Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 436: Enemy's Terms

Astrid's POV

Elara's blue eyes locked onto mine, wide and glistening with tears, her small frame trembling in the grip of the rogue holding her.

"Mommy!"

Her voice cracked, breaking something inside me.

I lunged, the burning pain of the wolfsbane shackles forgotten, my body driven by nothing but instinct.

I barely made it a step before rough hands grabbed my arms, yanking me back.

A snarl ripped from my throat. "Let her go!"

Ardan's smirk deepened. He raised a hand, and the rogue restraining Elara tightened his grip.

She whimpered.

A sound so small-so fragile that it shattered every ounce of restraint I had left.

"I swear with my own life, Ardan," I growled, my voice raw with fury, "if you so much as touch her "

He laughed.

Actually laughed.

Like this was amusing. Like he wasn't holding my world in his filthy hands.

"My, my," he mused, pacing toward me with slow, deliberate steps. "You really do have a soft spot, don't you?" His gaze flickered to Elara. "I wonder... does she share your stubbornness?"

Elara stiffened, her lip quivering—but she didn't cry.

Not anymore.

My girl. My strong girl.

I tore against the grip of my captors, my body aching, my wolf raging beneath my skin, desperate to rip him apart.

"If you hurt her-"

Ardan hummed thoughtfully. "Hurt her?" He tilted his head. "Astrid, do you really think so little of me? She's been treated like a guest."

My eyes darted to Elara's small wrists-bruises.

Rage blurred my vision. "Then why does she look like she's been dragged through hell?"

Ardan exhaled, shaking his head as if disappointed. "Your mate has rubbed off on you too much. Always assuming the worst."

I couldn't listen to this.

Elara needed me.

And I needed her out of here.

my voice. "You wanted me.

you misunderstand." He stepped closer, his voice lowering,

My blood ran cold.

I stilled. "What?"

you did. But nowhere in my

The room tilted.

moment, I swayed, my breath

No. No, no, no-

what was written in the paper he sent

substitute. He never wrote that

was so worried about Elara

the shackles no longer

so fast, so suddenly, that

I did," he murmured. His dark eyes gleamed, inches from

to tear

his throat and

But Elara-

was still in

her go," I

Ardan chuckled. "No."

I stiffened.

step back. Instead, his gaze dragged over my face,

I

chill slithered

thought about this.

I felt sick.

jaw, forcing my voice to

His smile grew.

mused.

the bile rising in

I said,

a child."

back at last. "Yes, but she's a child that matters to

his fingers, and the rogue

small, pained sound slipping through her

I lost it.

"Don't-!"

body fought violently,

prashing

get

to destroy

Ardan grabbed my throat.

I froze.

wasn't tight, wasn't

burned into his,

something, Astrid," he. murmured,

Almo

you will do as

slithered around me, cold and

I refused to react.

me for a long moment before tilting his head.