Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 403: Council Meeting

Astrid's POV

The tension in the room was suffocating. The large council chamber, usually filled with calm deliberation, was now a battlefield of words.

Alphas and Lunas from across the packs are all gathered around in one room, their gazes heavy with doubt and mistrust.

Killian and I decided to call this meeting to inform everyone about the recent events and to formulate another plan for the future.

"We heard that Andros is back, that he came back to the Pack with you, was that true?" One of the Alphas asked.

I nodded my head. "That's true. Although he is banned to enter any Packs, I made my decision out of careful consideration. While we are unsure of where his alliances lies, it would be safe if he is here with us where we could monitor him."

"Andros cannot be trusted," Alpha Raiden of the Thunderclaw Pack said, his voice cold and unyielding. "He betrayed us once-no, twice. Do you expect us to believe he won't do it again?"

Several heads nodded in agreement, murmurs spreading like wildfire.

"He's a liability," another Alpha added. "We're putting our packs in danger by keeping him alive. He's already proven where his loyalties lie."

I clenched my fists under the table, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from lashing out.

Across from me, Killian sat rigid, his jaw tight and his golden eyes dark with suppressed emotion.

but the strain was evident in every

fooled us all, played us until the very end. How do we know Andros isn't doing the

in Killian's eyes. I wanted to reach for him, to reassure him,

already thick enough, Alpha Cedric of the Bloodfang Pack

attention, his broad shoulders and sharp features exuding power. But his tone was

to silence the murmurs. “This is about leadership. How can we trust Astrid and Killian

of silence followed his words, and my stomach

was always the most powerful Pack that leads whenever there are crises

up to

turned his piercing gaze to Killian. "You've been fooled by Giselle, by Rowena, and now by Andros. Your judgment is

knuckles white. He was barely containing the storm inside him, but before he could respond, Cedric's attention shifted

tone dripping with disdain. "An Almega, yes. But does that make her fit to lead? You've barely

the trust of

lead."

through me. I pushed my chair back, the scrape of

I stood and met Cedric's gaze

voice steady but sharp, cutting through the tension like

leader who has faced betrayal, loss, and unimaginable pressure, and yet he is still here, fighting for all of you. Fighting for every pack in this room." Cedric opened his mouth to interrupt, but I silenced him with a

“Killian has

and through loss. He is the Hey's reason many of us

stepped closer to the table,