Ch. 131..135: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 131-135

Chapter 131: Siblings

Asha's POV

I fixed my gaze on the white ceiling as I lay slumped on my bed, my eyes tracing the faint patterns of the plaster with a listless detachment.

This had become my new normal, a monotonous routine that stretched on endlessly like the very walls of my room that confined me.

I couldn't quite keep track of the endless days that had slipped by, each one bleeding seamlessly into the next. I have lost the concept of time. It's hard to keep track of it inside my dimly lit room where the walls seemed to close in with every passing hour.

At first, I tried to count the days marking off each one with a small tally on the back of my hand, a feeble attempt to maintain some sense of control. But the monotony of my surroundings soon wore me down, and the urge to escape my room only grew more powerful. I know that if I continued to tally the days, my desire to break free would only intensify. And so, I reluctantly stopped counting until I finally lost track of time.

The only way I could name the hour was through the occasional meal that was silently delivered to my door.

I think it's better this way that I have no idea how long it has been. In that way, my punishment would feel less heavier.

As I lay on my bed, staring numbly at the ceiling, I couldn't help but wonder how long this punishment would last. My father was really serious about this, I wonder until when he is going to change his mind or feel bad for what he is doing to me.

I have no intention of admitting my mistakes or pleading for forgiveness ad whatsoever. Father said that he would lift my sentence once I admit my mistake, but I will never do that.

I know that sooner or later he is going to give in to me anyway so I just had to patiently wait for that. I will steadfastly hold my ground, fight against my boredom and isolation with a stubborn determination.

Let's see who is more determined between me and my father. I would wait him out, my pride refusing to let me surrender even if the monotony of my existence threatened to drive me to the brink of madness.

With those thoughts, my determination to last through this fueled me even once more.

A flicker of hope surged within me as the familiar sound of a dorrknob turning cut through the oppressive silence of my room.

Springing up from my bed, I straightened my posture, my heart racing with anticipation that my father had finally come to take me out of here after being unable to bear it anymore.

But as the door swung open, my eyes widened in surprise, for it was not my father's stern countenance that greeted me - instead, it was the familiar face of my older brother peering back at me with a hesitant, almost sympathetic expression. "Andros?" I whispered out loud in disbelief, checking if it was really him or if my eyes were just playing with me.

"What's up squirt? Still causig chaos around the house, I see." When I heard his words, I instantly knew that he is truly standing there in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him as my mind failed to grasp that he is actually here. "I thought you still have some matters to take care of," I questioned him.

It's been two years since I last saw my brother in person after he left to take care of our business outside the Pack. Since then, we've been only communicating through video calls.

He wasn't supposed to be back until next year.

IMS

"Are you not happy to see me?" He retorted when I kept asking question.

"Of course, I'm happy," I blurted out, not wanting him to misunderstand me, but knowing him, I know he was only pulling my strings to gain a violent reaction from me.

"I was just surprised to see you here. Last time we talked, you told me that you had no idea when you're coming back," I explained to him.

"If I didn't came back, I wouldn't know that you were hiding things from me," he replied.

I flinched and covered my forehead with both of my hands when he flicked my forehead. I glared at him for doing such a childish thing when we are adults already.

"Did you talk to father?" I asked him as he strode inside my room, his eyes searching around with his hands together behind his back.

"I've had and he told me something that I should have learned from you," he answered as he slowly faced me.

"I'm sorry," I spoke with a low voice. "I just didn't want to add to your problems. I thought I could handle it alone."

"Well you handled it better all alone," Andros sarcastically replied.

Instead of getting angry at him, I only felt guilty, I know that he is only reacting, this way because he cares so much about me and he trusted me enough that I would open up to him about everything.

"Father told me everything and he said that you attacked Astrid that's why this happened," Andros continued.

I rolled my eyes and slumped at the sofa when I heard that girl's name again. "I hate her so much that I just want her out of our lives," I confessed to my brother.

"I also feel the same way, Asha, but father is bent on reconciling with her. This is not something we can decide on about."

My eyes widened as I looked back at

my brother when I heard his words. "Bro, are you defending her?" I questioned him, thinking that Astrid must have not poisoned my father's mind, but also his too.

"Asha, I'm not defending anyone," Andros replied in a high pitch, feeling offended by my words.

"So what are we going to do? Are we just going to let that woman poison our father's mind?" I asked Andros.

