Bound by the Moon

Chapter 43

The silence in the room was thick with the aftermath of Lucien's outburst. Marcus still lay crumpled on the floor, his gasps for air the only sound breaking the tension. Darius had risen to his feet slowly, his eyes downcast, still too afraid to look at Lucien. The air hummed with the remnants of Lucien's dominance, and Astrid felt it like a tangible force, as though the walls themselves were holding their breath.

But while every wolf in the room cowered under Lucien's aura, Astrid stood untouched, unaffected by the power that had driven even her brother to his knees. Her heart pounded in her chest, but it wasn't from fear. She wasn't afraid of Lucien—not in the way everyone else was. She had seen the darkness in him, the monster that lurked beneath the surface, but she knew that monster wasn't meant for her. Yet the others—they saw it, felt it, and trembled.

Lucien's breathing was still ragged, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes, dark and filled with an unsettling ferocity, flicked to Astrid as if seeking something—her approval, her forgiveness, or perhaps her fear. But she gave him none of those things. Instead, she met his gaze with a steady resolve.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence. She didn't flinch as his gaze bore into her. "Alone."

Lucien's jaw tightened, but he gave a single nod, the barest acknowledgment before turning to Darius. "This conversation isn't over," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "Get your Beta under control before I do it for you."

Darius swallowed, his face pale. "I—I'll handle it."

Without another word, Lucien turned and strode from the room, leaving behind a trail of tension so thick it was nearly suffocating. Astrid followed him without a glance back at her brother or Marcus. She didn't need to see their reactions to know they were still trembling.

As soon as they were outside, the cold air hit her like a shock, refreshing after the claustrophobic intensity of the packhouse. Lucien was already halfway across the courtyard, his strides long and purposeful, but there was a tautness to his movements that she recognized. He was barely holding himself together.

She quickened her pace to catch up, walking beside him in silence for several minutes. They didn't speak as they moved away from the heart of the Silverclaw territory, heading toward the forest that bordered the pack's land. The trees loomed ahead like sentinels, tall and shadowed, offering them the privacy they needed.

When they finally reached a secluded clearing, Lucien stopped abruptly, his back still turned to her. His hands were clenched at his sides, his muscles taut beneath the surface, like a predator barely leashing its rage. For a moment, neither of them said anything. The only sound was the wind rustling through the trees, the distant calls of birds overhead.

Then, finally, Lucien spoke, his voice rough and hoarse. "I warned him, Astrid. I warned Marcus what would happen if he touched you again."

Astrid crossed her arms over her chest, watching him carefully. "And what would have happened if I hadn't stopped you?"

Lucien didn't answer immediately. His shoulders tensed, and he let out a sharp breath. "He deserves worse."

She didn't disagree. Marcus had spent years tormenting her, using his position as Beta to bully and manipulate her. He had always been cruel, but after her parents' deaths, his cruelty had escalated to something darker, more insidious. But Lucien's response had been... terrifying. She wasn't afraid of him, but she couldn't ignore the fact that Lucien's rage had nearly tipped into something far more dangerous. He had been ready to kill Marcus, not out of necessity, but out of sheer fury.