Dane's POV.
“You are beginning to love her, Alpha Dane.” Ivar uttered, making me freeze in place for a split second.
There was no way I was falling in love with my enemy. Just as I kept struggling to get my thoughts together, I recalled the moment I had woken up from my slumber, how I had reached for her hair, and the way my heart raced just by that simple act.
How I was immediately attracted to her, how I wished never to watch her wake up and rise from my body. It all came back to me, but that doesn't mean I would accept such a fact.
“No! Never! There's no way I'm falling for the enemy! Astrid is the enemy, and no matter what happens, falling in love with her isn't the plan.” I asserted, running my fingers through my hair. It would be a disaster to fall in love with Astrid.
“It's not going to be a bad idea, Dane... The moon goddess has given you your mate, and it's left for you to…”Beta Ivar was immediately cut short by me.
“It's left for me to use her however I want!” I declared, my fierce gaze fixed on Ivar.
“You know Astrid will never let you do that. She'll never let you use her. She is a strong omega and could be a gamma soon. Taking advantage of her won't be a suggestion from me.” Ivar gave a brief advice, but I still didn't listen to him.
“Keep your suggestions to yourself, Ivar... Now go lock the doors as I've commanded you to!” I let out as I glared at him.
“On it, Alpha Dane!” He bowed his head before turning on his heels and heading for Astrid's room.
The second I got into my dressing room, I couldn't help but feel my heart race rapidly. It felt as though I had seen something before my eyes, and it was about to kill me.
One thing I mustn't do to hurt myself is love her; after all, she was in love with Halfdan. I thought inwardly before I swiftly began to change my dress. I needed to be ready to meet with those wicked men.
Just as I was dressing, a knock came at the door, making me halt briefly.
“What is it this time?” I grumbled, rolling my eyes in frustration.
“The pack elders are here, Alpha Dane!” A voice echoed from outside the room, making me understand the situation.
“You can leave... I'll be on my way to them now!” I commanded, and immediately, the footsteps of the person who had come to inform me about the elders faded with each passing second of the day.
“I don't know what you want from me, but one thing I know is this: I won't give it to you!” I asserted; one elder came into my mind at this point.
Soon, I was done dressing, and without wasting any more time, I exited the room and headed right for the meeting hall, where I'd meet with the elders of the pack.
Getting there, I halted before the door and took a deep breath before I reached for the door knob. Without a second delay, I pushed the door open, and stepping into the room, the first person I sighted made me furious.
“Welcome, Alpha Dane!" He grinned mischievously as he stared at me from where he was sitting.
He was my father's Beta, or rather, ex-Beta Edmond, who would never let me have my peace. He was known for one thing, and that was his desire to get the pack to himself.
My father died a painful death, and I was definitely going to find out who did it. I had suspected Edmond for a long time but all the clues were never pointed at him and it made me more curious.
From the look of things, he was definitely the one who had staged this gathering just to make me fierce.
Without a second glance at him, I walked over to my seat and sat down. They all followed suit, sitting on their seats after I did.
“Dane you…” Edmond was going to emit, but I cut him short right there.
“You are my subject, Edmond, so you must address me as your Alpha... Have some respect!” I warned sternly, the anger he felt watching me scold him before everyone, evident on his face.
“I'm sorry, Alpha Dane!” He bowed his head, which made a smirk curl up on my lips.
“Keep your apologies to yourself, Edmond... Why are you all here? I can't recall summoning you all here, not when you make me feel like I am not just doing enough.” I suspected them, staring at each of their faces and waiting for a response.
At this point, I noticed one thing: their attention was fixed on one person, and that was Edmond. I wasn't wrong when I noted that he was the one who had arranged the gathering. He wanted to humiliate me.
But that wasn't going to happen, not when I was going to humiliate him first.
“They are waiting for your directive, Edmond!” I turned to Edmond as I informed him.
Immediately, he lifted his head and, turning around, he saw that I was right; their stares remained fixed on him.
“I guess they are scared to reveal their reasons for coming here, but I am not!” His fake or forced smile instantly changed to that of an alarming Cockrell.
“Speak!” I instructed coldly.
“Your mate, we don't see her here... Why is that?” He inquired, making me boil on the inside.
“Are you here to meet me or my mate? Don't cross your boundaries, Edmond!” I warned intently, my eyes scowling right into his.
“Don't get me wrong, Alpha Dane... It's just that there has been a situation involving her, and she must go on her knees to end the situation before it gets out of hand.” He announced, making me squint my eyes instantly.
“What?” I clamoured, unable to understand a single word he was saying.
Last time I checked, Astrid hadn't met any of them, so how was there a situation she needed to stop by going on her knees?
“I guess you don't know, Alpha Dane... but I'll be kind enough to explain it to you.” He leaned closer to my face because he was sitting directly by my right hand side.
“Your mate pushed and had threatened to kill Luna Camilla's unborn child, and we all know what it means in the pack... Luna Camilla is scared of Astrid as it stands, and trust me, it won't end well unless your Luna goes on her knees to apologise!!!”