I want Astrid to leave us, but it seems that my older brother doesn't think the same as me.

 

Chapter 132: Jealous

Asha's POV

"Asha! Watch out your words!" My brother scolded me with a narrowed gaze.

I pursed my lips as I felt wronged by both my father and my brother. Ever since Astrid came into our lives, I've done nothing but wrong in their eyes.

I was just concerned about them, that's all. They are my family members, and it's normal for me to worry about them.

"What's wrong with what I said?" I retorted, refusing to back down. My brother has to know what Astrid is up to. He was away from our Pack for a long time, and he had no idea what had happened to us while he was gone.

He needs to know what that woman is up to.

"You don't know that person the way I do. I swear, I knew she was up to nothing when she and her friends arrived at our Pack. I'm sure you've heard the news about the Nightsong Pack. They are taking advantage of our father. She came here just to save their dying Pack!" I spoke fervently so he would see that this is not a simple matter that we should turn a blind eye to.

However, my brother just scoffed at me. He looked at me without taking my words seriously. "You think Dad would allow someone to take advantage of him like that? He has punished corrupt officials; he has overthrown many devious schemes in our Pack. He is not going to let a mere omega fool him like that."

My gaze sharpened in bitter anger when my brother did not believe my words. "You don't know her like I do!" I retorted with a finger pointed to my chest. "She's got all our father's attention and favor because of her traumas," I drawled out the word "traumas" sarcastically. For all I know, maybe she was just faking it to gain my father's attention.

"Asha, even if she's here to take advantage of our father, I'm sure he would never let her, even if he is fond of her," My brother argued in a soft voice. "Even if she's our father's eldest and favorite child, an omega will never have a position on the throne. Our father cannot allow that, especially all our Pack members. You are getting worried about nothing."

I huffed as I slumped on my bed beside where my brother was sitting. "I hope you are right, brother. I don't want us to have any regrets in the end. Astrid had already won our father's heart, and there was something about her that made me feel uneasy. That's why I'm getting worried."

My brother laughed at my words, making me look at him with brows drawn together. "You're just getting jealous," he teased me with squinted eyes.

I punched him on the shoulder when I heard his words. "I'm not jealous!" I blurted out. "What's there to be jealous of?" I rolled my eyes as I averted my gaze from him.

I'm a powerful Alpha, and she's just a mere Omega who grew up with a miserable life. There's nothing to be jealous about

My brother laughed at my face again. "You're jealous because you're not our father's only princess anymore. You're jealous because Dad is giving his attention to someone else."

"Shut up!" I yelled and glared at him angrily.

"Dad used to spoil you so much. You

always have his attention. Now that

he is giving that treatment to

someone else, you're getting jealous" my brother continued

talking. I know he is only teasing me.

QUMS

"So what? She's just an omega. She's nothing compared to me," I responded tersely, like I was unaffected by his words.

"That's exactly what I was saying,

Asha. Astrid is not someone we

is not

should worry about. Right now, the father is still fond of her because he just reconciled with his daughter, whom he had never met. Just wait for a few months. Once Father realized that she was weak and

incapable, he would lose interest in

her," he spoke matter of factly.

A light bulb flashed inside my head as I understood his words. That's right! Father just had to realize that Astrid was weak and incapable; after that, he would lose interest. My brother suddenly stood up, stealing my attention.

"You now understand what I'm

saying?" he asked with his eyes on me. "You should go and apologize to father. Staying here is a waste of time, and hardening your heart will only get you nothing. Right now, you shouldn't put yourselves on Dad's bad side."

My eyes hardened when I remembered how my father scolded me and how he had slapped me in the face. It was the first time he ever laid hands on me, and it was all because of that Astrid. I really didn't want to apologize because of that

"Asha, I don't know what happened between you and Dad while I was gone, but I hope that you'll forgive him if he has hurt you in any way," My brother's voice entered my ears.

He must have noticed the hard gaze in my eyes. He just knows me so much.

"You always tell me that whenever I get angry at father, do you remember?"My brother asked softly, making me carefully glance back at him.

Our father has always practiced favoritism. While he spoiled and pampered me, he was hard and difficult when it came to my brother. Still, my brother understood it because Dad just had higher expectations of him, and he wanted my brother to take the throne after him. It was my mother who loved us both equally that made it possible for us siblings to continue loving and taking care of each other back.

