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.

voice. "You wanted

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

My blood ran cold.

I stilled. "What?"

told you to come to me, and you did. But nowhere in my message did I say I'd let

The room tilted.

I swayed, my breath stalling

No. No, no, no-

in the paper he

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

worried about Elara that I

the pain from the shackles no

chin in his grip so fast, so suddenly,

murmured. His dark eyes gleamed, inches from mine.

to tear him

my teeth into his throat

But Elara-

still in his

I

Ardan chuckled. "No."

I stiffened.

back. Instead, his gaze dragged over my face, studying me, like I was some fascinating puzzle he'd finally found

I imagined,"

chill slithered

had thought about this. About me. About

I felt sick.

jaw, forcing my voice to remain steady. "What do

His smile grew.

truth?" he mused. "Your

the bile rising in

said, my voice

a child."

sighed, stepping back at last. "Yes, but she's a child that

the

winced, a small, pained

I lost it.

"Don't-!"

fought violently,

prashing

get

destroy every single

Ardan grabbed my throat.

I froze.

wasn't tight, wasn't crushing-but it was a

into his, my breaths

something, Astrid," he.

Almo

And you will

around

I refused to react.

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