Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 352

Astrid’s POV

Her words made me flinch, but I didn’t respond. Asha reached into her bag and pulled out a document, holding it out to me.

“This,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, “is from our father. It’s proof that he wanted you to lead the Shadowfang Pack. Not Andros.”

I took the paper with trembling hands, scanning the words. My father’s handwriting, so familiar and yet so distant, stared back at me. The weight of his decision settled over me like a crushing burden.

I fell silent, I had no idea that despite my cold treatment towards him, he still chose to hand me his position before he died. Overwhelming grief enveloped my heart once again as I remember how he died.

“I can’t do this,” I said, shaking my head and thrusting the document back toward Asha. “I can’t lead the pack.”

“Astrid—” Asha began, but I cut her off.

“You don’t understand,” I said, my voice breaking. “My wolf… it’s getting stronger. Harder to control. I can feel it—the power, the rage. One day, I’m going to lose control completely, and when that happens…”

I looked away, tears stinging my eyes. “When that happens, I’ll be nothing but a killing machine. I can’t risk that. I won’t risk that.”

Killian stepped closer, his expression pained. “Astrid, you’re stronger than you think. You can fight this.”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t understand, Killian. There’s no hope for me. And I won’t let Ryker be part of this nightmare.”

His face darkened. “Ryker deserves to know who you are. He deserves to know his mother.”

I clenched my fists, anger and sorrow battling within me. “No,” I said firmly. “He can’t know. He’s safe with you, Killian, and that’s how it has to stay. I’m going to die eventually, whether it’s by Andros’s hand or my own wolf. I don’t want Ryker to go through the pain of losing me.”

Killian stared at me, his jaw tightening. I could see the conflict in his eyes, but I refused to back down.

“I came here to hide, to protect everyone from what I’ve become,” I said, my voice quieter now. “Please, just… leave me be.”

Asha’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Killian’s hands clenched at his sides, but neither of them moved.

My heart ached at the sight of them, at the love and worry etched into their faces. But I couldn’t let them get closer. Not when I was so close to breaking.

Sharp sounds of shouts and footsteps outside shattered the tense silence.

Killian stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he turned towards the door. Asha moved closer to me, her face pale with worry.

What’s going on?” I asked, dread pooling in my stomach.

Moments later, Alpha Damien’s Beta bursts into the room, his expression grim. “Alpha, Alpha Andros is here. He has warriors with him… and Ryker.”

My heart stopped. “What?”

“He’s threatening to harm Ryker unless we hand you over,” he continued.

Killian’s entire body went rigid, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.

“That bastard,” he growled, his voice laced with fury/

Fear and guilt surged through me, my mind spinning. Ryker. My son. My innocent boy.

I pushed past Asha and Killian, rushing toward the door. “I’ll go to him,” I said, my voice trembling.

“No,” Killian snapped, grabbing my arm. “You’re not surrendering to him, Astrid.”

“If I don’t, he’ll hurt Ryker,” I said, pulling free. I can’t let that happen.

Damien stepped forward, his expression firm. “Astrid, we’ll protecty Ryker. We’ll defend the pack. You don’t have to do this.”