Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 368

Astrid’s POV

The forest around the Emberwood ruins was a tangle of shadows and silence.

Every crunch of leaves beneath our boots and rustle of branches above felt amplified in the eerie stillness.

My wolf stirred uneasily within me, its senses sharp as if anticipating an ambush.

Killian walked at my side, his posture rigid with tension.

Drystan and Nova followed close behind, their weapons at the ready, and a small group of warriors flanked us.

We’d planned this mission carefully, but the weight of the Forsaken Amulet and the shadow of the Rogue King made every step feel like a gamble.

As we approached the ruins, the crumbling stone walls loomed into view, covered in moss and vines.

A cold wind blew through the trees, carrying a faint metallic tang that made my stomach churn.

“It’s too quiet,” Killian muttered, his eyes scanning the treeline. “I don’t like it.”

Drystan nodded grimly. “If the Rogue King knows we’re here, he’s waiting.”

“We don’t have a choice,” I said, gripping my blade tightly. “We need to find the relic before he does.”

We stepped cautiously into the ruins, the air growing colder as the trees gave way to crumbling archways and uneven stone paths.

The ruins stretched out before us, a maze of fallen towers and collapsed chambers.

“Spread out,” Killian ordered, his voice low but firm. “Search every corner. If the relic is here, we’ll find it.”

As we moved deeper into the ruins, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

My wolf growled softly, a warning I couldn’t ignore. I scanned the shadows, but there was nothing—only the oppressive silence and the distant whispers of the wind.

Nova paused near a collapsed wall, her fingers brushing over an ancient carving.

“Liora mentioned these ruins in her journal,” she murmured. “She wrote about the rogue leaders meeting here, but… something’s off.”

“Off how?” Drystan asked, his voice tight.

Nova turned to us, her brow furrowed. “She described the ruins as abandoned, untouched. But these markings… they’re recent. Someone’s been here.”

A low growl echoed through the ruins sending a shiver down my spine.

My wolf bristled within me, and I knew we weren't alone.

The air grew heavier, and before any of us could react, figures emerged from the shadows—rogues, dozens of them, their wolves snarling and ready for blood.

"Ambush!" Drystan roared, his voice carrying above the growls.

Killian and I exchanged a glance. No words were needed. The moment the rogues lunged, we shifted in unison.

The transformation was instant, muscles stretching, bones snapping into place as our wolves took over.

My wolf, silver and sleek, growled with fury, ready to defend.

Drystan's massive black wolf was already tearing into the nearest rogue, his movements powerful and precise.

Nova's wolf, smaller but quick, darted between attackers, her teeth flashing as she ripped into her enemies.

The rogues were fast, but we were faster.

I lunged at the nearest rogue, sinking my teeth into its shoulder and throwing it to the ground.