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."

standing before me," I said flatly, my voice cool and even. "Do I look like I'm here to

let out a low whistle. "She's got a mouth on her. Guess even

rage inside

afraid of

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

wide, terrified eyes, her desperate

had no leverage here. No

Only her life.

barely masking his excitement, took a step closer, looking me over like a prize on

untouchable warrior, throwing herself at our feet. If only your people could see

step, reaching out toward

moved before I could

vice-like hold. My nails dug into

murmured, "and I will break

a split second before Scarface let out a bark of laughter. "Still got some fight left in her."

my expression settling back into something neutral. I wouldn't give

Not yet.

a cruel

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

to keep

I froze.

me seemed to drop in temperature, my fingers curling into

my nails bit into my

sensed the shift

nerve, did

continued, tilting his head

is she

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

that she's nothing

a tool to bring

blood in my veins turned to

even. But when I spoke, my

touch a single strand of her hair," I said, each

this entire

followed wasn't

my voice that cut

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

silence settled between