ASTRID'S POV.My eyes slowly opened, and the first thing I noticed was Dane's strikingly beautiful eyes gazing intently at me. I had to make a real effort to keep from smiling, but the happiness I felt was so intense that it was almost impossible. My stomach felt like it was fluttering with butterflies, and I swallowed hard as a grin began to spread across my face.I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy. Why was Dane being so incredibly kind to me? Recently, he had been nothing short of amazing—he had saved my life on two separate occasions, gone out of his way to pamper me, and constantly showered me with love and attention. His support had been extraordinary, and I couldn’t imagine how I could have managed without him. He felt like one of the greatest gifts the moon goddess had bestowed upon me in a long time.“Why are you smiling?” Dane asked playfully, his voice soft and warm. “You have this funny look in your eyes, you know; they keep twitching.” He reached out and ge
ASTRID'S POV.The car ride was quiet, but the silence was heavy. I couldn’t help but notice that Dane kept looking at me with his eyes fixed on mine for longer than necessary. It made me feel uneasy and on edge, as if his gaze was holding me back from collecting my thoughts. I had anticipated a private drive with just Dane, but Beta Ivar was driving us, which added to my confusion and made it harder to figure out Dane's intentions or plans.“Are you sure you're okay?” Dane asked, breaking the silence. His voice was filled with concern, which was typical of him; he never kept his feelings or thoughts hidden. At that moment, I desperately needed a quiet place to process my thoughts and find some inner peace. I wanted to avoid any more conversations that would only make me worry about how my problems might affect him.“I’m fine, Dane; I told you it was just a hallucination,” I said, lying once again. I had seen how enthusiastic Dane was when he announced our outing, and now I felt a
ASTRID'S POV."Who was that man who just left?" His voice cut through the silence like a blade, deep and cold, sending a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his piercing gaze as our eyes locked. There was no mistaking the displeasure etched across his features; the sharp lines on his forehead deepened with a frown that made my heart race with unease.His eyes narrowed as he repeated the question, his tone even more demanding, "I'm asking you a question: Who is that man to you, and why is he here?" The intensity in his voice made it clear he wouldn't tolerate any delay. I hesitated, knowing that any response I gave could place Beta Drake in a difficult position. My mind raced, searching for a way to defuse the situation without revealing too much, but I could feel the walls closing in around me. I had hoped to manage everything on my own, to keep the complications at bay, but, as always, Alpha Dane was one step ahead, forcing the discussion I had desperat
CAMILLA'S POV.The atmosphere between Halfdan and me remained unchanged, exactly as he had declared. True to his word, he refused to speak to me or even acknowledge my presence. It was as though I had become invisible to him; he kept his gaze firmly fixed elsewhere, completely ignoring my existence.I found myself casting occasional furtive glances in his direction. Despite the tense silence and the absurdity of our situation, a part of me still missed the love we once had. The absence of our usual interactions left a void that I couldn't easily ignore. Perhaps, I hoped, once the mess with Astrid was resolved, he might regain his clarity and reconsider his love for me.The quiet of the dining hall was broken by a knock on the door. Both of us turned our heads towards the entrance, the sound pulling us out of our trance moments.“Come in,” Alpha Halfdan’s voice was curt and commanding. The door opened slowly, and Beta Drake entered the room. He carried a container in his hand, his
CAMILLA'S POV.“Astrid?” I called out her name, my voice trembling with disbelief and rage.“Yes, you thought I was dead?” Astrid replied, rising gracefully from her seat. Her tone was laced with a mix of mockery and satisfaction, and I rubbed my eyes vigorously, hoping against hope that this was just a trick of the light.“You can’t be alive! You should be dead!” I shouted, my anger flaring uncontrollably. “This is impossible! He killed you; you should be dead!” The raw fury in my voice was clear, my emotions unravelling as I struggled to understand the sight before me.“Just because you want me dead doesn’t mean I’ll be dead, Camilla,” Astrid said, her lips curling into a smirk that made my blood boil. The sight of her, seemingly victorious and alive, only fueled my rage further. My fists clenched tightly at my sides, my knuckles whitening as I gritted my teeth in a desperate attempt to keep my composure.“You should be dead already!” I continued, my voice rising to a desperate
HALFDAN’S POVNever in my life had I felt so completely embarrassed. Watching Camilla being dragged out of the hall left me frozen in place, unable to move or even say a word. I couldn’t understand what had happened between her and Astrid that led to such intense hatred, but one thing was certain: the entire situation was making me feel deeply sick inside.Alpha Dane’s stare was fixed on me, silently reminding me of how foolish I had been the night before when I stood outside Astrid’s door, crying and begging for another chance. And now, with this happening, I couldn’t help but wonder; could things possibly get any worse?I swallowed hard, feeling a painful lump in my throat that was a mix of fear, anger, and panic. As I turned toward the entrance, I saw Camilla lying on the ground outside, groaning in pain. Her body was clearly bruised from what had just happened. A part of me thought it might have been for the best that I wasn’t the one to drag her out; I might have done somethi
HALFDAN POV.I lifted my gaze from the file I was reviewing as a sudden knock echoed through the room. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Who could it be? Was it Camilla? What could she possibly want now? Hadn’t she stormed out in anger before? I couldn’t help but wonder if she was up to something again. But honestly, when she left, it was the first time in what felt like ages that I had felt a sense of relief. For once, I had slept alone, free from her constant arguments and the endless bickering.A part of me wished she could hold onto that anger for weeks, maybe even months. I needed time; time to clear my head, to get my life back in order, to figure out what my next steps should be.“Come in,” I called out, my voice steady as I put the file down on my desk. The door creaked open, and to my surprise and delight, it wasn’t Camilla. Instead, it was Drake, his face appearing from behind the door.“Good morning, Alpha,” he greeted, his tone respectful but urgent. “There are guest
CAMILLA'S POV.I rubbed my hands over my temples while listening to the loud noise coming from his room. He had been throwing things around and kicking objects with a lot of force. I couldn't understand everything that was happening, but I could tell it had something to do with my father being here and whatever was decided during their meeting.Halfdan was really angry—he usually was, but he had always managed to keep his anger under control. This time, though, it seemed like he had lost his temper more than ever before.I didn't want any more confusion, but I had to admit that it served him right for yelling at me the night before. I quickly ran down the stairs and rushed outside. A smile spread across my face as soon as I saw my father, his hands full, walking towards the garage and his car.I quietly approached him from behind and hugged him, surprising him.“You still haven't stopped these games of yours, Father. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home? I only heard your voi