Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 434

Killian’s POV

The omega’s words rang in my ears like a warning bell.

"Alpha! Alpha! It’s Ryker! He’s awake and looking for you. He won’t calm down!"

My entire body locked up.

Ryker had always been tormented with nightmares ever since Elara was kidnapped. He often woke up in the middle of the night, demanding to see us and he would always look so terrified.

I stood at the Packhouse entrance, my wolf raging to break free, my warriors prepared to track Astrid before she got too far.

Every instinct inside me screamed at me to run, to chase her down, to drag her back before she made the biggest mistake of her life.

But my son needed me.

For a single, agonizing moment, I hesitated.

Then I turned on my heel and strode toward the infirmary, my boots pounding against the floor, my fists clenched so tightly my nails cut into my palms.

My lungs burned with restrained fury, my thoughts a storm of frustration and helplessness.

First Astrid. Now Ryker. I was losing control of everything.

When I entered the room, I barely had time to brace myself before Ryker’s panicked voice shattered the air.

“Where’s Mom?! Where is she?!”

His small frame trembled violently beneath the thick blankets, his bandaged head slick with sweat.

He tried to push himself up, but the doctor rushed forward, gently pressing him back down.

His breathing was erratic, his chest rising and falling too fast.

The moment his frantic gaze landed on me, something inside me broke.

I had seen my son hurt before. I had seen him fall, scrape his knees, even break a bone during training.

But I had never seen him like this.

Never seen this level of pure, unfiltered terror.

I took a step closer, but he shook his head violently.

“Where is she?!” he cried. “Where’s Mom?!”

I exhaled slowly, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Ryker… It’s just another nightmare–”

He saw the hesitation in my stance, the flicker of something in my eyes that I tried to bury deep.

And he knew.

His breath hitched. His body tensed. His hands clenched the sheets so tightly his knuckles turned white.

And then, he broke.

“No!” Ryker sobbed, shaking his head. “No, she—she wouldn’t leave me! She wouldn’t leave us!”

I clenched my jaw, stepping toward him. “Ryker—”

“Why did you let her go?!” His voice cracked, full of betrayal, his tiny fists slamming against the mattress. “You promised! You promised you’d protect her!”

I took a shaky breath, kneeling beside him, my hands gripping his shoulders. “Ryker, listen to me.”

His lip trembled. His voice dropped into something small, broken.

“She left because of me, didn’t she?” His throat bobbed, his next words barely a whisper. “She left because I wasn’t strong enough to save Elara.”

I inhaled sharply.

My chest ached.