DANE'S POV
The frown on my face deepened as I cut into the bacon on my plate with growing irritation. My appetite had vanished entirely when Ethan arrived, requested his own meal, and settled into a chair at the table.
Initially, I had tried to hold back my frustration, not wanting to seem like an overly jealous and insecure mate.
I didn't want to come across as too controlling or possessive, so I made an effort to stay composed. However, my patience was wearing thin.
I could no longer ignore how Ethan’s frequent glances at Astrid were affecting me. She was engrossed in her meal, unaware of the way my brother’s eyes kept drifting toward her.
Despite the clear and firm warning I had given him to stay away and my reminder that she was my mate, Ethan showed no respect.
His unashamed, lingering looks in her direction were increasingly upsetting. This persistent behaviour was making me feel a level of irritation and discomfort that I had never experienced before.
It was becoming harder to maintain my composure as the situation continued to go on.
Filled with anger, I slammed my fork and spoon against the table with a loud clatter, drawing everyone's attention to me. I shot a sharp glance in their direction.
“Are you here to eat, or are you here just to stare at my mate?” I demanded, my voice rising in frustration.
Ethan’s lips curled into a smile as he listened to me speak. It was infuriating to see him look so relaxed and seemingly amused by the situation.
“Oh, come on. This is all a bit of a joke. I’m here to eat, nothing more. Why are you overreacting so much?” he replied in a low, casual tone.
His response only made me angrier because it felt like he was dismissing my concerns and making me out to be unreasonable.
“Why are you even here, Ethan? It doesn’t make sense. Did you come to the pack with the intention of getting close to Astrid?” I asked, my nostrils flaring with irritation.
“Of course not, brother. I came because I missed you. I missed spending time with you, and what could be better than being with my own brother?” Ethan said, trying to sound sincere.
“Oh, please. I missed spending time with you, that’s true. But meeting Astrid here has been a very pleasant surprise. It’s great to run into my long-time crush again,” Ethan added, his smile widening as he spoke, clearly enjoying the situation.
I was increasingly annoyed by how Ethan kept calling Astrid his “long-time crush,” “first love,” or “soulmate” with that irritatingly cheeky tone of his.
“Just shut up and eat your food, and keep your eyes off my mate,” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “You’re being a complete fool.”
“Sorry, brother, but I can’t do that,” Ethan shot back, his tone full of teasing and mischief.
I opened my mouth to retort, but before I could say anything, I felt Astrid’s gentle touch as her palms tapped lightly on my lap.
“He’s just trying to get on your nerves. It’s clear he’s only fooling around for fun. So calm down, Dane. He’s your brother, and I suppose this is just how guys act,” she said with a teasing smile, then turned her attention back to her plate.
Her reaction only made me more upset. It seemed like she wasn’t taking the situation as seriously as I was. To her, it appeared to be just a harmless joke, but I knew my brother better than that.
“Oh, come on. He’s not just a fool; he’s a troublemaker who enjoys causing problems,” I said, frustration evident in my voice, as I shoved a spoonful of eggs into my mouth.
Trying to shift the conversation, Astrid looked at me with a softer expression. “So, how have you been?” she asked, her eyes meeting mine as she spoke, clearly trying to move past the tension and focus on something more positive.
“I’ve been fine,” Ethan replied casually, completely unfazed by my presence at the table. “Is there anything specific you’d like to know?”
Astrid seemed to take a moment before responding, her voice tinged with genuine concern.
“Not much, just worried. I was wondering why you haven’t been coming to the meetings lately.” Her tone suggested that there was more behind her question than mere curiosity.
Ethan sighed, his expression turning a bit more serious. “I fell ill and had to be hospitalised. I developed a sudden and persistent illness, and my brother had to take over. I’m really sorry I couldn’t meet with you after that,” he explained.
As I listened, my mind drifted back to the past. I remembered a young girl who used to wait by the door, always hoping to see Ethan.
It dawned on me that it had been Astrid all along; she had been the one waiting for him.
Suddenly, Ethan dropped his fork and stood up, approaching Astrid and me. His movement caught us both off guard.
“Come with me, Astrid. There’s something I need to show you,” Ethan said, reaching out and taking her hands in his.
Astrid tensed visibly and tried to pull her arms away from him. “I’m not done with my food yet, and I’m sure whatever it is can wait,” she said softly, trying to remain calm.
Ethan’s persistence was evident as he continued, “I’m new to the pack; shouldn’t you show me around? Besides, you’ve hardly touched your food, so I assume you’re already full.”
I couldn’t help but scoff at his words, feeling a surge of irritation at his blatant disregard for the situation.
