Ch. 171..175: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 171-175

Chapter 171: Overprotective Brother

Astrid's POV

I couldn't shake the heaviness that had settled over me ever since Nova told me she was going to leave.

Ever since she left, I haven't moved on my bed. I stayed lying on my side, facing the stark white concrete, just thinking about the words that she said.

Every breath I drew was laced with a pervasive sadness that threatened to consume me. I didn't even have the energy to greet Drystan when he went to visit me.

Drystan had noticed the change in my demeanor. He'd been speaking to me, but I never turned to face him or uttered a sound to reply to him. I'm not in the mood to interact with anyone.

As Drystan approached, I could feel his concerned gaze upon me, though I kept my eyes fixed firmly on the wall, unwilling to meet his probing stare.

"Astrid, is everything okay?" he asked tentatively. "What's wrong?"

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, I couldn't bring myself to respond. I don't know how to explain my feelings without sounding selfish and unsupportive of Nova.

With a weary sigh, I finally lifted my head, meeting Drystan's gaze. I could see the worry etched into his features, and I felt a pang of guilt for worrying him so.

"It's Nova," I murmured, her name leaving my lips sorrowfully. "I can't believe she could do something like this..." My voice trailed off, and the unfinished sentence just showed the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to engulf me. "Nova? What did she do?" Drystan asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

I looked up at him with a bewildered gaze. "Didn't she tell you?" I asked him.

"Tell me what?" Drystan asked cluelessly. He really had no idea.

Drystan and Nova are really close; they treat each other like siblings. How come Nova wouldn't say something to Drystan? I thought she had already spoken with Drystan first before she came to speak to me.

"Nova came to visit me earlier and she told me she's leaving to search for her mate. Didn't she tell you anything about it?"

The creases in his forehead deepened even more when he heard my words. "She said that?" he asked me again as if I would make this thing up.

It was my turn to be confused when I saw his dumbfounded reaction. "I thought she spoke to you first and you had given her your permission. You two had always been close. Did something happen between you too?" I asked him. Drystan was knocked out of his senses when he heard my question. "Nothing happened," he answered defensively, which made me more suspicious.

"Are you sure? Do you have any idea why Nova would suddenly think of leaving?" I prodded, hoping that he would know something since he had been with Nova more than I did.

"How could I know?" Drystan questioned back. "I was in the Silvermoon Pack the whole time. You were the one with her."

I averted my gaze and lowered my head as I thought about it carefully. Nova has never told me anything, and I haven't found anything strange with her except today. Her decision seemed so sudden that it did not make any sense. "Didn't she explained her reason?" Drystan asked when he saw the creases on my forehead as I gave it a deep thought.

"She did," I responded when I remembered how her reason for leaving was to find her mate.

"She said she's going to leave to look for her mate, but I don't think she would be the type of person who is worried enough to do something like that.

In the past months I've been with her, she had never mentioned about her mate. I don't think she's eager to find her mate," I explained, thinking that Drystan would agree with me because he knows Nova more than I do.

"You shouldn't overthink things,

Astrid. Whatever Nova says her

reason is, then that's her reason. Nova would never lie to you, she trusts you so much," Drystan assured me, but even though his words were right, there was still Something that didn't sit well with me.

"Nova's eyes were red and swollen when she came here. I think there's something bothering her. Can you go and check on her?" I asked Drystan.

If Nova couldn't open up to me, then maybe she can open up to Drystan.

Drystan sighed as he sat beside me. "Astrid, Nova knows what she's doing-"

"twenty-three is twenty-three already. If she wants to go and look for her mate, then it's right for her to do so. Right now, what she needs is our support," Drystan explained, which made me scoff in disbelief.

"You're just going to let her leave?" I asked, interrupting him from finishing his words.

I thought he cared so much about

elet

her. Drystan used to be Nova's overprotective brother. I couldn't believe that he would easily let her leave. "Don't you know how dangerous it is to travel around as a lone wolf especially as a woman?" I asked him dispassionately.

"You don't have to worry about Nova. She knows more survival skills than I do. She and her sister had lived a tough life growing up Nova knows exactly how to protect herself, and as a member of the Nightsong Pack, no one would dare to hurt her.

