DANE'S POV
"Go away, Astrid," I commanded, but she didn’t listen. Instead, she lunged forward, throwing her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug.
I could feel my control over my wolf slipping away more and more with each passing second, as it started to take over.
A deeper, louder growl rumbled from my chest, but Astrid didn’t budge. Her eyes locked onto mine, and the way she looked at me sent a cold shiver down my spine.
I tried to push her away, but it was no use. Something felt wrong, and it wasn’t just the wolf—everything seemed off.
My claws extended, sharp and deadly, as I shoved her off once more. I winced when I saw her hit the floor with a heavy thud.
The sound echoed in the room, and I froze when I noticed blood slowly seeping from a wound on her back.
Rage coursed through me, but this time it was directed at myself. I was furious that I had lost control, furious that I had hurt her.
The angrier I became, the less stable I felt. My body trembled with the force of it. Another feral growl ripped from my throat as I balled my hands into tight fists.
My skin itched as patches of hair sprouted from it, and my ears lengthened, twisting into the pointed shape of a wolf’s.
I could feel my bones shifting beneath my skin, each snap and crack painful as they realigned.
The agony spread through my body, but the worst part wasn’t the pain—it was the blood.
My eyes fixated on it, the dark red pooling around her. It drove my wolf into a frenzy, completely taking over me as I stormed toward her, unable to think clearly, only wanting more.
The sight of blood ignited a twisted hunger deep inside me, a desire that I fought hard to suppress.
But my cursed wolf revelled in it. As I reached out, my hand aimed for her throat, intent on choking the life out of her.
My fingers hovered above her neck when something stopped me.
She lifted her head, her eyes locking onto mine, and in that instant, something shifted. Her eyes now glowed with an unnatural shade of blue. It reminded me of the first time I attacked her.
They were mesmerising, drawing me in and freezing me in place.
My hand dropped, my anger fading as quickly as it had come. I stood there, completely still, trying to understand what had just happened.
My chest heaved, and my heart pounded erratically as I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force my wolf back down.
Something about those eyes had calmed me, leaving me in a strange mix of fear and wonder.
I pressed my palms hard against my chest as waves of pain rippled through my body. Every nerve felt like it was on fire, and my heart pounded so hard it hurt.
My breaths became shallow, ragged, as I struggled to keep myself from spiralling out of control. The pressure building inside me made it feel like I was suffocating.
"Stay calm," a voice called out, cutting through the chaos in my head. It was a voice I could never forget, no matter how much time passed.
"You just have to stay calm, son," the voice echoed again, gentle yet firm. My father’s voice.
In my mind’s eye, I could see him clearly, standing tall and strong, his hand resting on my shoulder like he always did when he was trying to guide me.
And beside him, my mother, her warm smile reassuring me that everything would be okay.
The memories of them were so clear, almost as if they were right there with me, helping me fight through the storm raging inside.
I took a deep breath, letting the image of my parents steady me. Slowly, I exhaled, feeling some of the tension ease from my body.
I opened my eyes, blinking to clear my vision, and saw Astrid still on the floor in front of me.
Her wide eyes stared up at me, but there was no fear in them.
She didn’t cower, didn’t flinch or pull away from me, even though I had just hurt her in the worst way.
"Stay calm, okay? Just stay calm. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me," Astrid’s voice was soft, almost soothing, as she spoke to me.
"Don’t beat yourself up over it. I’ll be fine, Dane, just calm down."
Her words wrapped around me like a blanket, slowly pulling me out of the madness. Each time I replayed her voice in my head, my heart rate steadied, and my breathing became less frantic.
Little by little, I felt the beast inside me retreat, the snarling rage and bloodlust fading away. My wolf, which had been on the verge of completely taking over, slowly withdrew, allowing me to regain control.
The darkness that clouded my mind lifted, and I could finally think clearly again.
Suddenly, my legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to the floor, landing with a heavy thud.
The exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave, draining what little strength I had left. I barely noticed when Astrid rushed over, pulling me into her lap, cradling my head gently as if I were the one who had been hurt.
"Are you okay now? Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry. Her fingers brushed through my hair, calming me further.
I looked up at her, her face inches from mine, concern written all over her expression.
Slowly, I lifted my hand and cupped her cheeks, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.
My heart softened at the sight of her, and without thinking, I leaned forward, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to her lips.
Astrid's gaze remained fixed on me, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.
Despite her situation; her clothes stained with blood from the slashes she had endured; she looked at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Are you sure you’re okay, Alpha Dane?" she asked again, her voice shaky but still carrying a note of light-heartedness.
I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt for my earlier behaviour. "It’s okay, I’m fine…. I'm…” I stuttered, my voice thick with remorse.
“I’m sorry for being a jerk to you, Astrid,” Slowly, I moved closer to her, trying to find comfort in her presence.
I rested my head against her shoulder, finding solace in the closeness as I struggled to steady my own emotions.
Astrid’s voice was soft, filled with regret as she spoke. "I’m sorry, Alpha Dane. I had no idea things would turn out this way. Please forgive me." Her plea was heartfelt, and seeing her in such a vulnerable state only deepened the ache in my chest.
"It’s okay, Astrid. It’s fine. We will be fine, I promise," I assured her, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.
I looked up into her eyes, searching for reassurance in her gaze. "Please stay with me, Astrid. Stay with me tonight," I begged, my voice earnest and filled with a desperation that only she could soothe.
As tears began to flow down her cheeks, I reached up and gently brushed them away with my thumb.
My touch was tender, deliberate, as I wiped each tear slowly, wanting to offer her as much comfort as I could.
Seeing her cry broke my heart, but I hoped that my presence and my touch could provide some relief.
"I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have acted so recklessly," I said, my voice filled with regret.
"You deserve so much more, Astrid. I shouldn’t have let my actions come between us." Leaning in closer, I gently cradled the back of her head with my palms, pulling her nearer.
My lips brushed against hers in a series of tender kisses, each one a silent apology and a promise to do better, trying to forget all that had happened.
As I trailed my kisses down her lips, I hoped she could feel the sincerity of my feelings, and that these moments with her might help mend the rift between us.