 

Chapter 133: Suggestion

Asha's POV

With my brother's convincing words, he was able to persuade me to meet with my father and make me admit my mistakes.

If it wasn't for my brother, I would never lower my pride, especially after how my father had hurt me.

My heart softened when he mentioned how I used to ask him to forgive my father and do as he said before. Now that he is asking me to do the same thing, I should do what he asked, just like he had done before. "Miss Asha," the Pack guard that is guarding the door to my father's office was shocked when he saw me.

His eyes widened, but he instantly lowered his head in reverence when he caught himself displaying an inappropriate reaction.

I know it's been so long since I left the room. All the faces I've seen on the way here felt like I haven't seen them in forever. They probably felt the same way, too.

"I need to speak to my father," I uttered since he was blocking my Pack.

"Alpha Theron is currently speaking with Beta Alek," he answered in a low voice, his head also lowered.

I've already gone all the way here. I'm not turning back. I might change my mind if I chose to leave. "It's okay, I've already informed my father of my arrival. Beta Alek knows about it too," I lied smoothly.

"Oh.. uh-I'm sorry, miss, I had no idea," The guard stretched his lips in a forced smile as he stepped aside to let me in, easily believing my lie.

He even felt anxious because he thought he had offended me by stopping me when I had permission to enter.

Since I really had no permission to enter my father's office, I walked in with light footing so my father wouldn't be alerted by my arrival.

My father's office has two sections. When you walk inside, there's a small section with chairs at the sides and a wall in front that blocks the sight of my father's main office.

It's the reason why they still had no idea that I'd entered the room.

"The Emberwood Pack was attacked by a group of rogues?" I heard my father speak with an alarmed voice.

My brows furrowed when I heard his words. There hasn't been a rogue attack for ages. Why are the rogues attacking again?

"Yes, Alpha. The leaders of the Emberwood Pack were massacred in the assault, but they left the Pack members behind alive," Beta Alek spoke grimly as he delivered his report.

I swallowed hard, and my stomach turned when I heard the news. Why would the rogues do something like that? I couldn't imagine the fate that the leaders of the Emberwood Pack suffered.

"Gather a team of our finest healers and set out with some provisions. We will send them immediately to the Emberwood Pack to offer aid for the surviving members. They have suffered a devastating loss, and we can't just turn a blind eye to them," my father spoke commandingly after hearing their situation.

"At once, Alpha. I will ensure the relief efforts are underway without delay," Beta Alek spoke strongly.

When I heard his reply, I instantly rushed in to stop him.

"Father, I got an idea!" I blurted out as soon as I entered.

"Asha?" My father's eyes widened as soon as he recognized me. Beta

Alek instantly bowed his head to me in respect. "What are you doing here? Didn't I say that you're

né

grounded until I say so?" My father questioned me with a stormy expression on his face.

"Dad, I've already learned my lesson. I was here to apologize when I heard your conversation and—“

"Asha, how many times did I tell you not to concern yourself in our Pack affairs? This is not something that you should involve yourself in, my father stated decisively, interupting me from my words.

"I just happened to hear about it when I arrived," I lowered my head, hoping that he would believe me.

While my father taught and trained my brother about handling our Pack's affairs, he had always prohibited me from concerning myself with it. To him, he only had one heir, and that is my brother.

"Beta Alek is handling a lot of tasks and projects already. Why don't you pass this task to someone else? A task like handling relief efforts is easy enough to be done by others," I added before my father could say something.

"You!" My father pointed a finger at me as he yelled angrily.

Before he could finish his statement, Beta Alek suddenly knelt on the ground, taking his attention.

"Alpha, Miss Asha is right. I am handling a lot of tasks already. If someone else can handle that task, that will be a great help to me," Beta Alek pleaded.

My father was surprised. Beta Alek never said a word earlier, and now he is pleading with him to pass the task to someone else.

"Then, who should I pass the task to?" My father asked, but before I could answer his question, he continued. "Fine, call Andros. Let him take care of this. "Father!" I blurted out, making him turn to look at me. "Andros had just arrived. Let him rest."

"Then who should handle this matter, you?" he questioned me.

Even if I wanted to, he would never let me because this concerns our Pack affairs.

