Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 434: Into the Lion's Den

Astrid's POV

The rogues had been waiting for me.

They lingered in the shadows, motionless, like predators poised for the perfect moment to strike. Their eyes glowed eerily in the dim light of the moon, flickering with something sinister-anticipation.

They knew I was coming.

My stomach twisted, but I forced my expression into something unreadable, my shoulders squared as I stepped forward. I came alone. No weapons. No resistance. Complete surrender.

It was the only way.

If I fought back, if I hesitated for even a second, Ardan might change his mind. He might keep Elara. He might hurt her.

And that was a risk I wasn't willing to take.

I took slow, deliberate steps into the clearing, my heartbeat steady despite the way my wolf clawed at the inside of my skin, urging me to turn back, to fight.

Not yet.

I exhaled, tilting my chin upward as I finally stopped before them.

The group of rogues at least a dozen

remained silent for a moment, assessing

me. Then one of them, a tall, lean man with sunken eyes and a wicked grin, let out a sharp laugh.

"Well, well," he drawled, stepping forward.

"Look what we have here, boys." His gaze dragged over me, his amusement clear. "The great Astrid, the Almega, reduced to nothing but a desperate mother."

A ripple of cruel laughter followed.

I clenched my fists at my sides, but said nothing.

My silence only seemed to encourage them.

Another rogue, this one broader with a scar running down his cheek, smirked. "Didn't think it'd be this easy," he mused. "I figured we'd at least get a fight out of her."

said flatly, my voice cool and even. "Do I look like

a mouth on her. Guess even legends know how to kneel when the

to react, but the rage inside me simmered dangerously

wasn't afraid

killed more rogues than I could count. If I had come here with a different goal, their

terrified eyes, her desperate screams-held

leverage

Only her life.

his sneer barely masking his excitement, took a step

the day," he muttered. "Astrid, the untouchable warrior, throwing herself at our feet. If only your people could see you

another step, reaching out toward

before I

hold.

me," I murmured, "and I will break

a bark of laughter. "Still got some fight left in her." He grinned. "We'll see how long that

settling back into something neutral. I

Not yet.

forward again, a cruel glint in his

Almega," he sneered. "What's it like knowing you had to crawl to us? Knowing that

keep your

I froze.

seemed to drop in

bit into my

sensed

a nerve, did I?"

continued, tilting his head

is she

right now? Calling for a mother who couldn't protect her? Or has

that she's

tool to

my

remained motionless, my breathing even. But when I spoke, my voice was like

single strand of her hair," I said, each word

this entire place

laughter that followed wasn't as

my voice that cut through their amusement, something that made them

think me powerless now, might believe I had surrendered, but they didn't understand a mother's

tense silence