Bound by the Moon

Chapter 22

The sun had barely risen when Astrid was summoned to Alpha Lucien's office. She was still shaking off the remnants of sleep when a young pack runner appeared at her door, his face pale, eyes wide as he delivered the message with clear unease. Lucien's summons at such an early hour had to mean something important, something serious.

Astrid had been bracing herself for this. Ever since she passed the Trials, she knew that her status within the pack would remain a topic of debate. It had been a hard-earned victory, but the wolves in Lucien's pack weren't quick to accept an outsider—even one who had proven her strength. And now, with Alpha Darius from her old pack arriving to finalize the terms of their agreement, she had a feeling this meeting would be even more grueling than the Trials.

As she made her way through the packhouse, she felt the familiar weight of eyes on her. The murmurs followed her, like shadows whispering doubts and judgments. She could feel their resentment, their wariness. Her presence had shifted the dynamics within the pack, and it was clear not everyone was pleased. They saw her as a disruption, a wildcard who had somehow survived the Trials and now stood among them—a wolf without a clear place.

Pushing the doors of Lucien's office open, Astrid stepped inside. The room was thick with tension, and her gaze immediately fell on the two men seated across from Lucien. Alpha Darius—tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating authority—sat with his hands folded on the desk, his eyes cold and unreadable. Beside him was his Beta, Marcus, a man with graying hair and an expression just as severe as his alpha's.

The sight of them sent a chill down Astrid's spine. Darius had been the leader of her old pack—strong, ruthless, and entirely focused on maintaining power. It was Darius who had sent her away, bartering her future in exchange for an alliance. Seeing him now only solidified the bitterness that had been festering inside her for months.

Lucien gestured to a chair. "Sit, Astrid. We need to finalize the terms."

Astrid's jaw tightened, but she took the seat. She could feel Darius's eyes on her, assessing, cold. Marcus remained stone-faced, though his gaze flickered over her with a hint of disdain. He had always been the quiet enforcer, the one who made sure Darius's will was carried out without question.

Darius spoke first, his voice calm but with an edge of authority that demanded attention. "Astrid, the terms are simple. You will remain here in Lucien's pack, as agreed. You'll serve as a bridge between our two packs, ensuring that this alliance remains strong."

His tone was clinical, detached, as though Astrid were nothing more than a piece in a game of chess. It wasn't surprising—Darius had never seen her as anything else. She had been a pawn in his political maneuvering from the moment he realized she could be used to secure an alliance.

"I've already agreed to the terms," Astrid said, her voice steady but laced with tension. "I'll honor them."

Marcus leaned forward slightly, his expression hardening. "You'll honor them, but make no mistake—you're still bound to your old pack, Astrid. Don't forget where you came from."

His words hit her like a slap. Bound. The term clung to her, a reminder of the invisible shackles that tied her to her past. No matter how far she had come, no matter what she had achieved, her old pack still had a hold on her.

Darius's gaze remained steady, calculating. "Lucien has been kind enough to accept you into his pack, but if things become problematic, we have the right to recall you. You'll be under his protection as long as you behave accordingly."

Astrid's eyes flashed with anger, her fists curling tightly on her lap. Recalled? Like she was some object they could take back whenever it suited them? She had fought tooth and nail to survive here, to carve out a place for herself, and now they were reminding her of how easily it could all be taken away.