Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 297

Killian’s POV

My heart pounded as I watched Giselle tighten her grip on Ryker, her fingers digging into his small shoulders with a desperation that was turning into something else — something unrecognizable.

She wasn’t just desperate. She was losing control.

“Where is Hazel?” she demanded, her voice frantic as she shook Ryker, her eyes wild. “Tell me, Ryker! Where did you get this?” She pointed furiously at the bracelet in his tiny hand.

Ryker, trembling, stood frozen in place, his wide eyes locked on Giselle. He didn’t speak—he couldn’t.

Ryker had never uttered a word in his life and Giselle is well aware of that. My gut wrenched when I saw the fear in his eyes. I couldn’t let this continue.

“Giselle, stop!” I shouted, stepping forward to pull Ryker from her.

I yanked him out of her grip, shielding him behind me as he clung to my shirt, shaking.

His small hands were cold, his body trembling. He was terrified of her — of Giselle.

“How could you do this?” I growled, my voice thick with fury. “He’s a child, Giselle! You’re scaring him!”

But Giselle wasn’t done. She sneered and pointed angrily at him, glaring at Ryker like he was the problem.

“He needs to answer me! He is the only lead we have to find Hazel, and he won’t say anything! He knows how to speak, Killian. He CAN speak! He just won’t because he is born stupid. He knows something and just won’t tell us!”

I felt something snap inside me at her words, the cold, heartless insult cutting deeper than I expected.

“Don’t you dare call him that,” I hissed, my fists clenching at my sides. “He’s your son.”

She scoffed, throwing a hand up in frustration. “Why are you defending him? He’s already right here in front of us completely safe and sound! Hazel’s the one who’s missing! Hazel’s out there somewhere, and we don’t even know if she’s alive or dead!”

Ryker pressed closer to me, and I could feel his fear like a pulse in the air. I had never seen him so frightened, and the thought that Giselle — whom he considers his own mother — was the cause twisted something inside me.

Had she always been this cold? This unaffectionate?

I looked at Ryker, remembering all the times he had avoided her touch, the way he shrank back when she came near.

I had always thought it was only because Ryker was born different just like how Giselle had made me to believe.

How had I not seen it? How had I been so blind to the clear signals that Ryker had shown all these years?

Ryker had never liked Giselle. He was always closer to me or the pack members. Now, as I stood here, it all started to make sense

I had been blind to it because I had convinced myself she was trying her best, that being a Luna and a mother was just overwhelming for her.