"I suggest that you let Astrid go instead. She used to be a Pack's Luna, right? I'm sure this would be an easy task for her," I suggested.

"Have you gone insane? Your sister is sick. How could I give this job to her?" My father did not agree with what I had expected.

Even Beta Alek looked at me in shock, not expecting that I would suggest something like that.

 

Chapter 134: Important Task

Astrid's POV

"W-What? Pardon me?" I blurted out, my tongue stumbling for words at the surprise that he gave me with his words.

I was just resting in my room when suddenly, Alpha Theron summoned me to come to his office. I thought he just wanted to speak to me, but I was surprised when he suddenly assigned a task to me.

"The Emberwood Pack was just attacked by rogues, Astrid. They had suffered a great disaster, and all their leaders were massacred. The remaining survivors needed all the support they could get, and that's why I'm sending you to manage the relief efforts we will provide them," Alpha Theron explained, proving to me that I heard him right the first time.

He was genuinely assigning me the task of supervising Pack Affair. I don't understand why he is doing this. I am not in any way affiliated with the Shadowfang Pack. I'm not even an official member. Why would he ask me to go and represent their Pack?

My eyes blinked, taken aback by the weight of responsibility and because I didn't know what Alpha Theron was thinking. "But why me?" I asked as I looked at him with wide eyes.

Alpha Theron's brows suddenly furrowed, his expression instantly changing. "Don't you want to help the Emberwood Pack?" He questioned me, making me shake my head immediately before he could misunderstand me.

Although I know that he knows that's not what I actually meant.

"Of course, I don't mind leaving and supporting the Emberwood Pack. I would be very glad to help them, but this is a support from the Shadowfang Pack. Someone from the Shadowfang Pack should handle this task. I cannot take this responsibility," I explained so he would understand what I was thinking.

"If you are willing, then just take it. I am already giving the task to you." Alpha Theron replied carelessly with a wave of a hand.

"Why don't you give it to Asha? I'm sure she would be willing to do the task. She's already jealous of me. She will only get more jealous if she finds out that you entrusted this task to me instead of her," I reasoned.

"You don't have to worry about Asha," Alpha Theron answered reassuringly.

My lips pursed slightly as I regarded Alpha Theron with a curious gaze. He has his Beta, and he has two children to whom he could assign this task. Normally, such an important assignment would fall to one of them. Yet here I am, not even a member of his Pack, and he is giving me a diplomatic mission.

"Why?" I finally ask him. It wouldn't hurt me to ask, right? "Since you are giving me this task, I should know why you chose to give it to me."

Alpha Theron had always insisted that I should just stay in my room to rest and focus on my recovery. He even stopped me from going back to the Nightsong Pack so that they could continue my treatment here in his Pack. Suddenly, he told me to leave the Pack and go to work. Why is he suddenly assigning me to do this?

Alpha Theron suddenly sighed after I finished my question. His shoulders suddenly slumped like a heavy weight was pressed upon them. "You're making slow progress in your recovery for the past few months," he spoke in a low voice.

I didn't say a word. Instead, I lowered my head and fidgeted with my fingers.

"The body is just a vessel that shows the contents of the mind and the emotions of the heart. I think we will both agree that your health is no longer the problem but the past that you still cling to."

I swallowed hard when I understood the familiar phrase that he articulated. My muscles tightened when he finally saw through me.

He is saying that my broken heart is the reason why I'm still not recovering. It's my resentments that are keeping me from having a healthy body.

"Astrid," Alpha Theron uttered my

name soothingly when he saw my

rigid response "I just hope that this

task will give you a sense of purpose You've been sulking and mourning for so long. This is your chance to use your time on

ove

something else. You should channel

your energies into channel

constructive. It is important to keep the mind busy, to not let it idle and

dwell on that which we cannot change."

I gripped my shirt tightly as I listened to his words of wisdom. Everything he said is right.

I was dwelling on things that I could not change.

"Don't get mad at my words, Astrid," Alpha Theron whispered. "I sincerely believe that this task will not only help you move on, but it might also help you learn and realize a lot

of things. By helping the Emberwood Pack, you will not only be performing a great service, but you may also find that the act of giving and supporting others can begin to heal the ache in your own heart."

A lump formed inside my throat as I felt overwhelmed by his words. I've been staying at the Shadowfang Pack for a long time, but there's only been little to no progress in my recovery despite the treatments that I'm taking regularly.

