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."

voice cool and even. "Do I look like I'm

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

refused to react, but the rage inside me simmered

wasn't afraid of

here with a different goal, their blood would already be soaking into

Elara's face her wide, terrified eyes, her desperate screams-held me

no leverage

Only her life.

of the younger rogues, his sneer barely masking his excitement, took a

throwing herself at

step, reaching out

moved before I could

in a vice-like hold. My nails dug into his flesh, my

I murmured, "and I will break every

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

my expression settling back into something neutral. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing my

Not yet.

a

like knowing you had to crawl to us?

to keep

I froze.

drop in temperature, my fingers curling into fists

bit into my

sensed the

a nerve, did

continued, tilting his head

is

who couldn't protect

she's

a tool to bring you to your

blood in my veins turned to

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

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

burn this entire place to the

that followed wasn't as confident as

was something in my voice that cut through

they didn't understand a mother's wrath was something far

tense silence settled between