Anyone who hurts her will have to face the Shadowfang Pack's wrath. All werewolves will hesitate to reach out to her, and rogues will never dare to harm her."

 

 

Chapter 172: The Separation

Drystan's POV

I could feel my wolf snarling and pacing restlessly within me, its growls echoing in my mind. Ever since I had foolishly rejected Nova as my mate and Luna, my wolf had been furious. "She was perfect for us!" It howled inside me. "How could you push her away?"

I winced, trying to ignore the relentless complaints of my wolf. Last night, right after I rejected Nova as my mate and Luna, I had to use every ounce of willpower I had to subdue the wolf inside me, forcing it into silence for a time. But now, with the news that Nova was leaving to find her second chance mate, my wolf had whipped into a frenzy once more, and I couldn't hold him back anymore.

"We can't let her go!" It raged. "She belongs with us! We have to talk to her and talk her out of leaving us before it's too late."

I gripped the edge of my desk, and my knuckles turned white as I struggled to maintain control.

I need to stay here, I cannot go to stop Nova. It's better if she leaves. In that way, she could protect herself and ourselves from each other.

Nova would only be miserable if she stayed here, and I would only give her a false sense of hope if I went to stop her.

"Nova is our destined mate. Why are you doing this to us?" My wolf questioned me as he tried to convince me so I would no longer go against his will.

I shook my head, refusing to be convinced. "This is a mistake. Nova is the younger sister of our mate," I reminded him to knock the senses out of him.

"Our mate is dead!" My wolf yelled at me. "And now the moon goddess gave us another one. How could you let her go?"

I shut my eyes and took deep breaths to push back my wolf. I could already feel my wolf hair sprouting out of my skin and my nails elongating and digging into my skin.

In the end, the pull of my wolf was too strong to resist. With a resigned sigh, I rose from my desk and strode out the door, determined to find Nova before it was too late.

I rushed down the hall, my heart pounding with a desperate urgency. When I arrived at her door, I steeled my nerves, and, raising my hand, I knocked firmly on her door. "Nova? It's me, Drystan. Please, I need to speak with you."

I held my breath, waiting anxiously for her response as I chanted the words "Please be in there" inside my head.

I hope she's still just packing her things; in that way, I would be in time to stop her.

However, silence stretched on from the other side of the door, and a sinking feeling began to settle in the pit of my stomach.

Unable to wait any longer, I twisted the door open, which was surprisingly unlocked. Slowly, I peered into the empty room, my gaze sweeping over the empty space.

Nova's belongings were gone - the room was devoid of any signs that she had ever been there.

Gripping the doorframe, I leaned against it, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. I was too late. She had already left.

"Alpha?" Somebody spoke behind me, making me turn around, and I was met with a female omega who works there. "Are you looking for Ms. Nova?" she asked with an amicable smile.

"Where is she?" I asked with hope blossoming inside me that I could still see her for one last time.

"She had just feft her room, but I don't think she had left the packhouse yet. You should hurry, maybe you could still reach her at the entrance," the omega replied, and I've never been so grateful for

her help.

I rushed to the entrance before the omega could even finish her sentence. My heart pounded against my chest as I raced against time. I have to catch her before she leaves. Rushing down the hallway, I pushed myself to move faster, my feet sounding against the floors.

As I neared the entrance, I finally spotted a familiar figure standing outside the packhouse.

My breath got caught in my throat as I recognized Nova, her bags and luggage by her side, ready to depart.

Our gaze locked, and I felt a jolt of electricity pass between us. Nova's eyes widened in surprise; she was clearly not expecting to see me here. I stood rooted on the spot, not knowing what to do.

Just when I was about to take a step forward, a car suddenly appeared, blocking my view of Nova.

And then, my feet took off, leading me in a different direction. I had no idea what happened. As I walked back inside the packhouse, I could

just feel dread and despair while my

welf howled in anguish.

I had been so close, yet still, I lost her.

I clenched my fist as I kept my legs moving, leading me in the opposite direction. I was afraid that if I stopped, I would go back to where she was again.

The thought of Nova leaving, of her disappearing from my life, was too much to bear, but I had to pull myself together.

It's unfair of me to stop her when I had no plans of making her my mate and Luna.

The right thing to do was to let her leave.

