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.

mouth on her. Guess even legends know how

inside me

afraid

I had come here with a different goal, their blood would already be soaking

Elara's face her wide, terrified

leverage

Only her life.

barely masking his excitement, took a

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

took another step, reaching out toward

moved before I could

vice-like hold. My nails dug into his

will break

laughter.

something neutral. I wouldn't give them

Not yet.

a

knowing you had to crawl to us? Knowing that all your strength, all

keep your

I froze.

seemed to drop in temperature, my fingers

nails bit into my

rogues sensed the

a nerve, did

continued, tilting his head

wonder... is

you right now? Calling for a mother who couldn't

that she's

to bring you

my

remained motionless, my breathing even. But when I spoke,

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

this entire

that followed wasn't as confident

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

now, might believe I had surrendered, but they didn't understand

silence