Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 403

Astrid’s POV

The tension in the room was suffocating. The large council chamber, usually filled with calm deliberation, was now a battlefield of words.

Alphas and Lunas from across the packs are all gathered around in one room, their gazes heavy with doubt and mistrust.

Killian and I decided to call this meeting to inform everyone about the recent events and to formulate another plan for the future.

“We heard that Andros is back, that he came back to the Pack with you, was that true?” One of the Alphas asked.

I nodded my head. “That’s true. Although he is banned to enter any Packs, I made my decision out of careful consideration. While we are unsure of where his alliances lies, it would be safe if he is here with us where we could monitor him.”

“Andros cannot be trusted,” Alpha Raiden of the Thunderclaw Pack said, his voice cold and unyielding. “He betrayed us once—no, twice. Do you expect us to believe he won’t do it again?”

Several heads nodded in agreement, murmurs spreading like wildfire.

“He’s a liability,” another Alpha added. “We’re putting our packs in danger by keeping him alive. He’s already proven where his loyalties lie.”

I clenched my fists under the table, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from lashing out.

Across from me, Killian sat rigid, his jaw tight and his golden eyes dark with suppressed emotion.

He hadn’t spoken yet, but the strain was evident in every line of his body.

“And what if he escapes?” Luna Mariel chimed in, her tone laced with accusation. “Rowena fooled us all, played us until the very end. How do we know Andros isn’t doing the same?”

The words cut deep, and I saw the flicker of pain in Killian’s eyes. I wanted to reach for him, to reassure him, but this wasn’t the place. He didn’t need my comfort; he needed my strength.

Then, as if the tension wasn’t already thick enough, Alpha Cedric of the Bloodfang Pack rose to his feet.

His presence commanded attention, his broad shoulders and sharp features exuding power. But his tone was anything but respectful.

“This isn’t just about Andros,” Cedric said, his voice loud enough to silence the murmurs. “This is about leadership. How can we trust Astrid and Killian to lead us when their judgment has been compromised time and again?”

A cold wave of silence followed his words, and my stomach tightened.

“Do not mistake experience for weakness,” I said, my gaze sweeping the room. “Killian has learned from his mistakes, and those lessons have made him stronger. He has led Shadowfang through wars, through crises, and through loss. He is the reason many of us are still alive.”

I stepped closer to the table, leaning forward slightly. “And as for me,” I said, my voice firm, “you can question my abilities all you want, but do not forget this: it was Killian and I who destroyed the Forsaken Amulet. It was Killian and I who stood against the rogue king when no one else could.”

The room was deathly silent. Cedric’s confident smirk had faded, replaced with a wary frown.

The other leaders exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier doubts now subdued.

“Killian and I will continue to lead,” I finished, my voice unwavering. “And we will do so not for power, but for the safety and unity of every wolf here. If anyone has a problem with that, speak now.”

No one spoke. Even Cedric, his jaw tight, lowered his gaze.

The heavy silence was broken by the sudden crash of the chamber doors. A warrior stormed in, his face pale and his breathing labored.

“Luna Astrid, Alpha Killian,” he gasped, bowing quickly before continuing. “We’ve received word — The fragments of the Forsaken Amulet… they’re missing. And we think the rogue king is behind it.”

The air seemed to leave the room all at once, and my heart pounded in my chest. Killian stood abruptly, his eyes blazing with urgency.