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.

"You wanted me. You have me.

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

My blood ran cold.

I stilled. "What?"

gestured lazily. "I told you to come to me, and you did. But nowhere in

The room tilted.

moment, I swayed, my breath stalling

No. No, no, no-

he sent us, and he was

Elara's substitute. He never wrote that

worried about Elara that I

the pain from the shackles no longer

caught my chin in his grip so fast, so suddenly, that my body went

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

wanted to

sink my teeth into his throat

But Elara-

still in

go," I whispered,

Ardan chuckled. "No."

I stiffened.

my face, studying me, like I was

I imagined," he

slithered

thought about this. About

I felt sick.

forcing my voice to remain steady. "What

His smile grew.

he mused. "Your

swallowed the bile rising

said, my voice quieter now,

a child."

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

flicked his fingers, and the rogue holding

small, pained sound

I lost it.

"Don't-!"

body fought

prashing

get

her, to destroy every single

Ardan grabbed my throat.

I froze.

grip wasn't tight, wasn't crushing-but

eyes burned into his, my

something, Astrid," he. murmured, voice almost

Almo

now. And you will do

words slithered around me, cold and

I refused to react.

long moment before tilting his head. “Let's