Reclaiming My Broken Luna 2

Astrid's

POV

I sat by Ryker's bed, my eyes tracing the soft rise and fall of his small chest as he slept.

The room was dim, the only light filtering through the cracks in the curtains, casting a gentle glow over his peaceful face.

I still couldn't believe it - Ryker was my son. My own son. For years I thought I have completely lost him, but now he's here completely safe in front of me.

I bit my lower lip as tears welled in my eyes. Oh how I wanted to reach out to him right now, to hug and hold him in my arms and to tell him the truth, that I am his real mother.

At the same time, I also felt afraid on how he was going to react on finding out that I am his real mother. I am terrified to receive his rejection. I don't know how I'm going to react if he refuses to accept me as his mother.

We have been separated for years and all I want is to have him and to be able to act as his mother. I can't wait another more year for him to accept me to have him right in front of me, but still beyond my fingertips.

I raised my hand tempted to reach out to him, but I could only force myself to stay still and not to touch him.

Ryker had a scare earlier. It was by complete chance that I happened to see him at the forest before the rogues could reach the area.

Killian, Damien and I had already anticipated the rogue attack and had prepared how we were going to face them.

We already came up with a plan and had our own roles to fulfill.

Killian and Damien were in charge of leading the warriors to fight against the rogues and corner them, while my job was to check the Pack borders with my own team to make sure that no one was left outside and that everyone was safe in the Pack grounds.

Until now, I still had no idea how Ryker ended up at the forest, far from where he should have been.

I couldn't even quite believe it when I saw him out there.

Looking back, I felt repulsed by the vicious thoughts that I had when I saw him. Back then, I was tempted to leave him there instead of saving him.

I was blinded by rage, so desperate to avenge the son I believed I had lost. All I could think about was making Giselle feel the same pain she inflicted on me - the unbearable grief of losing a child.

I even had the most sickening thought that it was the heavens helping me. They have seen how much I suffered and they were willing to bring justice for me.

At that time, I really believed that Ryker is Giselle's child, now that I knew the truth, guilt clawed at me and I felt like a monster.

Even though I still chose to save Ryker in the end, those thoughts that I had continued to haunt me.

If I had made that evil decision, I would have had my own son's blood in my hands.

I pulled out the smooth heart shaped rock that Ryker had given me and stared at it. I rubbed my thumb over it, feeling the smooth surface as I thought of how nice he is.

The only thing that stopped me from abandoning him at that forest was the kindness that he showed me. Giselle might be the most vile person I ever met, but I knew for a fact that Ryker wasn't anything like her.

This rock that Ryker gave me was a symbol of the trust that he gives me. He trusts me, and on top of that, he also grew fond of me in a short time

we had just been together ent

For a child like him, it was rare for him to get attached to someone. I just couldn't bring myself to abandon

him there even at the thought of avenging my own son.

I was angry at myself for beingnoveldrama

attached to my enemy's son. At that

time, I knew Ryker wasn't anything not my own son, but for some

reason he just became like a son to me

I couldn't understand it back then, but now... It explained everything - why I always felt an inexplicable pull towards him, a connection that went beyond words.

And now, I knew that connection was the bond between a mother and her child, one that couldn't be denied even after all these years.

The truth that Ryker is my son felt both overwhelming and liberating, filling the emptiness I had carried for years.

I raised my hand tempted to reach out to him, but I could only force myself to stay still and not to touch him.

and also there was

I felt a burning urge to reach out, to pull him into my arms and hold him close, but I didn't want to wake him and scare him.

I could only watch the gentle rise and fall of his chest in each breath he took as he slept peacefully.

This is the first time I ever had the

chance to watch him sleep. It was a reminder of everything I had missed. His first steps, watching him

—

growing up moments stolen from me because of Giselle's lies.