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.

I snapped, forcing steel into my voice. "You wanted me.

smirk never wavered. "Oh, Astrid... you misunderstand." He stepped closer, his voice lowering, thick with amusement. "You were

My blood ran cold.

I stilled. "What?"

you did. But

The room tilted.

my

No. No, no, no-

written in the paper he sent us,

I'd be Elara's substitute. He never wrote that he would

so worried about Elara that I lost my own

lunged again, the pain from the shackles no

chin in his grip so fast, so suddenly,

murmured. His dark eyes gleamed, inches from mine. "And you were

wanted to

my teeth into his throat and never let

But Elara-

was still in

I

Ardan chuckled. "No."

I stiffened.

didn't step back. Instead, his gaze dragged over my face, studying me, like I was some fascinating puzzle

as I imagined,"

slithered down my

had thought about this. About me. About

I felt sick.

to remain steady. "What do you want

His smile grew.

he mused.

bile

need Elara for that," I said, my voice quieter now,

a child."

but

fingers, and the

winced, a small, pained sound slipping

I lost it.

"Don't-!"

body fought

prashing

get

destroy every

Ardan grabbed my throat.

I froze.

tight, wasn't

burned into his,

he. murmured,

Almo

now. And you

slithered around me,

I refused to react.

me for a long moment before tilting his head. “Let's