ASTRID'S POV
Opening my eyes, the first thing that assaulted me was a wave of pain, regret, and seething hatred that seemed to pulse through my very veins.
My body ached from the cold, hard floor I had slumbered on, and my mind was foggy from exhaustion and the emotional strain of the past day.
The memories of the previous night came rushing back. I had spent hours crying and pleading at Dane’s study door, my voice raw and hoarse from the constant begging.
Each attempt to get through to him had been met with silence, and his refusal to open the door or acknowledge my presence had only deepened the sense of despair I felt.
I had hoped—foolishly, it seemed—that we could work things out before nightfall, that somehow, we’d find a way to mend our fractured relationship.
But as the hours ticked by, it became increasingly clear how far off I was. Dane’s anger was a force I had never encountered before, an intensity that made me feel more desolate than I had initially.
In my desperation, I had fallen asleep by the door, my body shivering from the cold that seeped into me through the thin, threadbare blanket of the night.
Eventually, unable to bear the chill any longer, I retreated to my own room, hoping against hope that Dane would come to me when he was ready to retire for the night.
I was wrong; I had made a grave mistake by allowing myself to fall asleep.
Now, I blinked as I scanned the bedroom, my heart sinking at the sight of the empty space beside me.
There were no signs that Dane had come into the room while I was asleep—no rustling of sheets, no comforting presence beside me.
The room felt eerily quiet, the air thick with the weight of his absence.
Panic surged through me as I sprang to my feet, my legs feeling unsteady and weak from the uncomfortable rest.
I darted towards the bathroom, hoping against hope that he might be in there, seeking comfort or peace.
My mind raced with the fear of losing him completely, of having failed to mend the rift between us.
I reached for the bathroom door, my breath coming in quick, uneven bursts as I turned the handle and pushed it open.
“Dane!” I called out desperately, my voice echoing off the cold, tiled walls of the bathroom.
I pushed the door open wider, peeking inside with frantic eyes, but the room was empty. The silence felt oppressive, and my heart raced with mounting anxiety.
Where could he be? He hadn’t come to bed last night, and now, I feared the worst.
Panic gripped me as I dashed out of the room, my feet pounding against the polished floors as I headed towards his study.
I reached the study door and twisted the knob, surprised to find it unlocked. My heart skipped a beat as I pushed the door open, but disappointment and confusion flooded me when I saw the room was empty.
The neat, organized space held no sign of Dane’s presence.
Feeling a surge of frustration and worry, I spun around on my heels and headed towards his office.
I needed answers, and I needed them now. I moved swiftly, my breaths coming in quick, uneven bursts as I reached the office door.
But as I stepped inside, I found the room deserted, just like the others.
Despair started to set in, and I felt a wave of weariness crash over me. I was at my wits' end, searching for him without success.
Just as I was about to give up, I noticed Ivar at the far end of the corridor, giving orders to a group of men who were hastily moving about.
I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice as I approached him. He glanced up from his clipboard, his expression neutral but attentive.
“You may all leave,” Ivar instructed the men, who immediately bowed and dispersed, leaving us with a semblance of privacy.
With the hallway now eerily quiet, I turned to Ivar, my voice tinged with desperation. “I can’t find Dane. Do you know where he is?”
Ivar’s face remained inscrutable for a moment. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes reflecting a hint of sympathy. “I do, Luna Astrid,” he said, his tone calm but serious.
I felt a flicker of hope as I awaited his next words, clinging to the hope that he could lead me to Dane and help resolve the trouble that had taken over us.
“Well, go ahead. Tell me, where is he? I need to speak with him,” I urged, my voice tinged with urgency.
Ivar’s expression softened with a hint of frustration as he sighed deeply. “You should still be in bed, resting, Astrid. None of this is important right now. The Alpha is out on some tasks; he’ll be back at the packhouse soon. Please, just rest until he returns. It won’t be long.”
His response only fueled my growing anxiety. “I can’t just sit around, Ivar. I haven’t spoken to him all night. He didn’t return to the room, and he’s been shutting me out ever since I came back from the hospital. It’s tearing me apart. I need to do something,” I pleaded, my voice wavering with emotion.
Ivar's face remained calm, but a forced smile crept onto his lips. “I know the Alpha seems angry, and I understand you’re worried. But trust me, it’s not as bad as it seems. He’s acting cold and distant, but it’s all because he’s trying to protect you in his own way. You need to stay calm and believe that he’ll return and things will be okay.”
I tried to take in his words, nodding slowly despite my inner rage. The reassurance did little to quell my anxiety.
I turned and headed back towards my room, my mind racing. The early morning hours felt strange for Dane to be away on errands; it wasn’t like him to be gone without a word.
Something felt off, but I needed to find some calm.