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.

"And once you hear his story, you'll understand

air between

was an adopted member of the Forestwood Pack, after he was found

came from, and who his parents were. He was an

that the poor baby they saved

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

slightly as she answered me, "The Forestwood Pack never treated him well. Because of who he was, he was bullied and treated worse than a slave. The Forestwood saved

of how he was treated. It explains why he hated hierarchies and why he wanted to dissolve Packs,” Damien supported. “The Alphas, the betas... everyone who had power abused him, treating him

nothing, but I'm sure that what I experienced as the Luna of the Silvermoon Pack many years ago is nothing compared to the life

He started to push back, to fight for a place at the

skipping a beat. "He

"Yes," Damien confirmed. "They

in the same pack.

was just like

survive

of them became close, almost like brothers. They supported

expression tightened, his disbelief evident. "Cedric was his

left off."Ardan left. He disappeared for years, and when he returned...

He wasn't just fighting for revenge he was fighting to tear

weight of their words settling in my chest. "And Cedric?" I

his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "That's what we're still trying to determine. From what we've uncovered, Cedric and Ardan had a falling out years ago. But whether Cedric

was sharp. "And you suspect