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."

cool and even. "Do I look like

low whistle. "She's got a mouth on her. Guess even legends know how to kneel

inside me simmered dangerously close to

wasn't afraid

with a different goal, their blood

face her wide, terrified eyes, her desperate screams-held me

leverage here. No

Only her life.

younger rogues, his sneer barely masking his excitement, took a step closer, looking me over

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

took another step,

before I

gripping his wrist in a vice-like hold.

will break every bone in your

out a bark of laughter. "Still got some fight left in her." He grinned.

settling back into something neutral.

Not yet.

forward again, a cruel glint in

sneered. "What's it like knowing you had to crawl

to keep your

I froze.

around me seemed to drop in temperature, my fingers

nails bit into my

sensed

a nerve,

continued, tilting his head

wonder... is she

who couldn't protect her? Or has she

that she's

to bring

my veins

body remained motionless, my breathing even. But when I

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

"I will burn this entire place to the

wasn't as

something in my voice that cut through their

I had surrendered, but they didn't understand a mother's wrath was something far worse

tense silence