Chapter 30
Astrid’s POV
"Oh I will, only on one condition..." Leon’s voice dripped with malice, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence.
My heart hamred against my ribs, each beat a painful reminder of Clara’s plight. "What condition?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Leon’s cruel smile widened. "Co to , Astrid. Co back to , and I’ll let her go. Simple as that."
The words hit like a physical blow. He wanted back. He wanted under his control again. And he was using Clara as bait.
"Don’t do it, Astrid," Kaeleen growled, his voice tight with fury. "He’s just using her. It’s a trap."
I knew he was right. Every instinct scread at to run, to fight, to do anything but surrender to Leon’s demands. But I couldn’t ignore the desperation in Clara’s eyes, the silent plea for help.
"I know it’s a trap," I said, my voice trembling. "But I can’t...I can’t let her get hurt because of ."
Rebecca, who had been silent until now, suddenly exploded. She threw open the car door and stord towards Leon, her eyes blazing with anger.
"Go fuck yourself, Leon!" she scread, her voice echoing through the clearing. "Do whatever you want with her! She’s not worth Astrid’s life!"
Leon simply laughed, a cold, heartless sound that sent shivers down my spine. He tightened his grip on Clara’s throat, his fingers digging into her skin. Clara gasped for air, her face turning a horrifying shade of purple.
A wave of nausea washed over . I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. All I could see was Clara’s suffering.
And then, I saw the look on Clara’s face.
It wasn’t just fear. It was desperation. It was the sa look she had worn so many years ago, when we were children, playing by the river.
I rembered the day so vividly. We were splashing around in the shallow water, laughing and giggling, when Clara suddenly slipped and fell into a deep pool. She couldn’t swim.
I watched in horror as she struggled, her arms flailing wildly, her head bobbing beneath the surface. I was too young, too small to help her.
"Astrid! Help !" she had cried, her voice choked with water. "Please! I don’t want to die!"
I had stood frozen on the bank, paralyzed by fear, unable to do anything but watch as my sister fought for her life.
The image of Clara’s terrified face, the sound of her desperate cries for help...they were burned into my mind.
And now, that sa look was back. The tears streaming down her face, the desperate plea in her eyes...it was all too familiar.
I couldn’t let it happen again. I couldn’t stand by and watch as Clara suffered.
"Astrid, no!" Kaeleen shouted, his voice breaking through my daze. "It’s a trick! Don’t do it!"
I turned to him, my eyes filled with tears. "I know," I said, my voice choking with emotion. "I know it’s a trick. But I can’t...I can’t let her suffer because of . I can’t."
I took a step forward, my legs trembling, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Stop!" I shouted, my voice ringing through the clearing. "Leon, stop! I’ll co to you. Just let her go!"
Leon’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "That’s what I wanted to hear," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Co here, Astrid. Co to my side, and I’ll release her. I promise."
Kaeleen’s voice broke, filled with pain. "Astrid, please! Don’t do this! Don’t sacrifice yourself for him!"
I turned to him one last ti, my eyes filled with love and regret. "Don’t worry about ," I said, my voice soft. "I always knew it was too good to be true. I always knew that soone like you...soone like you couldn’t possibly belong with soone like ."
I forced a smile, trying to hide the tears that were streaming down my face. "Thank you, Kaeleen," I said. "Thank you for everything..."
"Don’t speak like we aren’t going to see each other again." Kaeleen said with a shake of his head.
It was a possibility. We both knew it. My going back to Leon would ensure I never saw the light of day anymore but I couldn’t risk my sister’s life to save mine. To have so semblance of peace. I couldn’t do it.
I took a deep breath and turned back to Leon, my heart filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Let her go," I said, my voice firm. "And I’ll co with you. I promise."
Leon chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Not so fast, Astrid," he said. "I’m not stupid. I’m not going to release her until I know you’re safely by my side."
He gestured towards , his eyes never leaving my face. "Co here, Astrid," he said. "Co to , and I’ll let her go. I swear it."
I hesitated for a mont, my mind racing, searching for another way out. But there was none. This was it. This was my only choice.
"You know," Kaeleen began his voice heavy with emotion. "You just have to say the word and we will be rid of him. I can do that for you."
"Is that a threat, alpha of Erald Glade Pack?" Leon asked him coldly.
Kaeleen t his gaze with a look that could freeze rivers. "Do you consider it so?"
Leon laughed. "I’d think you’d be wiser than that. To threaten in my own land."
Imdiately Leon said those words, I noticed the shift in the environnt. We were surrounded. He had co prepared. Kaeleen growled low in his throat at the perceived threat but even if he was the best warrior to ever exist, he couldn’t win against this multitude of people.
"Kaeleen..."
"Is this woman worth sacrificing everything you’ve built on.?" Ln asked him with a cruel smirk.
Kaeleen locked eyes with mine. I knew deep down what his answer would be. Those expressive green eyes locked on mine.
"Yes."
"Then don’t be offended, okay?" Leon said as he signaled his n to attack.
"Wait!" I scread.
"What is it?" Leon asked.
"Call your n off. There is no need to fight. I’ll co with you. I’ll do whatever you want." I said to Leon.
"Astrid..." Kaeleen began but I shook my head.
"I’m not going to let you sacrifice yourself for ." I told him.
He tried to argue but I gave him my back. I took a deep breath and started walking towards Leon, my legs feeling like lead. Each step was a betrayal, a surrender to the darkness that had haunted for so long.
As I drew closer, I could see the triumph in Leon’s eyes, the satisfaction of knowing that he had won. He had broken . He had brought back under his control.
I stopped a few feet away from him, my body trembling, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Let her go, Leon," I said, my voice barely audible. "I’m here. Now let her go."
Leon’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a cruel delight. He tightened his grip on Clara’s throat, his fingers digging even deeper into her skin.
"Not yet, Astrid," he said, his voice a low growl. "Not until I’m sure you’re not going to run away."
He reached out and grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh. He pulled towards him, his grip like a vise.
"Welco back, Astrid," he whispered in my ear, his breath hot and foul. "You’re mine now. And you’re never leaving again, especially not to et so idiot who can’t control himself."
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