Bound by the Moon

Chapter 44

The Silverclaw Pack's territory felt unfamiliar to Astrid despite the months that had passed since she left. The once comforting, moss-covered trees now seemed to loom menacingly, their branches twisting like claws against the evening sky. The crisp scent of pine mingled with the distant smell of wet earth, but even the forest felt uneasy, like it held its breath in anticipation of something darker on the horizon. It was as though the land itself had absorbed the fear and tension brewing within the pack, manifesting the unrest that had plagued them for months.

As Astrid walked through the old paths that once felt like home, her stomach churned with unease. The Silverclaw Packhouse rose before her, a structure built from sturdy timber and stone that had always stood as a symbol of the pack's strength and unity. Now, it looked hollow, its sturdy exterior a façade for the crumbling loyalty and fear festering inside.

Lucien moved beside her like a shadow, his powerful presence cloaked in an aura of deadly calm. His keen eyes flicked over every inch of the territory, missing nothing. The constant scrutiny was more than just habit; it was instinct. He was a predator in the truest sense, always ready to strike, and tonight, he seemed closer to the edge than ever before. Astrid could feel the storm brewing within him, the controlled fury coiled just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

They entered the packhouse, the atmosphere thick with tension and whispers. Astrid's heart tightened as she caught glimpses of familiar faces—wolves she had grown up with, friends she once trusted—now casting furtive, uneasy glances in her direction. They greeted her with half-hearted smiles, but their gazes quickly slid to Lucien, their postures stiffening in fear and submission.

The weight of his presence was palpable, suffocating. His reputation as one of the most feared Alphas in the region preceded him, and the Silverclaw wolves, broken by months of internal strife and the looming rogue threat, were terrified of him. Astrid could sense it in their hurried steps, the way they kept their heads down as they passed. The knowledge of Lucien's ruthlessness had spread like wildfire, and even though he hadn't lifted a finger since entering the territory, his very existence was enough to keep the pack trembling.

Lucien's face remained expressionless, but she knew he was aware of their fear. He thrived on it. It was his weapon as much as his claws or his teeth. He had learned long ago that fear could accomplish what brute strength could not—fear could break a man without spilling a drop of blood. And here, among the broken remains of Astrid's former pack, that fear was the thin thread keeping everyone from complete collapse.

"How many of them are left loyal to Darius?" Lucien asked quietly, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her bones.

"Enough, I hope," Astrid replied, her throat tight. "But Marcus has done more damage than I thought possible in such a short time."

She didn't need to explain further; Lucien knew all too well what kind of damage a power-hungry Beta could inflict. Marcus's abuse of power wasn't just personal—it was systemic, infecting the pack like a disease. Fear and manipulation had turned the pack against their own Alpha, her brother Darius, weakening the structure that had once made them strong. With the rogue attacks adding pressure from the outside, Silverclaw was teetering on the brink of collapse.

They walked in silence toward the war room, the memories of her life here pressing down on Astrid like an invisible weight. Every corner, every face she passed reminded her of the childhood she'd left behind. And the betrayal. Her chest tightened at the thought of Marcus, the Beta who had once been like a second brother but had become her tormentor.

When they entered the war room, Darius was already waiting, seated at the head of a long wooden table scarred from decades of use. His face was drawn with exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights. The sight of her brother—once so full of confidence and pride—now looked diminished, defeated by the very pack he was supposed to lead.