Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 393: Confrontations Drystan's POV The forest was unnervingly silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves underfoot and the soft crackle of distant flames. It wasn't the natural stillness of the night-it was the oppressive quiet of a predator's den. My wolf bristled, pacing restlessly withinas I crouched at the edge of the clearing.

The rogue settlement stretched out before us, illuminated by flickering torchlight. Makeshift huts and fire pits dotted the clearing, their inhabitants moving with a dangerous purpose. At the center of it all was the ritual site- a massive stone altar, carved with strange, glowing runes that pulsed in twith the amulet resting on its surface.

Killian knelt beside me, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dark. "They're expecting us," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the tension.

Nova, crouched on my other side, let out a soft growl. "Good. Let them know we're coming." Astrid shifted slightly, her gaze locked on the altar. "We can't rush in blind," she said, her tone calm but firm. "The amulet's power is unstable. If they activate it before we can stop them..." She didn't finish, but the weight of her words hung in the air.

Rowena and Andros stood a few paces behind us, their presence a constant reminder of the uneasy alliance we had formed. Rowena's sharp eyes scanned the settlement with the precision of someone who had seen it all before, while Andros looked tense, his jaw clenched as he stared at the rogues.

"They've fortified the perimeter," Rowena said, her voice low and clipped. "They'll have traps waiting for you." "We're not amateurs," Nova snapped, her claws extending slightly.

"No, but you're desperate," Rowena shot back, her eyes narrowing. "And desperation makes you reckless." "Enough," Killian growled, his Alpha tone silencing the brewing argument. He turned to me. "Drystan, take your team and secure the eastern flank. Nova, you're with me. Astrid, hold the rear and make sure no one breaks through. Rowena, Andros-you're with Astrid." The plan was simple on paper: strike fast, neutralize the rogues guarding the altar, and destroy the amulet before the ritual could be completed. But as we moved into position, the unease in my chest grew stronger. The rogues had been gathering for weeks, amassing a force that dwarfed anything we'd seen before. Their movements were coordinated, disciplined—a far cry from the scattered attacks we were used to. And at the heart of it all was the Rogue King, commanding their loyalty with promises of power and freedom.

I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap.

Killian's howl split the air, signaling the attack. Our warriors surged forward, emerging from the trees with claws and teeth bared. The rogues reacted immediately, their snarls echoing across the clearing as they rushed to meet us.

The clash was chaotic, a violent blur of fur, fangs, and blood. I shifted mid-stride, my wolf taking over as tore through the rogues in my path. Nova was a whirlwind beside me, her movements swift and lethal as she carved a path toward the altar.

"Keep pushing!" Killian's voice rang out through the mind-link, his golden wolf a blur of power as he led the charge.

Rowena and Andros fought with Astrid at the rear, their combined strength holding back the rogues attempting to flank us. Despite her age, Rowena was a force to be- reckoned with, her strikes precise and devastating. Andros fought with atury that bordered on reckless, his claws flashing as he cut through the rogues with ease.

I reached the altar just as the air began to vibrate with an unnatural energy. The amulet's glow intensified, its pulsing light casting eerie shadows across the clearing. The Rogue King stood beside it, his presence commanding and cold.

"You're too late," he said, his voice resonating with a chilling finality.

Nova lunged for him, her claws aimed for his throat, but he moved with impossible speed, dodging her attack effortlessly. "Fools," he snarled, his eyes gleaming with dark power. "You think you can stop what's already begun?" Killian joined us, his golden wolf snarling as he charged the Rogue King. Their clash was brutal, the force of their blows shaking the ground. But even as they fought, the amulet's power continued to build, its glow becoming blinding. "Astrid!" I shouted through the mind-link. "We need you at the altar, now!"

Astrid arrived moments later, her wolf's silver coat gleaming in the m unnatural light. Rowena and ros were right behind her, their expressions grim as they took in the scene. "We have to destroy it," Astrid said, her voice cutting through the chaos.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Andros asked, his tone sharp.

Rowena stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "There's only one way. It ritual t has to be severed from the ritual NO entirely. That means breaking the runes-and doing it before the energy overloads."

Killian and the Rogue King were still locked in combat, their growls and snarls echoing across the Clearing. Nova darted around them, her focus on the amulet as she began clawing at the runes carved into the altar. The amulet's light reached a blinding intensity, the energy crackling dangerously around it. The Rogue King breaks away from Killian, his voice ringing out in triumph.

"You'll destroy yourselves before you destroy me," he sneered, stepping back into the shadows as the amulet's power reached its peak.

The amulet emits a deafening pulse, knocking everyone back and leaving the clearing in chaos as its power spirals out of control.