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

low whistle. "She's got a mouth on her.

inside me simmered dangerously close to

afraid

here with a different goal, their blood would already be

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

leverage here.

Only her life.

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

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

step, reaching out toward

before

shot out, gripping his wrist in a vice-like hold. My

me," I murmured, "and I will break every bone in your worthless

second before Scarface let out a bark of laughter. "Still got some

expression settling back into something neutral.

Not yet.

a cruel

had to crawl to us? Knowing that all your strength, all your power,

to keep

I froze.

air around me seemed to drop in temperature, my fingers

bit into

sensed the shift

nerve, did I?"

continued, tilting his head

wonder... is she

who couldn't protect

she's nothing

to bring you to your

my veins

But when I spoke, my voice was like a

single strand of her hair," I said, each

"I will burn this entire place to

wasn't as confident as

in my voice that cut through their amusement,

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

tense silence