Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 389: Divided Loyalties Drystan's POV The council chamber at the Silvermoon camp was more crowded than usual, but the air was heavy with unease.

After everything we had learned from Rowena and Andros, tensions ran higher than ever.

Wolves from allied Packs whispered among themselves, their voices sharp with mistrust.

Killian stood at the head of the chamber, his presence commanding as always, but even he couldn't mask the strain on his face.

Astrid sat to his right, her eyes dark with fatigue. Nova was beside me, her hand resting on her thigh, her tension palpable.

Andros and Rowena sat on the far side of the room, their backs straight despite the weight of every glare in the room directed at them.

Andros leaned casually against the wall, but Rowena remained composed, her sharp eyes sweeping over the gathered wolves with quiet authority.

"We've heard what they've told us," one of the elders said, his voice echoing through the room. "But how can we trust anything that comes from the mouths of traitors?" Murmurs of agreement rippled through the chamber.

"Enough," Killian said, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "We don't have to trust them, but we can't afford to ignore what they've told us. If the Rogue King is planning to sever Pack bonds, then we need to act before it's too late." "And what about Rowena?" another elder demanded. "She's lied before. She's manipulated us at every turn. And now we're supposed to believe she suddenly has the Pack's best interests at heart?" "She knows more about the Amulet and the Rogue King's plans than any of us," Astrid said, her voice calm but firm. "If we don't use what she knows, we're walking into this blind." "And Andros?" a younger Alpha growled. "He betrayed his own family. He murdered his father. What makes you think he won't turn on us the second he sees an opportunity?" The accusations ignited a flurry of voices, anger and fear clashing in the room. I clenched my fists, my wolf snarling at the chaos.

"They have no right to question us!" I growled, stepping forward. "We've sacrificed too much already to let them tear us apart now!" Nova placed a hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. "Drystan," she said softly. "We need them united, not divided." I exhaled sharply, trying to rein in my anger. But as my gaze landed on Andros, lounging in his seat with that infuriating smirk, my fury threatened to boil over.

Rowena's voice, calm and steady, silenced the room. "You're right to mistrust me," she said, meeting the eyes of every Alpha in the room. "I've done things I'm not proud of. But my mistakes don't change the truth. If the Rogue King wins, none of this will matter. Your Packs, your families, your bonds-they'll all be gone." "And we're just supposed to take your word for it?" the younger Alpha shot back.

"No," Rowena replied, her gaze unflinching. "You're supposed to act because the risk of doing nothing is too great." Killian spoke then, his voice carrying the weight of his authority. "Whether we like it or not, Rowena and Andros are the only ones who can give us the edge we need. If anyone has a better plan, speak now." Silence fell over the room.

Later, as the council dispersed, I lingered near the entrance, my eyes fixed on Andros. He noticed and approached, his movements unhurried.

"You've got something to say, Drystan?" he asked, his tone almost mocking.

I stepped closer, my claws itching to extend. "You don't belong here. You think we've forgotten what you did?" "I don't expect you to forget," he replied, his expression serious for the first time. "But if you don't wanthere, then do something about it. Otherwise, step aside and letdo what I chere to do." My wolf snarled, but before I could respond, Nova's voice cut through the tension. "Drystan," she said sharply. "Leave it." Astrid foundlater, her expression troubled.

"You don't trust him," she said.

"Of course I don't," I replied. "He's a liar and a murderer. And you shouldn't trust him either." She didn't flinch, her gaze steady. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't remember what he did? He's my brother, Drystan. I've hated him longer than you've even known him. But we don't have a choice." QUMS I crossed my arms, my wolf still pacing beneath the surface. "There's always a choice, Astrid. And trusting Andros isn't one I'm willing to make." She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It's not about trust. It's about necessity. If there's even a chance he can help us stop the Rogue King, then we have to take it. For the Packs. For Nova. Ford Liora." QUMS Her words struck a nerve, and I turned away, trying to hide the raw pain that flickered across my face. "Liora deserved better than this," I said quietly.

Astrid stepped closer, her voice soft but firm. "She deserved a lot of things. But right now, she'd want us to do what's necessary to protect the Packs. Even if it means working with him." I didn't respond, my jaw tightening as the weight of her words settled over me. The camp was quiet that night, the usual hum of activity subdued. Warriors sharpened weapons, patched armor, and exchanged quiet conversations, their faces etched with exhaustion.

The looming threat of the Rogue King hung over all of us like a storm cloud, and the unease was impossible to ignore.

Rowena sat near the fire, her shackles glinting faintly in the firelight. Killian stood nearby, his arms crossed as he watched her. She met his gaze calmly, her expression unreadable.

"Still watching me, are you?" she asked, her tone dry.

Killian's eyes narrowed. "I have every reason to." She chuckled softly. "Fair enough. But you'd do well to remember that we're on the sside now." "Are we?" he shot back. "Because the last tI trusted you, you almost destroyed everything I've built." Rowena's smile faded, and for a moment, she looked... tired. "I made mistakes, Killian. I've paid for them in ways you'll never understand. But whether you believeor not, i'm trying to make things right. For you. For the Pack. For the future At the edge of the camp, I found Nova sitting alone, her gaze fixed on the forest beyond.

"You should be resting," I said, sitting beside her.

She gavea faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Resting won't change anything." I reached out, placing a hand over hers. "We'll stop him, Nova. The Rogue King won't win."

Her jaw tightened, and she looked away. "What if we're w e're wrong, Drystan? What if everything we're doing... what if it's not enough?" "It will be," I said firmly, though my own doubts lingered.

She exhaled slowly, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Liora would've known what to do." "She always did," I murmured.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of our grief and determination binding us together.

By dawn, the Packs were ready to move. Drystan and Nova would lead ΟΠΙ a small group to scout the Rogue King's forces, while Killian and Astrid remained behind to fortify the camp and plan their next move.

Before leaving, I approached Killian, my expression grim. "If Andros so much as breathes wrong while I'm gone, deal with him." Killian nodded. "I will." I turned to Astrid, her gaze steady as she met mine. "Keep them safe," I said quietly.

"I will," she replied, her voice filled with quiet strength.

As we set off into the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into something far bigger than any of us realized. The shadows felt alive, watching, waiting.

And somewhere in the distance, the Rogue King was preparing for war.