Bound by the Moon

Chapter 11

The Silverclaw territory receded behind Astrid like a fading dream, the familiarity of her old life slipping away with each step. The journey had begun, and the chilling dusk wrapped around them like a shroud, mingling with the last traces of daylight. Her heart was heavy with the gravity of her choice, and as the remnants of her past life vanished from view, she could not shake the sense of foreboding that loomed over her.

Lucian walked beside her, a solid, unyielding presence in the encroaching dark. The Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack was a figure of stern resolve, his posture straight, his movements deliberate. He had not said much since their departure, and his silence was as imposing as his words had been in the confrontation at Silverclaw. His dark cloak billowed slightly in the wind, a silent testament to his authority and the power that lay beneath his calm exterior.

Astrid's gaze frequently darted back toward the Silverclaw Packhouse, its outlines now barely visible against the darkening sky. The once-familiar landscape had transformed into a mere shadow of what it had been. Each step she took felt like a deliberate step away from her past and toward an uncertain future. The comforting scent of Silverclaw's woods, once a mark of safety, now carried a sense of loss.

Lucian's horse, a majestic black stallion with a sleek coat that seemed to absorb the last rays of sunlight, moved with a grace that mirrored its rider's. Astrid was perched behind Lucian, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, trying to steady herself against the turbulent sea of her emotions. The rhythm of the horse's hooves against the ground was a steady drumbeat, a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucian's voice finally cut through the silence, his tone low and serious.

Astrid had been lost in thought, and his words jolted her back to the present. She hesitated before answering, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know. But I couldn't stay there. Not after everything."

The air was cooler than she had anticipated, and the breeze that rushed past her felt like a constant reminder of her new reality. The woods they were traveling through were dense and unfamiliar, a stark contrast to the open expanses of Silverclaw's territory. The forest of the Bloodmoon Pack was darker, the trees taller and more foreboding. Their branches intertwined overhead, creating a canopy that filtered the light and cast eerie shadows on the forest floor.

Lucian's eyes were focused ahead, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze—something akin to understanding. "What they did to you was wrong. No wolf should be treated that way."

Astrid looked down at her hands, now tightly gripping the reins of the horse, her knuckles white. "They never saw me. Not really. I was just another face in the crowd, another wolf to be overlooked and mistreated."

Lucian's voice softened, and he turned his head slightly, glancing back at her. "I see you, Astrid. I see your strength, even if you don't."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. The notion that someone, let alone an Alpha, saw her strength when she herself felt so broken was both comforting and unsettling. She had endured years of neglect and abuse, the scars of which were not just physical but deeply emotional. The Silverclaw Pack had been her family, but they had failed her. They had abused her trust and her spirit.

As they continued through the forest, the sound of distant howls began to echo through the trees. The Bloodmoon Pack's territory was known for its harsh, unyielding nature, and the howls were a reminder of the pack's presence—a presence that was both daunting and unfamiliar.

They reached a clearing where a small encampment had been set up. Torches flickered in the darkness, casting long shadows that danced across the tents and the faces of Lucian's warriors. The Bloodmoon Pack's wolves moved with a practiced efficiency, their eyes scanning the surroundings with a wariness that matched the tension of their new arrival.