 

Chapter 173: Abandoned Hopes

Nova's POV

As I stood there, my hands tucked nervously in the pockets of my coat, I found my gaze constantly drifting back towards the Packhouse.

It was as if a part of me was desperately waiting for something - or someone to emerge from those familiar doors.

I knew it was a foolish hope, one that I should have long since abandoned. Drystan had made it painfully clear that we had no future together, that our bond as mates couldn't also change that. Yet, a stubborn part of me clung to the wish that he would come rushing out to beg me to stay.

Mentally, I scolded myself for this lingering, foolish hope. I had already made the difficult decision to leave, to forge a new path for myself, away from the pain and rejection that had become my reality here. Why was I still torturing myself, hoping against all logic that Drystan would change his mind?

With a renewed determination, I forced my gaze away from the Packhouse, focusing solely on the driveway where the car that would whisk me away from this place would soon appear.

I couldn't afford to be foolish to cling to the false hope that Drystan would somehow change his mind and come running to stop me. I had to move forward, to find the courage to embrace the unknown that lay ahead.

I'm still just twenty-three years old; there is plenty of time for me to search for my second chance, mate. Once I found him, I will no longer have to think of this again.

I let out a shaky breath when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. Looking straight back to the Packhouse, I saw a familiar figure standing and looking at me.

My eyes widened when I recognized Drystan, who looked at me with desperation in my eyes.

My heart pounded inside my chest. Did he come here to stop me? If he did, then I will no longer leave.

If he asks me to stay and if he takes back everything that he said, then I'll willingly forgive him and be glad to become his mate again.

If he regrets everything, then I'll give him another chance. I know he was just scared and surprised to find out that I was his mate. I hope that this time, he already realized that I and I still have hope and that we can make this work together.

I stepped back when a car suddenly stopped in front of me. It was the car that I had been waiting for, which was supposed to take me away from here.

However, instead of getting inside the car just as I had initially planned, I left the bags and the luggage I packed and went past the car to see Drystan again.

With renewed hope, I looked back inside the Packhouse, wanting to approach him this time. However, my smile faltered when I didn't see him. Drystan suddenly disappeared.

Where did he go?

I blinked as I searched around the doorway with my eyes. I swear I saw him standing there; we even locked our gazes on each other. "Did I see it wrong?"

"Miss, are we still leaving?" I jumped in surprise when the driver talked behind my back, startling me.

Straightening myself, I slowly nodded my head. "Yes, we are going," I answered him.

I turned around again, hoping to see Drystan this time, but there was no one inside the Packhouse.

I scoffed as I felt angry with myself. It turns out my mind was just playing tricks with me. Why would Drystan even come here? I was so desperate to see Drystan that my mind played tricks on me.

Drystan never came, confirming what I had always feared - he truly didn't care for me. He was just fulfilling a promise that he made to his sister by taking care of me.

If he had truly cared, he would have

come even to just ask questions. He didn't have to come here to stop me, to apologize or to take back his words. He could have just come because no matter what, we still had

been friends, and we'd been together

гор

years.

I know Drystan must have heard by now that I was leaving. Astrid is always by his side, and there is no way she wouldn't have mentioned that I'm leaving.

Yet he never appeared to just bid me farewell.

The realization cut me like a knife, twisting in my gut and igniting a blaze of rage that threatened to consume me. All this time, I had clung to the foolish belief that

ernet

maybe, just maybe, there was a part

of him that still cared.

But now, faced with his utter indifference, I could no longer delude myself.

It was all for my sister, and he took care of me. He had also made his choice, and it was clear that I, his supposed mate, meant nothing to him. He had chosen Astrid over me.

I clenched my fists, my nails biting

into the soft flesh of my palms. I

swear I'm not coming back here again until I find my second chance, mate, don't need him. I don't need to rely on anyone. He no longer has to be bound by the promise he made tomy sister.

With a heavy heart, I settled into the car seat, my eyes fixed resolutely on the road after all my things were placed inside the car.

As the car engine rumbled, I wondered what happiness and fulfilment would await me out there

 

Chapter 174: Acting Beta

Astrid's POV

One Year Later...

A lot of things had happened within just a year. Nova left, I have fully recovered, and I am now the Shadowfang Pack's acting Beta, a position that I didn't want to have.

