Chapter 84.

DANE'S POV.

A loud yawn escaped my lips as I slowly blinked awake, my eyelids heavy with sleep.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room.

I stretched out my hand, searching the bed beside me for the familiar warmth of Astrid, but my fingers only met cold sheets. She wasn't there.

A pang of loneliness settled in my chest as I remembered the events of the previous night. The memories were still fresh, the pain of it all almost unbearable.

I had almost managed to forget how terrible it had been, but now it came rushing back with a cruel clarity.

The battle, the blood, the fear, the baby; it all played in my mind like a haunting melody.

With a sigh, I pushed myself up from the bed, the weight of exhaustion still clinging to my muscles.

My eyes drifted down to my side, where the deep gash had been. The stitches were barely visible now, the wound almost completely healed.

It was a small comfort, a recollection of my werewolf nature. Being a