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.

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

My blood ran cold.

I stilled. "What?"

you to come to me, and you did. But

The room tilted.

my breath

No. No, no, no-

the paper he sent us, and he was right.

Elara's substitute. He never wrote that he would release

so worried about Elara that I lost my

pain from the shackles no longer

so fast, so suddenly,

did," he murmured. His dark eyes gleamed, inches from mine. "And you were foolish enough to

wanted to

into his

But Elara-

still in

go," I whispered, my

Ardan chuckled. "No."

I stiffened.

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

as I imagined," he

slithered

had thought about this. About

I felt sick.

to remain steady. "What do you

His smile grew.

mused. "Your power,

swallowed the bile rising

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

a child."

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

his fingers, and the rogue holding Elara tightened his

pained sound

I lost it.

"Don't-!"

body fought

prashing

get

her, to destroy

Ardan grabbed my throat.

I froze.

wasn't crushing-but it

eyes burned into

something, Astrid," he. murmured, voice almost

Almo

now. And you will do as I

around me, cold

I refused to react.

long moment before tilting his head. “Let's