Astrid's POV.

“What are you doing?” I stuttered with fear.

My eyes bulged out at this moment. I wished to run away, but Alpha Dane held me glued to the ground.

He was set; he was poised to rip my throat off. Just as he swung his claws to kill me at the spot, he unexpectedly halted, and I couldn't help but notice the innocence in his eyes.

“Alpha Dane…” I fought to utter as I kept panting, trying to catch my breath at this point.

His eyes were buried deep into mine, and from how I kept looking at him, he definitely wasn't going to take his eyes away from mine.

Just as he kept staring at me, I noticed his eyes becoming heavy, and out of the blue, he fell to the ground and shifted back to his human form.

“Are you okay?” Beta Ivar approached me swiftly as he inquired.

“What happened?” I asked, looking confused for a split second.

I turned to look at him, and that was when I noticed a syringe in his hand. It had purple substance all over it, and it made me wonder what it was.

“Did you use this on him? What is it?” I questioned him further, wanting to get a good response from him.

“It's Wolfbane, Luna Astrid!” He responded before standing up from where he squatted to know if I was actually doing fine.

“What? That's risky! How can you inject the Alpha with Wolfbane? It'll make him weak and... " I was going to say when Beta Ivar took the words out of my lips.

“Stay calm, Luna... The wolfbane is what he needs to be calm. I know the side effects it has on Alphas, but that's the only thing that can soothe him as it stands” He enunciated, trying to make meaning to me, but I definitely wasn't buying it.

I wasn't sure why I was so concerned, but it just felt wrong; it felt bad that poison was what could make Alpha Dane remain sane.

“You should have just left him alone, Beta Ivar... He was pretty composed before you stepped in.” I stood to my feet as I folded my arms across my chest.

“Pretty calm? He was about to kill you… to rip your throat off. You know what? I'm not going to speak about this anymore. He needs to be taken to his room!” He stated before lifting Alpha Dane from the ground.

Alpha Dane was numb to his surroundings, unaware of what was unfolding. Beta Ivar gently guided him to his room, embracing him from behind with one arm around his waist and the other supporting his hand on his neck. As they moved slowly, Alpha Dane remained disconnected from the world.

After a few moments, we reached Alpha Dane's room, where Beta Ivar gently lowered him onto the bed.

"Will he be alright?" I inquired, my concern evident in my voice.

"It's not the first time this has happened, so he'll be fine," Beta Ivar reassured me, though worry was clearly etched on his face.

“You mean this has been happening for a long time now? Why don't you ask for help?” I pressed, my concern growing with each passing moment.

"Yeah, but we can't involve anyone else," Beta Ivar responded urgently, his voice rising in intensity.

"Alpha Dane doesn't want anyone knowing about this. Even the pack elders are kept in the dark. It's important that you keep this to yourself, Luna."

His words struck me with a sense of gravity, emphasising the seriousness of the situation.

“Is that clear, Luna!?” He added, staring at me closely.

I hesitated, torn between my desire to help Alpha Dane and the urgency of Beta Ivar's plea for secrecy.

Glancing at Alpha Dane, who appeared so vulnerable in that moment, my heart ached with the knowledge that I might have to stand by and do nothing to save him from his curse.

"Luna Astrid?" Beta Ivar's voice snapped me back to reality, his gaze fixed on me expectantly, waiting for my answer.

“Fine! I won't say a single word to anyone” I nodded my head as I folded my hands across my chest.

“That's better... Come on, let's leave now. He won't be happy seeing us here after tonight!” Ivar urged, but something in me didn't wish to leave, to move an inch.

“I… I want to stay with him, Ivar. I'll stay the night!” I implied, tightening my fist in doubt.

I felt sad seeing him so powerless, and although I detested him with so much irritation, I just couldn't find myself being heartless towards him.

“I'm not sure that's a good idea... He is always cruel whenever he wakes up! You don't want to be anywhere closer to him!” Ivar described Dane’s fury, but I still stood my ground.

“I understand… but I'll stay with him. After all, he's my Mate; what harm can he do to me?” I looked so sure as I turned my gaze toward Alpha Dane.

Ivar saw that he couldn't convince me anymore, so he shook his head and left the room, locking the doors the second he exited.

Taking a slow, cautious step toward Alpha Dane, I sat down beside him and kept my eyes fixed on him but out of the blue, I found myself drawn to him, unable to tear my gaze away.

His weakness tugged at my heartstrings, even as conflicting emotions swirled within me.

"What's wrong with you, Astrid? Pull yourself together!" I scolded myself, shaking my head vigorously in an attempt to clear my mind of thoughts of Alpha Dane.

I reminded myself why I was there: help him heal faster. Pity gnawed at my insides, though it didn't erase the lingering bitterness I had toward him.

My head spun with uncertainty as I continued to shake it in a futile attempt to regain control of my racing thoughts.

"This was a terrible idea... I need to get out of here!" I muttered to myself, frustration and regret lacing my words.

As I made to leave, determination fueling my steps, a sudden, vice-like grip closed around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

Shocked, I turned to see Alpha Dane's hand holding me in place, his grip firm and unyielding.

Before I could understand what was happening, Alpha Dane pulled me back with unexpected strength, causing me to stumble and fall into his arms.

The effect knocked the breath out of me, leaving me disoriented and bewildered.

"Dane, what are you doing?" I demanded, searching his face for answers.

His eyes remained closed, his expression unreadable, as if he was trapped in a world of his own making, unaware of his environment.

"Let me go!" I pleaded, struggling against Alpha Dane's unyielding grasp, but his hold remained firm, refusing to release me.

Desperately, I turned to face him, seeking some kind of understanding in his expression. However, my gaze was immediately drawn to his lips, a sight so alluring that it left me spellbound.

I froze in place, overwhelmed by the unexpected intensity of my reaction.

I had never expected feeling so drawn to him, especially by simply looking at his lips. They were full and enticing, almost begging for my touch.

My heart raced as I swallowed nervously, blinking rapidly in an attempt to regain my composure and resist the temptation that threatened to consume me.

“No! He's nothing but your enemy… Don't think about it, Astrid!!” I took my eyes away from him immediately. I was trying to stop myself from thinking naively towards him.

If there was anything I wanted at this point, it was definitely not going to be falling in love with Alpha Dane.

“I guess I have to stay this way till he lets go of me…”