His dead mate and a promise...

Astrid's POV:

"I am sure Carden was hurt by his behavior, too,” Malessia said, her words echoing in my mind as I fled from Alpha Dominic.

But her words didn’t sooth me. He’d called me a whore, and the enraged expression he wore when he’d said it was something I would never forget. My mind was in a panic, and I needed my mother. I caught a whiff of her scent and followed it across the hallway.

I discovered her leisurely sitting with a couple of maids, one who did her hair while the other applied face cream. Seeing the joy on her face made me smile. Her bruises had healed, and her face glowed. This was the life I wanted my parents to have.

Her head turned toward me, and our eyes met. I gave her a cheerful smile, and her face lit up, too.

"Astrid! My baby." She stood and opened her arms, taking me into a tight embrace. I rested my head over her shoulder and closed my eyes, forgetting everything, at least for a moment.

"Were you crying, sweetie?” she asked.

It seemed pointless to lie to