Bound by the Moon

Chapter 8

The door to the meeting room slammed shut behind Alpha Lucian and his Beta, leaving a profound silence in their wake. For a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. The weight of Lucian's gaze, his unsettling revelation that Astrid was bound, still hung heavy in the air. Every nerve in her body was on edge, her skin prickling with unease. She was trembling slightly, though she tried to hide it, pressing her hands against the fabric of her skirt to stop them from shaking.

The pack members exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unnerved by the intensity of the exchange. Darius, her brother, remained seated at the head of the table, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of his chair. His face was a mask of frustration and simmering anger, though whether it was directed at Lucian, the negotiations, or Astrid herself was unclear.

Marcus, their Beta, was the first to speak. His voice was low and bitter, his words slicing through the air like a blade. "Do you see what you've done, Astrid?" he hissed. "Your foolishness has drawn attention where none was needed. You're going to ruin everything."

Astrid flinched but didn't respond. She didn't trust her voice. Marcus's fury was palpable, and she had learned long ago that anything she said would only make things worse.

Darius finally stood, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He paced the length of the room, his expression darkening with every step. "Astrid," he began, his tone heavy with frustration, "you're lucky that Alpha Lucian chose to leave without escalating things. If he hadn't... we would be facing far more than a ruined negotiation. You can't afford to be careless like that."

"I didn't—" she started, her voice weak and trembling, but Darius cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"I don't care what you meant to do," he snapped. "What matters is how it was perceived. You embarrassed me in front of one of the most powerful Alphas in the country. You put us in danger."

The sting of his words settled deep in her chest, and she looked down at the floor, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to spill. She had been trying to understand, trying to grasp why this alliance was so necessary when they had never needed anyone before. But her attempt at clarity had only led to disaster.

Marcus took a step toward her, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. His eyes gleamed with malice, and his lip curled into a sneer. "You've always been a liability, Astrid. Ever since we were pups. But this? This could cost us everything."

Astrid bit her lip, the metallic taste of blood flooding her mouth. She had no words, no defense. They were right—she had made a mistake, and now the entire pack would pay for it.

"Get out of here," Darius finally said, his voice weary. "Go back to your quarters. I'll deal with you later."

Astrid turned to leave, but as she reached the door, Marcus stepped into her path, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. His eyes gleamed with malice, and his lip curled into a sneer. "Remember this, Astrid. The next time you think about speaking up... think about what happened today. You've been warned."

Her heart raced as Marcus leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "And if you ever cross Lucian again... I won't be the one you need to fear."

He stepped aside, allowing her to pass, but his words lingered in the air like a threat. Astrid could feel the eyes of the pack members boring into her back as she left the room, her legs unsteady beneath her.

Once in the corridor, the cool air hit her like a wave, but it did nothing to soothe the pounding in her chest. She hurried down the hall, her footsteps echoing in the empty space, as her mind raced with confusion and fear. How had everything spiraled so quickly?