ASTRID'S POV.
A steady beeping noise filled my ears, repeating over and over. I let out a frustrated groan. I tried to open my eyes, but bright light hit them immediately, making it hard to see.
I rubbed my hands over my eyes to help adjust and then looked around the strange room.
"How did I end up here?" I noticed an IV drip connected to the back of my hand and felt how sore my body was. I tried to move my arms but couldn’t manage.
"What exactly happened to me?"
I swallowed nervously and slowly tried to sit up. Just then, the door opened, and Dr. Miles walked in with a small, reassuring smile on his face.
“You’re awake,” Dr. Miles said as he checked the machine next to my bed and made some notes in a chart.
He looked at me and asked, “Do you feel any drowsiness? Any pain or aches?”
“Yes,” I responded, struggling to move my limbs.
“I can’t really move much. What happened to me?” I asked again, trying to piece together what had happened, but all I could recall was a severe headache.
“The pain will start to lessen soon,” Dr. Miles assured me.
“You’re actually quite fortunate to be alive. The poison might have affected your memory a little, but you’ll be alright in a few hours. Try not to worry too much about remembering everything right now.”
“Poisoned?” I repeated, and suddenly, memories came rushing back. I remembered visiting my uncle, feeling something was off, and then realising I had been poisoned.
I recalled the harsh words both he and his daughter had spoken to me, their cold, cruel demeanour, and the menacing look in their eyes.
I remembered being thrown into the woods and left to face rogues; moments that I thought would be my last.
“How did I end up here?” I asked urgently, my mind racing as I tried to understand how I had been rescued and brought to this place.
“Well, Alpha Dane rescued you,” Dr. Miles explained. “He stayed with you all night and had to step out for a short while, but he should be back here soon.”
“It’s not possible,” I stammered. “I was… I was in the woods.” I struggled to remember how things had unfolded.
“I don’t have all the details,” Dr. Miles said, “but I heard from the men that Alpha Dane felt your distress through the bond. He was passing by, sensed your presence, and came to save you. You were very fortunate that he found you, Luna Astrid.”
I nodded slowly, trying to take in the information. I then leaned back into the bed, feeling exhausted.
“There is something else you need to know,” Dr. Miles said, his expression becoming more serious. His concern made me uneasy, even though I didn’t feel severely injured and he had assured me the pain would soon pass.
“Please, just tell me,” I urged, feeling a growing sense of dread.
“It’s about your baby,” Dr. Miles said, his gaze shifting to my stomach. The mention of my baby sent a cold shiver down my spine, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me.
“What’s wrong? Dr. Miles? Please, tell me. What’s happening with my baby?” I demanded, my voice filled with urgency and fear.
Dr. Miles sighed deeply, his face etched with sorrow. “I’m sorry, Luna Astrid, but you need to know this. The poison you were given was one of the most dangerous substances for wolves.”
I stared at him, my heart racing. “The wolfsbane should have been lethal,” he continued. “The only reason you survived was because of the alpha blood in your system. Unfortunately, your baby couldn’t endure the effects of the poison.”
My breath caught in my throat as Dr. Miles spoke. “We had to perform emergency procedures to cleanse the poison from your system. I’m so sorry, but you lost the child before we could do anything.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I instinctively placed my hands on my belly, gripping it as if I could hold onto the child I had lost.
His words echoed in my mind, making it hard to understand or accept what he was saying. My baby, my child; I couldn’t believe this was happening, not when I needed the baby the most.
“Please… tell me this is just a nightmare,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. “That I’ll wake up and everything will be okay.”
Dr. Miles stood silently, his expression a mix of sympathy and regret. “I’m truly sorry, Luna Astrid. I know this is incredibly difficult to hear. But consider this: you’re alive and recovering. You didn’t even know who the father was, and your relationship with Alpha Dane could have been at risk. Try to see this from a positive perspective.”
I could see that he was trying to offer comfort, but his words only deepened my sorrow.
The idea of losing my baby and facing the future without it was overwhelming. I felt a profound sense of loss and bitterness, despite his attempts to soften the blow.
“He is still my child,” I said through my tears, my voice trembling with grief.
“Regardless of who the father is, it’s my baby. I can’t just lose my child like this; I need my baby. It’s gone, and it’s all because of my own carelessness.” My words broke into sobs as I clutched at the empty space where my baby had once been.
Dr. Miles shook his head in sympathy and gently tapped my shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.
A knock at the door interrupted us, and both of us turned to see a nurse entering the room. She walked over to Dr. Miles and spoke quietly.
“I’m here to inform you that Alpha Alpha Halfdan has regained consciousness,” the nurse said, drawing my attention.
“Alpha Halfdan is here?” I asked, surprised and confused. I tilted my head, trying to make sense of the situation.
“Yes,” the nurse confirmed.
“He had a fight with Alpha Dane and was brought to the Red Moon pack for urgent medical care. I understand you need some time alone.”