Back then, I had no choice. When Alpha Theron came and spoke to me to offer me the position, I instantly declined him. I never wanted to have any connection with the Shadowfang Pack, and I especially never wanted to be a part of them. Beta Alek, the true Beta of the Shadowfang Pack, was sent to do a mission, and no one had any idea when he'd come back.

Thinking that he would be gone for a year, the Shadowfang Pack needed a Beta that could take his place for him while he was gone. Although Alpha Theron has two children who could take the position, one of them is not capable, and the other already has his own task. Asha doesn't know anything about Pack affairs. She grew up studying medicine, and that's the only thing she knew about it.

Meanwhile, Andros is in charge of handling the Pack's business in the human world, which had been his task even before Beta Alek had left for his mission. Andros is too occupied with the Pack's business dealings to take on the role of a Beta. There was no better candidate for the position except for me. I used to be a Luna, so I understand the ways of the Pack more than anyone.

Eventually, I had no choice but to take the position. I owe them a debt that I could never fully repay. The Shadowfang Pack had saved my life, not once, but twice. How could I turn my back on them now that they were the ones who needed me? In the end, I could only agree to serve as the acting Beta. It would just be a temporary service until Beta Alek is done with his mission.

After my service is done, I wouldn't have to owe them anything. They can consider everything paid and we wouldn't have to do with each other anymore.

And so, I found myself thrust back into the heart of pack life, navigating the intricate web of politics, alliances, and responsibilities that came along with being Beta.

It was a daunting task, especially since Shadowfang Pack is a huge Pack, so they also naturally have huge problems, but I rose to the challenge, my natural leadership and instincts guiding me every step of the way.

So far, I have been able to produce good results. The Pack continued to grow under my care even though Beta Alek was not around.

Asha, who was entirely against letting me become their Pack's Beta, is unable to say anything against me because I always do a great job.

As I got to work with my father, I got to know him more, but my relationship with him still did not improve.

There was still that gap within us. I couldn't get myself to grow closer to

him, especially since my mom is close to my heart, and I still remember how she died and how much

we suffered while he w

living his best life as the Alpha of the greatest Pack in the world.

My relationship with my father remained as something that is between an Alpha and an acting Beta, which I turned out to be good at because Killian had treated me the same way, so I knew how to keep my distance.

During weekends, Drystan would regularly come to the Pack to visit me. He always tries his best to visit once a week. However, there are times when he gets too busy, and he can't come.

If only I hadn't become the Shadowfang Pack's Beta, I would have stayed at the Nightsong Pack and helped him raise the Pack instead.

In that way, Drystan wouldn't also have to go back and forth just to see me once a week.

I couldn't wait for Beta Alek to return from his mission. It's been more than a year now, and I couldn't wait to return to the Nightsong Pack and stay there for good.

I think Alpha Theron was just making an excuse so I could stay in his Pack much longer. He only turned me into his Pack's Beta so I wouldn't have to leave.

I wonder what type of mission would take a year to finish. The Shadowfang Pack has a lot of capable men; why did Alpha Theron assign Beta Alek instead? "Beta Astrid, you look so happy today. Is it because Alpha Drystan is coming?" Daphne, one of the female warriors of the Shadowfang Pack, asked me. Ever since I became their Pack's acting Beta, everyone has been addressing me with the Beta title.

Daphne is one of the friends I made when I became their Pack's acting Beta. In the first month that I took the Beta position, everybody hated me and looked down on me.

I couldn't blame them for it; no one

knew that I was their Alpha's

daughter, and I wasn't even a member of their Pack. Additionally, I'm amomega that couldn't shift. Ninety-nine percent of the warriors are way stronger than me.

I had to earn everybody's respect and prove that I was capable. I could only win some of their hearts, but all of them still hated me.

This gave me all the reason to desire to quit.

 

Chapter 175: Petty Person

Astrid's POV

"Beta Astrid, you always feel happy and excited whenever Alpha Drystan is coming. Are you sure that the two of you aren't really dating?" Daphne asked another question when I didn't answer her for a long time. Some of the people who believed my words instead of the rumors, thought that Drystan and I were dating. However, most of them still believed that I was really Alpha Theron's mistress.

