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...