Bound by the Moon

Chapter 7

The morning air was crisp, but Astrid could hardly feel it as she hurried through the corridors of the packhouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The confrontation with Alpha Lucian had left her reeling, her thoughts a chaotic mess of confusion, fear, and something darker—something that made her pulse quicken in ways she didn't quite understand. She had replayed the encounter over and over in her mind, his cold, unyielding words reverberating through her skull.

"Everyone has a choice."

His voice still echoed in her ears, and she could feel the weight of his gaze, even now. But she hadn't been able to dwell on it for long. Not with Beta Marcus waiting for her when she emerged from the kitchen.

He'd been leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed with unmistakable malice. The second she stepped out, he was on her, grabbing her by the arm with bruising force, his fingers digging into the tender skin still sore from the previous day's encounter.

"You think you're clever, don't you?" Marcus hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Talking to him like that. You're lucky he didn't kill you on the spot."

Astrid winced at his grip but forced herself to stand tall, trying to hide the fear curling inside her. "I didn't—"

"Don't even try to explain," Marcus spat, cutting her off. His face was twisted in anger, the veins in his neck bulging. "You listen to me and listen well. Whatever you think you might know about this alliance, you know nothing. Keep your mouth shut. If you so much as hint at questioning anything, I'll make sure you regret it. Do you understand?"

Astrid nodded quickly, her throat tight with dread. She had learned long ago that arguing with Marcus only made things worse.

His grip tightened painfully before he shoved her away, sending her stumbling back a step. "You're to come to the meeting this afternoon," he growled. "Don't make a fool of yourself—or of your brother."

Without another word, Marcus turned and stalked away, leaving her standing there, shaking with both anger and fear. She rubbed her arm where his fingers had dug into her flesh, the bruises already forming in angry purple marks. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she knew it would do no good.

Stay quiet. That had been the rule for as long as she could remember. Do as you're told. Keep your head down. Be invisible.

But Alpha Lucian's words had shaken that resolve. "You've chosen to remain weak," he had said. And now Marcus was threatening her to ensure she stayed that way.

Astrid felt torn, caught between two forces—her lifelong conditioning to stay quiet and unnoticed, and the flicker of defiance that Lucian had ignited in her. She didn't know how to balance them. She didn't know what to do.

But for now, she had no choice. The meeting loomed ahead of her like a dark cloud, and she couldn't afford to draw attention to herself. Not when so much was at stake.

The grand meeting hall was as imposing as ever, its high ceilings and stone walls echoing with the murmurs of wolves preparing for the negotiations. Long tables were set up in a circle, each place marked with the crest of their pack or that of their guest—the Bloodmoon Pack.

Astrid hovered near the entrance, her stomach knotted with anxiety. The meeting wasn't set to begin for another hour, but she had been instructed to be there early to help with last-minute arrangements. Servants rushed past her, setting out refreshments and organizing documents, while the pack leaders began to trickle in, each one wearing expressions of grim determination.

She could feel their eyes on her, even if none of them acknowledged her presence directly. The Alpha's sister, standing on the fringes like a servant. It wasn't an unusual sight by now, but today it felt different. There was an electric tension in the air, a heavy sense of anticipation that made her skin prickle.