The following morning, Astrid left for work earlier than usual, after a long and strong attempt at convincing Luke that nothing would happen to her. He had been unusually persistent, and she could tell he wasn't pleased about her going out alone after knowing she was mated to a hybrid. Luckily, she was able to calm him and he reluctantly let her leave.
As she walked, she moved at a steady pace, glancing from side to side and ahead, expecting to see a certain silhouette. However, the streets were mostly empty at this early morning. The usual bustle of the town had yet to begin, with only a few shopkeepers preparing for the day. But the person she was hoping to see was nowhere in sight.
A little disheartened, Astrid sighed and decided to head straight to the inn. She was barely steps away from the inn when she caught Alaric's unmistakable scent.
