still, pale form.
The doctor’s words replayed in my mind like a relentless, tormenting loop.
“She was pregnant but lost her baby.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” I mumbled, my voice barely more than a whisper. My eyes remained locked on her unconscious face, searching for answers that might never come.
“Or was it because the baby belonged to Halfdan?” I asked, speaking into the empty air, my heart aching with the pain of unanswered questions.
At that moment, the door to the room creaked open, and Beta Ivar stepped inside.
His face was a mixture of concern and determination, and he glanced around the room before meeting my gaze.