Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 394: The Ritual's Peak Astrid's POV The clearing was chaos. The amulet's glow grew brighter with each passing second, its pulsating light casting long, flickering shadows across the battlefield.

The energy emanating from it was suffocating, filling the air with an oppressive pressure that made it hard to breathe.

I reached the altar, my wolf surging forward as I clawed at the ancient runes alongside Nova.

Each strike against the stone sent sparks of light into the air, but the runes resisted, glowing brighter and stronger as if mocking our efforts.

"It's not working!" Nova shouted, her voice cracking with frustration.

"Keep trying!" I yelled back, refusing to give in. But even as I struck the runes again and again, I felt the futility in my movements.

Behind us, Killian and the Rogue King clashed in a violent storm of teeth and claws, their snarls echoing through the clearing.

Killian's golden wolf fought with unrelenting power, but the Rogue King's speed and cunning gave him an edge, keeping the battle balanced on a knife's edge.

"We can't keep this up!" Nova cried, her claws leaving deep grooves in the altar's surface. "The amulet is feeding off the ritual-it's getting stronger!" Rowena's voice cut through the chaos, cold and sharp. "You're wasting your time." I turned to see her standing a few steps back, her sharp eyes fixed on the amulet. "The runes won't break," she said. "The energy is woven into the ritual. If you want to stop it, someone has to absorb it." "Absorb it?" Drystan's voice was sharp, his wolf snarling as he joined us at the altar. "Are you insane? No one could survive that!" Rowena's expression didn't waver. "Then no one survives this night." The weight of her words settled heavily on all of us. Nova froze, her claws still against the stone, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Drystan growled low, his claws flexing as his wolf paced within him.

Killian shifted back to his human form, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath.

His golden eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Rowena. "There has to be another way," he growled.

"There isn't," Rowena replied coldly. "The energy is too unstable. If it isn't contained, it will conseverything within miles." "I'll do it," I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them.

The world seemed to freeze.

"No." Killian's voice was low, trembling with barely contained rage.

I turned to face him, my heart breaking at the look in his eyes. "Killian—" "No!" he roared, stepping forward and grabbing my arms.

His hands were trembling, his claws retracting and extending as his emotions warred within him. "You're not doing this, Astrid. We'll find another way. We always do." "There's no time," I said, my voice soft but firm.

Killian's grip tightened, his golden eyes blazing. "I don't care. You're not sacrificing yourself. I won't lose you." Nova stepped forward, tears streaming down her face. "Astridz please she whispered, her voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. We'll fight it together. We'll find another way." Drystan was shaking his head, his face pale. "You're not doing this," the said, his voice thick with emotion. "We've already lost too much. You're not leaving us." Even Andros, who rarely showed any emotion, tooked stricken. "Astrid think about this," he said, his voice low and steady. "This isn't just about you. We can find another way." I turned to Rowena, who remained calm, almost indifferent. "There's no other way, is there?" I asked.

She met my gaze without flinching. "No." The finality in her tone sent a chill down my spine, but it also solidified my resolve.

I turned back to the others, my chest tightening as I looked at each of their faces -Killian's anguish, Nova's desperation, Drystan's disbelief.

"I have to do this," I said softly. "It's the only way to stop this." "No!" Nova shouted, grabbing my arm. "You don't get to make this decision alone!" "I'm not alone," I said, my voice breaking. "I have all of you. And that's why I'm doing this. Because I love you. All of you."

Killian's voice cracked as he spoke.

"Astrid, please. Don't de on this bean't-" His word's brake off, and for the first E time, I saw tears in his eyes. I cupped his face with my hands, forcing him to meet my gaze. "You're the Alpha," I whispered. "You need to lead. You need to protect them when I'm gone." "I need you," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Don't leave me, Astrid. Please."

My own tears spilled over as I leaned forward, pressing my say forehead to his.

"I love you said softly. "And that's why I have to do this."

Before anyone could stop me, I stepped back, breaking free of their hold. "Astrid!" Killian shouted, m reaching for me, but I pushed him back with a burst of strength. Nova and Drystan moved toward me, but I shoved them away, too. "Stay back!" I shouted, my voice trembling with emotion. "Take care of each other. That's all I ask." They froze, their faces etched with grief and desperation.

I turned toward the amulet, its glow now blinding. The energy wrapped aroundas I stepped closer, pullingin like a living force.

I placed my hands on its surface, the power surging throughlike fire and ice.

My wolf howled in agony, but I held firm, forcing the energy inward.

Behind me, I heard Killian's anguished roar, Nova's sobs, and Drystan's desperate pleas. But I didn't look back.

I closed my eyes, letting the energy consme.

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