"I've told you many times, Daphne. Drystan and I are friends, we don't have anything romantic going on," I told her again.

I don't know how many times I've told her this already, but she just doesn't believe me. She's so convinced that it's either we are dating in secret or Drystan is secretly in love me. Her assumptions are both ridiculous.

"Are you sure that nothing is going on between you two? There's no way an Alpha would regularly come here once a week just to see a friend. You must be something special, something close to his heart," Daphne retorted with a dreamy smile on her face.

I could only sigh at her words. I'm used to hearing her shipping me with Drystan. None of my words could stop her from continuing on making her crazy assumptions.

I glanced at my watch to see what time it was. I didn't realize that a lot of time had already passed by. "I have to go," I muttered, stopping Daphne from her tracks.

"Where are you going?" She asked with her brows furrowed together.

I gave her a small smile when I saw the confusion in her face. "Do you know how long I've been the Pack's Beta now?" I asked her.

Daphne only turned more confused at my question, "I had no idea," she replied.

"It's already been one year, Daphne," I answered for her with an excited look on my face.

However, instead of feeling excited for me, Daphne's confused expression only shifted into a sorrowful one. "You mean to say that you're stepping down as our Beta?" she asked with her voice laced with disappointment.

I pursed my lips, not expecting that she would be this sad about the news. I've told them before that I'd be gone in a year, everybody knows that.

"Don't you miss Beta Alek as your Beta?" I asked her, but my question didn't change the look on her face.

"Of course I miss him, but then we will miss you," Daphne replied with a sad look on her face. "Is that why you looked so happy and excited? Because you were leaving us?" Daphne asked with a betrayed look on her face.

I was silent for a moment because it was true. I was also happy and excited because Drystan is coming, but I was more happy and excited that I'm no longer bound as the Shadowfang Pack's Beta anymore.

I couldn't wait to return to Nightsong Pack with Drystan. Just like me, I'm sure Drystan has been waiting for this day too.

"Oh don't be sad," I waved her off. "You know how everyone is mean to me. Everyone couldn't wait for me to leave. You're the only one who wanted me to stay," I told her which was the truth.

Daphne pouted. "Don't think about them, those people are just jealous because you were chosen to become the Pack's acting Beta."

"Daphne, my job here is only

temporary, you know that. I agreed

to serve just to pay all of my debts to the Shadowfang Pack so I wouldn't have to owe them

anymore," I reminded her.

"I know that," Daphne answered with a low voice. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered as she hugged me.

I smiled as I hugged her back. "I'm going to miss you too."

Aside from Daphne, I don't think I have anyone to miss. Daphne is the only person who has been kind to me.

If it wasn't for Drystan who came here to visit me once a week to lift up my spirits, I would have left a long time ago.

Aside from the heavy tasks, everybody was also just mean. Now that I'm leaving, I felt proud of myself for lasting a year, I thought it would be impossible.

It's true when people say that if someone leaves, someone comes because when Nova left, Daphne came to my life.

"Okay, Daphne. I need to leave and talk to the Alpha," I spoke as we separated from our hug.

With a sense of fulfillment in my heart, I walked to Alpha Theron's office. While I was on my way, I saw Asha with a smug look on my face.

"Finally, your year is up. You thought you could manipulate my father and let you stay here permanently, did you?" Asha voiced out as I walked.

Just like what I did for the past month, I completely ignored her and walked straight.

I could still remember when my wolf took control over my body and nearly killed her. I do not want that to happen again.

Asha had always picked fights on

me, but I never fought back. There were even moments when she would order somebody to give me a difficult time. Thankfully, I was able to go through those challenges on my own.

Asha is a petty person. Although she makes things hard on me, it was never to an extent that it would harm me. She just wanted to make my life difficult without harming me.

I like her better than Giselle. At least she doesn't hide behind masks and she's not cold-hearted enough to hurt anyone.

I got so used to Giselle's cruelty that I found it hard to hate Asha anymore.

"Beta Alek is coming back to take his

title, and you wouldn't have a place in our Pack anymore!" Asha raised

her voice so I could still hear her even after I walked past her.

She thinks I'm liking this? She has no idea how much I hated being their Pack's Beta. I don't even want to stay in their Pack.