Bound by the Moon

Chapter 24

The sun barely pierced the thick canopy of trees surrounding the packhouse as Astrid sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her skin looked paler than usual, her eyes slightly darker around the edges. She barely recognized herself anymore.

Since the incident with Ryker yesterday, she hadn't been able to shake the feeling that something inside her was changing. It wasn't just the power—though that was part of it—but the loss of control, the way she had nearly crushed Ryker in her hands without realizing what she was doing.

The fear in his eyes still haunted her.

Astrid inhaled deeply and turned away from the mirror. She needed to pull herself together. The pack would never accept her if they sensed any weakness, and she had shown far too much already.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," she said, forcing her voice to sound steady.

Lucien stepped inside, his expression hard to read. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them hung thick in the air, a thread pulled tight, ready to snap.

"We need to talk," Lucien finally said, his voice low but firm. He didn't waste time with pleasantries, his eyes filled with something darker than before—concern, maybe even fear.

Astrid swallowed the lump in her throat, giving him a curt nod. "I figured as much."

Lucien leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze sharp. "Yesterday... what happened with Ryker—it wasn't normal, Astrid. You know that."

She exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm inside her. "I know. I don't understand it. I didn't mean to do that. It just... happened."

"That's the problem," Lucien said, his voice tight with frustration. "Things like this can't just 'happen.' Not in a pack like ours, not when there are already rumors swirling about you."

Astrid clenched her fists. She had done her best to keep her head down, to prove she could fit in, but nothing seemed to be enough. No matter how hard she tried, her presence here was a disruption—something the pack could feel in their bones.

"I'm trying, Lucien," she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Do you think I enjoy being the one everyone whispers about behind my back? I don't want this—whatever this power is. I never asked for it."

Lucien's expression softened slightly, but his eyes still carried the weight of his concern. "I know you didn't ask for this, but you need to find a way to control it. The pack's already on edge, and if this happens again... Darius won't be able to protect you. Neither will I."

Astrid's chest tightened at his words. "I can control it," she said, more to convince herself than him. "I will control it."

Lucien shook his head, his jaw clenching. "You need to figure out what's going on, Astrid. I can feel the power in you, and it's different from anything I've ever seen. It's... dangerous."

The word hung in the air between them like a threat, and Astrid's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't want to be a danger to anyone, least of all to the pack that had reluctantly taken her in. But how could she control something she didn't even understand?

Before Astrid could respond, Lucien pushed off the doorframe and straightened. "Darius wants you to meet with him again. Now. He's finalizing the arrangements with your old pack."

Astrid's stomach twisted at the mention of her old pack. She had been avoiding the topic, but she knew this day would come. They were still tied to her, even though they had abandoned her.