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."

I said flatly, my voice cool and

got a mouth on her. Guess even legends know how to kneel when the

react, but the rage inside me simmered dangerously close

wasn't afraid of

more rogues than I could count. If I had come here with a different goal, their blood would already be soaking into the dirt beneath

her wide, terrified eyes, her desperate

no leverage here. No

Only her life.

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

muttered. "Astrid, the untouchable warrior, throwing herself

took another step, reaching out

body moved before

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

I will break every bone in your worthless

widened for a split second before Scarface let out a bark of laughter. "Still got some fight left in her." He grinned. "We'll see how long that

something neutral. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing my

Not yet.

again, a cruel glint

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

keep your little

I froze.

to drop in temperature, my fingers curling into

my nails bit

rogues sensed the

nerve,

continued, tilting his head

wonder... is she

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

that she's

leverage, a tool to bring you

my veins

my breathing even. But when I spoke, my

strand of her hair," I said, each word

"I will burn this entire place to

laughter that followed wasn't as confident

that cut

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

tense silence settled between