Chapter 61
Chapter 61
Astrid’s POV
Kaeleen’s declaration hung in the air, thick with defiance and possessiveness. The shock on Leon’s face was almost comical, a mixture of disbelief and sputtering rage. The elders had frowns plastered on their faces. Some gave Leon a discreet look and if I wasn’t sure they were in cohorts with Leon, I was sure of it now.
"That’s impossible," Leon finally managed to choke out, his voice trembling with fury. "Astrid can’t be your Luna. She’s mine! She belongs to the Moonshade pack!"
Kaeleen simply smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Astrid doesn’t belong to anyone. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again so get that in your thick brain."
The Elders exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. I knew they were weighing their options, trying to determine the best course of action. They were bound by not only tradition but the deal they had with Leon. It was so fucking obvious to anyone who had eyes to see what was going on.
"Even if what you say is true," Elder Thorne said, his voice carefully measured, "it doesn’t change the fact that Astrid left the Moonshade pack without Leon’s permission. She is still bound by our laws."
"And what law is that, Thorne?" I asked, my voice calm but firm. "The one that says a woman is the property of her Alpha? The one that allows abuse and mistreatment to go unpunished?"
The Elders shifted uncomfortably, their faces flushing with anger. They didn’t like being challenged, especially by a woman.
"Those are not our laws," Thorne insisted, his voice strained. "We simply believe in upholding tradition and maintaining order."
"Ah...but those are not our laws. Disrespect and abuse are not to be left ongoing. The laws have changed, am I right?" Kaeleen asked him.