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.

yet, but the strain was evident

her tone laced with accusation. "Rowena fooled us all,

cut deep, and I saw the flicker of pain in Killian's eyes. I wanted to reach for him, to reassure him,

enough, Alpha Cedric of the Bloodfang Pack

commanded attention, his broad shoulders and sharp features exuding

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

of silence followed his words,

it was always the most powerful Pack that leads whenever

when someone suddenly stood up to question our position, and

"You've been fooled by Giselle, by Rowena, and now by Andros. Your judgment is flawed, Killian. How

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

Astrid," Cedric said, his tone dripping with disdain. "An Almega, yes. But does that make her fit to lead? You've barely proven yourself, Astrid. You've been thrust into this position, but leadership isn't just

trust

lead."

me. I pushed my chair back, the scrape of wood against stone loud in

I stood and met

said, my voice steady but sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. The room fell silent,

conviction. "He's a strong one. A 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."

has learned from his mistakes, and those

through wars, through crises, and through loss. He is the Hey's reason many of us are still

stepped closer to