Reclaiming My Broken Luna 2

Astrid's

POV

I gently shut the door to Ryker's bedroom, the soft click echoing in the silence of the hallway.

My heart felt heavy, an ache deep in my chest that I couldn't quite shake. I paused for a moment, resting my forehead against the door, and closed my eyes.

It was overwhelming - seeing him there, knowing he was mine, and yet feeling like I was still a world away from him.

Just as I took a step to leave, I heard my name. "Astrid."

My body stiffened, and I bit my lower lip, wiping away the stray tears that clung to my cheeks.

I straightened up, my face smoothing into a mask of indifference as I slowly turned around to face him. Killian stood a few feet away, his eyes soft and unreadable, but I could sense his caution.

I forced myself to meet his gaze without flinching, willing my voice to stay steady.

"What is it?" I asked, my tone even but detached.

He stepped closer, his expression gentle, his voice a low murmur as he spoke. "The pack is secure now. The rogues have been dealt with." His tone was calm, meant to lift the weight I carried, as if he sensed the turmoil within me.

It had been my responsibility to take a final check around the borders as the pack's general, to ensure everyone's safety.

But how could I have focused on my duties when the son I thought I had lost forever was alive and right here, under this very roof?

The moment I found out the truth, everything else slipped from my mind, and I ran straight to Ryker's room, forgetting everything else.

"Thank you for handling it," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

Killian gave a soft nod. "The preparations we made... they worked well. No one was harmed."

I nodded, but my gaze drifted away from him. "Good," I murmured.

I knew I should have felt relief, maybe even pride that our planning had succeeded, that the pack was

safe. But all I felt was a bone-deep exhaustion-both physical and emotional. "That's... good."

Killian's eyes stayed on me, his gaze lingering like he wanted to say more, to bridge the distance between us. "It's been a long day. You should rest.

"What about the guests?" I asked, my voice steadying.

"Some of them were worried the rogues might return, so they decided to head back to their packs. Others have chosen to stay, but everyone is in their rooms now." he paused.

"You don't need to worry; Damien and I have taken care of everything," he said, his tone reassuring.

I swallowed hard, his words settling uneasily in my mind. There were still so many questions I had for Damien, especially about Ryker.

As if sensing my thoughts, Killian added, "I spoke with Damien. He promised to explain everything to us tomorrow."

A heaviness settled over me, the reassurance doing little to ease my mind. "And what about Drystan? Don't you think he deserves to be held accountable for what he's done?" I stared into his eyes as I questioned him.

I know he and Damien were best friends and that Damien was also left with no choice but to help Giselle in order to protect his daughter, but I want to know if Killian really thinks that Damien deserved no punishment for the part he had

Lov

played in ruining our lives,

"If it weren't for him, Giselle wouldn't have succeeded in all her lies. He had three years to tell us the truth,

and he never did. If we hadn't uncovered it today, he would have kept it from us forever."

The anger I felt was barely contained, my voice tinged with bitterness as I spoke.

Killian's expression shifted, the softness in his eyes giving way to a hardened edge.

His jaw tightened as he locked eyes with me, and there was a flicker of intensity I hadn't expected.

"I understand what you're saying, Astrid," he said, his voice rough with frustration.

"And I agree with you. I think he deserves to be punished. Damien's betrayal is unforgivable. No matter his reasons, he's not innocent." he paused.

"It's hard for me, too, to accept that someone I've treated as a brother kept something this big from me."

A jolt of surprise shot through me. I hadn't expected him to align so closely with my anger.

I thought that is loyalty to Damien would cloud his judgment. But hearing his words now, the rawness innoveldrama

his voice, I realized that he shared my sense of betrayal more deeply than I'd imagined.

My eyes lowered upon hearing his response and then he sighed, his shoulders sagging as he continued.

"Punishing him further won't change what's happened, and it won't heal the wounds we have. He's already carrying the weight of his choices and it's tearing him apart. For now, that's enough. He has to live with the consequences of his actions, and that's not an easy burden to bear."

My gaze snapped up at him when I heard him say it was enough because it wasn't for me. However, I fell speechless when I saw his conflicted expression mirroring mine. He too believes it wasn't enough.

"Drystan is prepared to cooperate

with us. He's willing to reveal the full

truth and testify against Giselle to

ensure she faces the consequences she deserves. As long as he's cooperating, I can't hold him fully

accountable for his actions

I felt my hands tense at my sides as a wave of unfairness washed over me. It felt unfair that after everything Drystan had done, he was going to walk away without facing the consequences. It felt wrong like an injustice that cut deep into my core.

But as I looked at Killian, I knew it wasn't easy for him either. This wasn't just about loyalty, it was about making better choices even though it meant letting Drystan off the hook.

"There's something else I need to discuss with you," Killian said, breaking the silence that had settled between us. His voice was low, and I noticed how his expression shifted-grave, serious, like he was about to deliver something heavy.