Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 408: The Past

Astrid's POV

The private chamber was dimly lit, the flicker of candlelight casting shifting shadows on the stone walls. The air was thick with anticipation as Killian and I stepped into the room.

Alpha Damien and Luna Valerie stood by the hearth, their faces somber. Damien's normally relaxed posture was stiff, and Valerie's fingers were laced tightly together, betraying her tension.

"Damien, Valerie," Killian began, his voice firm. "We were told you've uncovered something about the rogue king. What is it?"

Damien exchanged a glance with Valerie before stepping forward, his gaze steady.

"Valerie and I had been conducting an investigation-secretly," he admitted. "Ever since the first rogue attacks began to increase, we've been suspicious."

Valerie nodded, her tone soft but urgent. "The rogue king's moves weren't random. They were calculated, methodical. He wasn't just targeting packs for power or resources; he was targeting the foundation of our system-the hierarchy, the unity that binds us."

Damien's jaw tightened. "So Valerie and I thought we could take a look on past rogue incidents and dig into the rogue's origins.

In order to understand what they were doing, we decided to look into patterns of their attacks, thinking it could give us a clue about their plans."

I furrowed my brow, exchanging a glance with Killian. "What did you find?" I asked, my voice low.

Damien hesitated for a moment, as if steeling himself. Then he said, "The rogue king didn't used to be rogue. He used to be a Pack member and his name is Ardan. We have found out about his past."

Killian's golden eyes narrowed. "You know who he is?" he pressed, his voice sharp with urgency.

said quietly. "And once you hear his story, you'll understand

leaned forward, the air between

exhaled deeply, his gaze distant. "Ardan wasn't always the rogue king. He was an adopted member of the Forestwood Pack,

knew where he came from, and who his parents

baby they saved that day would

"If he was saved by a Pack, then why did

he was, he was bullied and treated

how he was treated. It explains why he hated hierarchies and why he wanted to dissolve Packs,”

I know what that feels like to be treated like nothing, but I'm sure that what I experienced as

invisible forever. Ardan was smart, determined. He started to push back, to fight for a place at the table. And that's when he met

heart skipping a beat. "He knew

"Yes," Damien confirmed. "They

in the same pack. Cedric

just

to survive

The two of them became close, almost like

expression tightened, his disbelief evident. "Cedric was

disappeared for years, and when

just fighting for revenge he was

chest. "And Cedric?" I asked, my voice quieter

uncovered, Cedric and Ardan

was sharp. "And you