Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 358

Special Chapter: Ryker’s Perspective

The sun was shining so brightly today that it made the grass sparkle like little stars.

I loved running through it barefoot—it felt soft and tickly. I stretched my arms out, pretending I was flying, and ran down the hill as fast as I could.

“Ryker, don’t go too far!” Mommy called from the garden bench where she sat with Aunt Nova.

“I won’t, Mommy!” I shouted back, spinning around to wave at her. She was smiling at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

Mommy had the best smile. It made me feel warm inside, like I was wrapped in a big, soft blanket.

I loved hearing her laugh, too, which she was doing now because Aunt Nova said something funny.

They both had big bellies because there were babies inside. I couldn’t wait to meet them.

I ran back up the hill to Mommy and climbed onto the bench next to her. “Why are you laughing, Mommy?” I asked, curious.

Mommy chuckled and brushed some grass out of my hair. “Aunt Nova was telling me about how much her baby likes apples. I was just saying that your little brother or sister really loves oranges. I can’t stop eating them!”

I tilted my head, looking at her big belly. “I liked oranges too?”

Mommy shook her head, smiling. “No, little one. You liked chocolate pudding. I couldn’t get enough of it when you were in my tummy.”

I giggled. “I liked pudding before I was born?”

Aunt Nova laughed. “Oh, yes! You liked it so much that we thought you might turn into a bowl of pudding!”

The idea of being pudding was so silly that I laughed and leaned against Mommy. “Mommy, did Daddy bring you pudding all the time?”

The question made Mommy’s smile falter a little, and her hand rested gently on my back.

She didn’t say anything right away, but her eyes grew soft in a way that made my chest feel heavy.

“No, Ryker,” she said finally, her voice quiet. “Daddy wasn’t with me when I was pregnant with you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

Before Mommy could answer, a shadow passed over us. Daddy had come back from the training grounds, his face a little sweaty but his eyes warm.

He smiled at me and crouched down in front of the bench.

“What’s this? Are we talking about pudding?” he asked, trying to sound cheerful, but there was something sad in his voice.

I looked at him seriously. “Daddy, why weren’t you with Mommy when I was in her tummy?”

His smile faded, and for a moment, he looked like he didn’t know what to say. Then, he sat beside me and pulled me onto his lap.

“Ryker,” he began softly, “there was a time when Mommy and I didn’t understand each other very well. We… we made mistakes, and we were apart for a little while. But it was never because I didn’t love you or Mommy. I didn’t even know you were going to be born.”