Reclaiming My Broken Luna 2

Astrid's POV

The ruins of Emberwood loomed around us, silent and foreboding. The rogue ambush had rattled everyone, but we couldn't turn back now. The message we'd found on the rogue's body made it clear: the Forsaken Amulet was here, hidden somewhere within these ancient stones.

Killian's voice broke the silence as he gestured to the group. "Spread out. Look for anything out of place-symbols, markings, anything that might lead us to the Amulet."

The warriors nodded, fanning out through the crumbling structures. Nova, Drystan, and I moved together, our eyes scanning the moss-covered walls and broken pillars.

"This place is ancient," Nova murmured, her fingers brushing against a vine- covered carving. "Older than any Pack I know of.”

"It's no coincidence the Amulet is here," Drystan replied. "The Rogue King must have known about this place for a long time."

I nodded, my wolf uneasy as I felt the weight of the place pressing down on me. There was something here, something powerful and dangerous.

We moved deeper into the ruins, the air growing colder with each step. It wasn't long before Nova stopped abruptly, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"Here," she said, kneeling to brush away the dirt and leaves. Beneath the debris was a circular stone engraved with the same symbol we'd seen on the medallion Rowena had presented.

Drystan crouched beside her, his brow furrowing. "That's it. That has to be the entrance."

Killian and the others joined us, their expressions tense as they took in the discovery.

"How do we open it?" I asked, my voice quiet.

Nova ran her fingers along the edge of the stone, her expression thoughtful. "There's something written here. It's faded, but I think I can make it out."

She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing as she read aloud.

"Only the pure of heart may pass. The unworthy shall face their greatest fears."

A chill ran through me as the words echoed in the stillness.

"Sounds like a trap," Drystan said grimly.

"It is," Killian replied. "But we don't have a choice. We have to go in."

The stone shifted as we pushed against it, revealing a dark, narrow passage that led into the earth. The air inside was damp and heavy, carrying the faint scent of decay.

"We move together," Killian said, his tone firm. "Stay alert."

The passage opened into a vast underground chamber, its walls lined with

strange carvings that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly light. At the center

of the room was a pedestal, and atop it sat a small, ornate box.

"The Amulet," Nova whispered, her eyes wide.

But before we could take another step, the carvings along the walls began to glow brighter, and the room was filled with a deep, resonating hum.

A voice echoed through the chamber, low and menacing. “You seek the power of

the Forsaken Amulet. Prove your worth, or face the consequences."

The first trap activated without warning. The ground beneath us shifted, and sharp, jagged spikes shot up from the floor, forcing us to scatter.

"Stay together!" Killian shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Drystan grabbed my arm, pulling me away from a collapsing section of the floor. My heart raced as we dodged another series of spikes, the air thick with the sound of grinding stone and the metallic tang of danger.

Von

The room seemed to shift and change, the walls rearranging

themselves into a labyrinth. The pedestal with the Amulet was stiff visible in the distance, but every step toward it triggered another trap.

Nova was the first to face the next challenge. A section of the wall opened to

reveal a swirling mist, and from it emerged a figure that made her gasp in horror- Liora.

The illusion was perfect, down to the

smallest detail. Liora's eyes were filled with accusation as she stepped toward Nova, her voice

trembling with anger. "You couldn't

save me. You left me to ove

Nova froze, her eyes wide with shock. "No... you're not real. You're not real!"

"Nova!" I shouted, but the mist swallowed her before I could reach her.

Drystan growled, his claws flexing as he turned to me. "We have to stop this. These illusions are meant to break us."

"I know," I said, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest. "But we can't stop now."noveldrama

We pressed forward, each of us facing our own trials. For me, it was the sight of my children, their faces twisted in pain as they reached out to me, crying for help.

I knew it wasn't real, but that didn't make it any easier. My wolf howled in anguish

as I pushed through the illusion, forcing myself to focus on the goal.

Killian faced his father, the former Alpha, whose disappointment was palpable as he berated Killian for every perceived failure.

Through it all, the Amulet seemed to glow brighter, as if feeding on our fears.

Finally, we reached the pedestal. Nova, her face pale but determined, reached for the box. As her fingers brushed against it, the glowing carvings dimmed, and the room fell silent.

The box was heavy in her hands, its surface engraved with symbols that seemed to shift and change under the light.

"We have it," she said, her voice trembling.

But the moment of victory was short-lived. The air grew colder, and a deep,

guttural growl echoed through the chamber.

"They know we're here," Killian said grimly. "We need to move. Now."