DANE'S POV
That jerk! It turns out that his plan had been set from the very start.
He'd always talked about wanting Astrid back, and his secret meetings with me—none of it was real. His true intention was to kill me from the beginning. He was just like Camilla, who was so desperate to have Astrid's life that she was willing to kill to get it.
Now, here was Halfdan, who had been secretly plotting to kill me and take my place.
"When you're gone," Halfdan sneered, "Astrid will have no choice but to come back to me. She won't have any other options. We will get married, and everything will fall back into place just like it was supposed to before you came into the picture.”
As I listened to his taunting words, my anger surged uncontrollably. I looked around and saw a crowd of men surrounding me, their eyes fixed on me with a mix of hostility and anticipation. I could feel my fists tightening into hard balls, and my teeth grinding together in frustration and rage.
“You want me? Fine! Then come and get me!” I shouted, my voice sharp and defiant.
As I spoke, I let out a thunderous growl that echoed through the room.
Halfdan’s face twisted into a snarl, and his men, driven by his command, rushed toward me with a menacing intensity.
The rage within me ignited my wolf’s fury. My fingers stretched and sharpened into deadly claws, and the hair on my body bristled, growing longer and thicker.
My ears shifted into a pointed shape, heightening my senses. As two men closed in on me, I lashed out with my claws, slashing deeply into their sides.
The impact was brutal, and blood sprayed from their wounds as they collapsed, incapacitated.
Before I could catch my breath, four more men surged toward me. I reacted swiftly, delivering a powerful kick to the chest of the first man. The force of my blow sent him sprawling backward, his chest collapsing under the impact.
A menacing growl filled the air, and I turned to face it. Without hesitation, I sank my fingers deep into the belly of the next attacker, tearing through flesh and muscle with fierce strength. His cries of pain were cut short as I ripped him apart.
The third man lunged at me, but I was quicker. I buried my sharp canines into his neck, tearing through the flesh with a savage bite. His body went limp as he succumbed to his injuries.
The fourth man, now visibly enraged, extended his fingers into claws, mirroring my own transformation.
I advanced toward him, my movements precise and brutal. I aimed a powerful kick at his knee, feeling the joint give way under the force.
As he staggered, I followed up with a hard, blunt blow to his head. He crumpled to the ground, his body hitting the floor with a heavy thud.
Suddenly, a commanding voice rang out, cutting through the chaos. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a new wave of men charging into the fight to assist.
Among them was Beta Ivar. We locked eyes for a split second, a silent agreement passing between us.
We both nodded, accepting the unspoken plan, and then turned back to the battle, fighting side by side to fend off the advancing wolves.
My energy was dwindling, each movement becoming more laborious as I continued to kick, punch, and slash.
The blood from them splattered across my face and dripped down my body, mixing with the sweat of anger.
I showed no mercy to anyone who came within reach. I focused on their muscles and tendons, methodically targeting the joints that allowed them to stand, walk, or move.
With each strike, I rendered them immobile, ensuring they could no longer pose a threat.
I gripped the hair of the next man who came at me, my claws digging into his scalp.
With a vicious snarl, I sank my teeth into his neck, tearing away a substantial piece of flesh. He fell to the ground, convulsing in pain before collapsing.
In the midst of the battle, my back collided with another body. I spun around to see Ivar standing behind me, looking dishevelled and battered.
His clothes were torn, and he was covered in blood and grime, making him look like a complete mess.
A sharp, searing pain suddenly pierced my side. Despite the agony, my reflexes were quick enough to catch the hand of the attacker as he tried to drive his weapon deeper into me.
I grimaced from the intense pain, my teeth clenched tightly to stifle a cry.
With a fierce determination, I yanked his claws out of the wound and, in a swift motion, twisted his head off his neck. His body slumped lifelessly to the ground.
Panting heavily, I took a moment to survey the scene. Sweat dripped from my forehead and mingled with the blood that trickled down to the floor.
My vision darted around, but Halfdan and Camilla were nowhere to be seen. They had clearly managed to slip away during the commotion.
Frustration and pain surged through me. I cursed under my breath, feeling the stinging sensation intensify with every movement.
"We need to get you to the hospital; you need to be checked," Ivar said urgently.
He hurried to my side, sliding my arm over his shoulder and supporting me with his own strength. He guided me carefully as I struggled to walk, each step sending jolts of pain through my side.
I applied pressure to the wound with my free hand, trying to stem the flow of blood as best as I could.
As soon as I was settled into the car, the blood continued to ooze uncontrollably, soaking through the makeshift bandage I’d managed to create.
My mind raced, and the first thought that came to me was of Astrid. “Astrid, how is she?” I asked weakly, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You’re hurt; you need to rest and get treated first,” Ivar responded firmly.
“Save your energy. Don’t speak. Focus on staying calm.” His tone was both reassuring and urgent, as he tried to ensure I remained conscious and stable during the drive to the hospital.
“I’m injured, not dead,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
“I’ve been through worse. But Astrid, where is she? I specifically told you not to come, so why did you follow me?”
Ivar shot me a quick glance, his eyes filled with concern before returning his focus to the road. “Because you’re my best friend, Dane,” he said earnestly.
“I knew you’d act on impulse, and this was going to be dangerous. I couldn’t just let you walk into a trap alone.”
He continued, “And yes, Astrid is fine. I had one of my men stay behind to watch over her while I came to help you. Just conserve your energy until we get to the hospital. I’m not risking anything, no matter how tough you are.”
I managed a faint smile, feeling a mix of gratitude and relief. “Thanks, Ivar,” I murmured before sinking back into the car seat, trying to relax despite the persistent throbbing pain.
The drive to the hospital was mostly silent, punctuated only by the sound of Ivar’s erratic driving.
Despite it being late at night with hardly any other cars on the road, his speed made me feel every jarring bump and turn.
Eventually, we arrived at the entrance of the same hospital where Astrid had been taken. Ivar helped me out of the car, guiding me through the emergency room doors.
The hospital staff quickly took over, wheeling me into a room where I lay on the examination table, my breathing shallow with pain.
As the doctor began to clean and stitch my wounds, I watched with a mix of fascination and anxiety.
The doctor moved methodically, using a cotton pad to carefully wipe away the blood from the edges of the wound.
He worked with precision, his hands steady as he inserted stitches with a pair of scissors and placed them neatly into a tray.
I couldn’t help but ask, “How is he now, Doctor?” My voice was strained but filled with concern.
The doctor looked up briefly, his expression reassuring. “He should be fine now,” he said, his tone professional and calm.
“As long as the wound was cleaned properly and doesn’t get infected, he’ll heal in no time.” He continued his work with a practised efficiency, ensuring that everything was in order before he finished.
I nodded as the doctor finished and left the room, a wave of relief washing over me at the news that my injuries weren’t as severe as I’d feared.
“It’s a relief it wasn’t much,” Ivar said, his voice carrying a note of reassurance.
“I need to see Astrid,” I blurted out, attempting to rise from the bed. However, I felt disoriented and weak; my legs felt like jelly, and I collapsed back onto the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Ivar asked, his concern evident. I glanced around the room, making sure no one else was nearby to overhear our conversation. The last thing I needed was someone prying into our private matters.
“When is the next full moon?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ivar thought for a moment before answering, “In four days. You have just three days left.”
I absorbed this information with a solemn nod. “Take me back home, Beta Ivar!” I said quietly, my gaze meeting Ivar’s. “My curse is drawing closer… I don't …” I paused briefly.
A look of worry crossed Ivar’s face.
“I don’t know what will happen this time,” I said softly. “I don’t want anyone else to be in danger because of me and not Astrid.