“A stand with your IV will be provided so you can move around and get some fresh air if you feel up to it.”
“There’s also a button by your bed for calling a nurse if you need any help or assistance. But please, take it easy; you’re still in the process of healing.”
With that, Dr. Miles nodded and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. As soon as the door closed behind him, more tears streamed down my face, mixing with my feelings of deep regret.
I felt a profound sense of loss and remorse. I should have stayed in the room and waited for Dane to return.
I had trusted Mr. Han, believing he could be a good person, but he had proved to be as cruel and heartless as his daughter.
I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. The loss of my baby felt like a direct result of my own mistakes and misplaced trust. The realization hit me hard: I had failed to protect my child.
For the next few minutes, I sobbed uncontrollably, my tears flowing freely as I struggled to cope with the overwhelming sense of loss.
The room seemed to close in on me, its walls feeling tighter and more suffocating with each passing moment. I needed to escape and get some fresh air.
I grabbed hold of the IV stand for support and carefully pushed myself forward. As I reached the door and opened it, I noticed movement from the room across the hall.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Alpha Halfdan, looking disheveled and battered, seated on his bed.
“Astrid?” Alpha Halfdan mumbled my name the moment our eyes met, his voice filled with a mix of relief and desperation.
“Alpha Halfdan,” I murmured quietly, barely audible.
He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. His appearance was shocking—he was badly bruised, with a noticeable cast on his broken arm. The sight of him was jarring and only deepened my unease.
“What do you want? Why are you here?” I asked sharply, struggling to maintain my composure. Seeing him in this state was not what I needed right now.
“Can I talk to you? It will be brief, I promise. Please, just come in for a moment,” he pleaded, his eyes locked onto mine with a desperate intensity.
I hesitated, feeling torn between my desire to avoid further distress and the need to understand why he was here.
Eventually, his urgent pleas overcame my reluctance, and I slowly made my way into the room.
Once inside, I faced him with a mix of curiosity and frustration. “Why are you here, and what happened to you?” I asked, my voice edged with concern.
“I called you in to apologize, Astrid,” Alpha Halfdan began, his voice heavy with regret.
“I had no idea about everything that happened. Last night, Dane came to the pack house and told me everything that Camilla had done.”
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Our fight escalated quickly. Dane was furious and ended up beating me badly. I barely managed to escape with my life. They rushed me to the hospital, and I was just about to take a walk to clear my head when I saw Dr. Miles enter the room across the hall.”
Alpha Halfdan’s face showed clear signs of pain and exhaustion. “Astrid, I am so sorry for everything that has happened. I should have been there for you, and I can’t believe you almost lost your life because of it.”
I could see the depth of his remorse. His beaten appearance was a stark reminder of the brutal encounter he had endured. Even so, a part of me felt he deserved it for his past actions.
“Astrid, I truly am sorry,” he continued, his eyes pleading.
“I know Camilla has caused you immense suffering. Believe me, I would have dealt with her or let Dane handle her as he saw fit, but there’s something you need to know; Camilla is pregnant with my child. I can’t let anything happen to her because of that.”
I studied him carefully, the weight of his apology sinking in.
He seemed genuinely sad, yet I wondered if he had any idea of the full extent of Camilla’s cruelty.
I wondered how he would react if he knew the truth; that Camilla was never pregnant to begin with. The statement might shatter his already fragile understanding of the situation.
“You made your choice,” I said firmly, my voice tinged with anger.
“I don’t feel the slightest bit of pity for Camilla. She brought this on herself, and she deserves whatever happens to her. Even if she ends up dead, it wouldn’t affect me in the slightest.” With that, I turned on my heels, ready to leave.
“Astrid?” Alpha Halfdan called out again, his voice filled with desperation.
I glanced back at him, and before I could react, he pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms locking around me.
I struggled to free myself from his hold, but he was much stronger than I was. His grip was unyielding.
“Please, Astrid, just for a few minutes, let’s stay like this,” he whispered softly into my ear. I could feel his breath against my skin, and his voice was filled with a mix of plea and regret.
I pushed him away with all the strength I could muster, but just then, a sudden sound at the door interrupted us.
Both of us turned our heads toward the noise. I moved quickly to the door and opened it, my heart pounding with anxiety.
“Who was it?” Alpha Halfdan asked, his concern evident.
“No one,” I replied, shaking my head as I glanced around. “I hope no one saw what just happened.”
As soon as I spoke, the door burst open, and Beta Ivar rushed into the room, his face etched with worry.
“Are you okay, Luna Astrid?” he asked urgently, his eyes darting between me and Alpha Halfdan.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said, trying to calm the situation. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Alpha Dane,” Beta Ivar explained, his voice filled with concern.
“He just stormed out of the hospital, and he didn’t look happy at all.”
The news hit me like a jolt. I exchanged a worried glance with Alpha Halfdan, realizing that things might be spiraling out of control.
Alpha Dane had seen us.