It was clear that Ethan had been paying close attention to Astrid. He seemed to notice everything about her, even how she was eating. His fixation was infuriating.
“She’s not leaving with you, Ethan,” I interrupted, my voice sharp as I yanked her arms away from his grasp.
“If you want a tour, ask Beta Ivar to show you around,” I snapped, my frown deepening with frustration. My patience was wearing thin.
Ethan seemed unfazed, continuing with a smug expression. “I don’t want him; I want my first love to take me on a tour,” he said, his tone dripping with insincerity.
Unable to contain my anger any longer, I reacted impulsively. I threw a punch directly at Ethan’s face, the force of the blow making a solid impact.
“Get away from her, you annoying bastard!” I yelled, my voice filled with rage.
Ethan merely scoffed, unfazed by the punch. “So this is what your feelings for me look like, brother. After all these years, you finally hit me,” he said with a sly smile, clearly enjoying the confrontation.
Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled Astrid closer to him, ignoring the tension and anger radiating from me.
I gripped Astrid’s arms tightly, pulling her towards myself and refusing to let go. My frustration was palpable, and the frown on both our faces deepened as Ethan stubbornly yanked her closer to him.
“Get your hands off my crush!” Ethan shouted, but his words only fueled my anger further. A growl escaped my lips as I yanked Astrid’s arms back towards me, my patience running out with Ethan’s persistence.
Suddenly, Astrid tensed up, her body shaking violently before she collapsed onto the floor, startling both Ethan and me.
“What have you done?” Ethan exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm as he rushed to her side.
“What have I done? You wouldn’t let go of her arm, and now she’s in this condition!” I shouted back, my own panic rising as I hurried to her.
As the reality of the situation sank in, we both realized that Astrid was barely breathing. The sight of her pale, lifeless body made my heart race.
“She needs help. She’s passed out,” Ethan said urgently, attempting to lift her up. I shoved him aside, my hands trembling with worry, and carefully lifted Astrid into my arms, cradling her across my chest.
We moved quickly towards the door, our urgency clear. Ivar had already prepared the car and started the engine, his face showing concern as he saw us rushing out.
With great care, I placed Astrid gently into the backseat of the car, taking extra caution given her condition. My heart was pounding as I ensured she was positioned comfortably.
Ethan, still fraught with worry, attempted to open the door to the backseat from the other side. His actions were desperate as he tried to join us, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation.
“I won’t let you ride in my car, you fool. If you’re so desperate to come, then you can walk!” I snapped, my voice sharp as the engine roared to life.
Despite my words, Ethan persisted. He tapped at the window of the moving car and frantically pushed at the door handle.
The front door of the car suddenly popped open, and without hesitation, Ethan climbed into the seat, quickly buckling his seatbelt.
“Come on, drive!” he yelled at Ivar, who was already stepping on the accelerator and speeding towards the pack hospital.
As we sped along, Ethan turned to me with a sly smile, clearly enjoying the fact that my plan to leave him behind had failed.
He even stuck out his tongue in a mocking gesture, which only made my stomach churn with irritation.
When we arrived at the hospital, a nurse was waiting with a stretcher. She and her team swiftly wheeled Astrid into an emergency room, leaving Ivar, Ethan, and me in the waiting area.
Ethan’s mocking smile remained as he spoke. “This is your fault. You should have let her come with me. It was just a walk, but you had to act like a security guard. You couldn’t just let it go, could you?”
I glared at him, my anger barely contained. I stepped closer, my fingers jabbing into his chest as I spoke, “You think this is a joke? You caused this mess. If you had just stayed out of it, Astrid wouldn’t be in this state. You need to take responsibility for your actions.”
“Pray to the moon goddess that nothing happens to her,” I snapped, my voice heavy with frustration.
“What if she had passed out while you were taking her for a walk? You’re nothing but trouble. You show up today, and she’s already in such a bad state.”
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Doctor Mikes approached us with an unusually calm smile, interrupting our heated exchange.
“What’s with the smile?” I demanded, my irritation evident. “My mate is in that room, and she’s not well. You should be doing everything in your power to help her, not standing here grinning.”
Doctor Mikes' smile widened slightly as he looked at me. “Congratulations, Alpha Dane. Your mate, Luna Astrid, is pregnant.”
The announcement hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind raced as I tried to process the news.
Ethan’s face went pale, his earlier smugness replaced with shock.
She was just carrying Halfdan's child a few weeks ago before the crisis that happened and now, she is with my child?
My heir? How possible was that? I pondered with a mix of excitement and shock.