Maybe going outside my comfort zone and seeing the outside world is what I truly needed to recover my emotional health.

I wondered what made him come up with this idea.

 

Chapter 135: Relief Support

Astrid's POV

I stood in front of the bustling camp, my keen eyes sweeping over the sea of weary and haggard faces of the remaining survivors of the Emberwood Pack. My heart clenched tightly for them as I saw their pitiful situation.

What happened to the Emberwood Pack was worse than what Alpha Theron had told me. Their Pack, which was once bustling with joy and life, was completely destroyed. All that was left were ruins and rubble.

You wouldn't think that a community filled with life used to stand there just a few days ago. Everything changed just within a single night. I could still feel the terror that all the remaining survivors had felt from the tragedy that overtook them.

As I helped with distributing the food and the supplies that they needed, it did nothing to their faces, which had turned dim, and to their eyes, which had already lost the light in them.

These were the remnants of the Emberwood Pack, the survivors of a tragedy that no one should ever have to endure.

As I moved among them, I felt the weight of their suffering pressing against my own soul.

The anguish etched into their features, the hollowness in their eyes - it was a sight that would forever be seared into my memory.

As I took another supply pack to distribute, I noticed a young pup, his tiny frame trembling with barely suppressed terror.

I rushed towards him and softly extended my hand to coax the little child to accept my offering of sustenance and comfort.

The pup's eyes, wide and haunted, slowly lifted to meet mine, and at that moment, I felt a sense of protection over him and also a shared pain for this little boy.

This little boy is just one of the members of the Emberwood Pack who had lost everything within a single night.

Just earlier, I talked with a group of elders who also stopped being defeated, just like the other remaining survivors. I listened intently as they recounted the horrific events that destroyed their Pack. Their small voices were trembling with a mix of grief and disbelief. No matter how much I felt bad for them. No matter how much I want to lessen their pain, I can only listen to them with a heart that also aches for them.

And then there were the injured; their critical wounds just showed the brutality they had endured at the hands of the rogues.

I worked tirelessly, my nimble fingers deftly tending to their ailments. Just my presence helps soothe their tortured bodies and spirits.

When Alpha Theron gave me this task with all his trust placed in me, I really never thought that I could do it.

I did everything from scratch. I

carefully selected the team that would accompany me on this important mission - medics, trained warriors, and some men who could

help us with the distribution and also

help us in traveling these goods.

I also meticulously gathered the provisions required to aid the Emberwood Pack, from medicines, medical supplies, food, water, and even blankets to shield them from the cold and other things that they would need.

I managed and supervised every aspect of the relief effort, ensuring that not a single detail was overlooked. The needs of the Emberwood Pack were my priority, and I would stop at nothing to see that they were met.

When I first arrived in their

devastated territory, my heart was

already clenched at the sight of the weary, injured survivors. Without hesitation, I started directing everybody and made sure that

everyone was taken care of

Alpha Theron was right. I was so busy making sure that everything went right that I hadn't thought about the usual thoughts that always entered my mind when I was staying at the Shadowfang Pack doing nothing. I was so concerned about the Emberwood Pack members that I couldn't think of anything else except for what was in front of me.

Nova was also there as I handled the important task given to me. However, both of us were busy catering to people that I hadn't seen since I left her to do her job and take care of everybody.

Just like me, this is also Nova's first experience of providing relief support, so we had nothing to expect. When we arrived, everything was so overwhelming.

"Miss Astrid! Miss Astrid!" A warrior came running towards me while shouting my name.

Turning around to face the warrior, I wondered what help he needed this time. However, my body froze as soon as I saw the group of people coming towards us with a familiar banner raised above them. "The Silvermoon Pack has arrived to also give assistance," the warrior informed me, but his words had already come too late.

I swallowed hard as I stared at the Silvermoon Pack's banner flowing with the wind.

With a simple task like giving relief support, Killian will definitely give this task to someone else. As an Alpha, he wouldn't personally manage this task by himself.

There's no need for me to fear meeting him here.

"Miss Astrid, are you not going to welcome them and inform them of what we have done already?" The warrior asked, making me turn my attention to him.

My eyes blinked when I heard what he was expecting me to do. Then, I realized that as the person in charge of this relief support, it is my job to coordinate with the others who are also going to provide their own relief support.