Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 385: Gathering Allies Astrid's POV The Emberwood ruins were quiet, but the air felt heavy. The scars of the siege remained-bloodstains on the stone, shattered barriers, and weary warriors moving through the wreckage.

The Rogue King's retreat had left a bitter aftertaste, not a victory. We all knew it wasn't over.

Scouts arrived at dawn, their reports grim. The Rogue King was rallying in Shadowfang territory, an area long abandoned after his rise to power.

Worse, his forces weren't just rogues anymore. Several smaller Packs had joined him, their banners seen flying alongside his.

"He's not just uniting rogues," Killian said as we gathered in the council chamber. "He's turning wolves against their own Packs." The room erupted into murmurs of disbelief and anger.

"What kind of Alpha betrays their kind for a rogue?" one elder growled.

"A desperate one," Nova said, her voice sharp but steady.

She leaned against the table, her injuries still evident. "The Rogue King's offering them something we can't: freedom from structure, revenge against those who've wronged them. He's exploiting every crack in our alliances." Drystan stood behind her, his arms crossed, his expression hard. "And every wolf that joins him makes us weaker." The tension in the room was suffocating as Killian addressed the council.

"We can't afford to wait any longer," he said. "We need to rally the Packs who still stand with us. If we let this divide grow, it'll destroy us before the Rogue King ever has to lift a claw." "Rally them with what?" an elder countered. "Promises of unity? Look around you, Killian. Our warriors are wounded. Our defenses are in ruins. What Alpha is going to stand with us when we can't even protect ourselves?" I stepped forward, my voice steady. "We remind them what's at stake. The Rogue King isn't just a threat to us. If he wins, he won't stop. He'll tear through every Pack, rogue or not, until nothing is left." "And if they don't believe us?" the elder pressed.

"Then we show them," Nova said, her voice cold. "The ruins, the bloodshed-let them see what's waiting for them if they don't fight." The council fell silent, the weight of her words settling over us like a shroud.

Later that day, as the council dispersed, I found Nova sitting alone near the edge of the forest. She stared out at the horizon, her expression distant.

"You're supposed to be resting," I said, approaching her.

She gavea faint smile. "Resting doesn't fix anything." I sat beside her, the silence between us comfortable but heavy. "What's on your mind?" Nova hesitated, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "I found this while we were searching the ruins. It was tucked in Liora's journal." I took the paper from her, my hands trembling slightly as I unfolded it. The handwriting was unmistakable- Liora's.

"If you're reading this, it means I didn't make it. The Amulet... it's more than just a weapon. It's tied to a bloodline, one that must be protected at all costs. My death was a part of that protection. Please don't let it be in vain." My heart clenched as I read the words. "She knew," I whispered. "She knew what was coming." Nova nodded, her jaw tight. "And she gave her life for it. For us." "We need to figure out what she meant," I said. "The bloodline, the protection-it's all connected to the Rogue King's plans." Nova's gaze hardened. "Then we'll find the answers. And we'll make sure he pays for what he's done." That evening, Drystan joined us near the ruins' edge, his expression dark. "The scouts are back," he said.

Killian arrived moments later, his shoulders tense. "What did they find?" Drystan's voice was cold.

"Shadowfang territory. The Rogue King has fortified his position there And he's training wolves-rogues and Pack wolves alike. Sof them are barely more than pups." QUMS A growl rumbled in Killian's chest. "He's building an army." Drystan nodded. "And it's only going to grow. If we don't move soon, he'll outnumber us completely." "We can't let him grow stronger," Nova said, her voice filled with anger. "But we also can't face him, blind. We need more information We need to understand what the Amulet means to him and how it ties to Liora's bloodline." Killian turned to me, his gaze steady. "Astrid, do you think Rowena would know?" I hesitated, but the answer was clear. "If anyone knows the Rogue King's plans, it's her. We have to find her." The Pack began preparing for the journey to Shadowfang territory.

Warriors sharpened their weapons, fortified their armor, and whispered prayers to the moon.

The weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on all of us.

As the preparations continued, I caught Drystan alone near the council chamber.

His jaw was tight, his fists clenched as he stared out into the night.

"She was right there," he said, his voice low.

I didn't need to ask who he meant.

Liora's nhung in the air between us, unspoken but heavy. "We'll make this right," I said softly.

Drystan shook his head. "There's no making this right. She's gone And now Rowena has the one thing that qwena could destroy everything she died for." His pain was palpable, and I reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll stop her. And we'll stop the Rogue King. For her." He didn't respond, but the resolve in his eyes toldhe wasn't going to stop fighting.

As the moon rose high above the ruins, Killian and I stood together near the edge of the forest. The weight of leadership, of survival, pressed heavily on both of us. en "They're scared," I said quietly.

"So am I," he admitted.

QUMS His honesty startled me, but it remindedwhy we fought so hard. For the Pack.

For those we'd lost.

"We'll find Rowena," I said. "And we'll stop him." Killian's jaw tightened, his resolve clear. "We have to." The forest around us grew darker, the shadows deeper, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were heading straight into the storm.