Ch. 206..210: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 206-210

Chapter 206: A True Mother

Giselle's POV

A chill went down my spine as I welcomed Damien's dark gaze head-on. It's been years since I last saw Damien.

Ever since I gave him my child, I've lost all contact with him. I could understand why he held so much hate in his eyes when he caught me watching his family from afar.

"Daddy! Are you not coming with us?" The little girl ran back to her father when she noticed that he wasn't following behind them, which caused Damien to break eye contact with me. I sucked in air into my lungs the moment Damien turned his head away. Damien's gaze was so intense that it pinned me down, suffocating the air out of me.

I stilled as I stared closely at the little girl. My hand instinctively covered my chest as my heart raced inside me for some reason.

She had grown so big. I still remember when I gave birth to her. She was just a little bundle.

When the doctor tried to place her in my arm, I refused. I didn't dare to touch her. I was afraid that if I had one small contact with her, it would be difficult for me to let her go.

Seeing her now, I wish I had taken that chance. I wish I hugged her so tight. Now, I could only watch her from afar, and I was not able to make any contact with her.

"Don't worry about daddy, sweetie. You should go ahead with your mother, I just have something I needed to do," Damien spoke sweetly towards his child.

The cold, domineering aura that he had completely vanished instantly replaced with his warm and sweet side. It's as if I had only imagined that dark side of him that I saw earlier. "Okay, daddy! Come back as soon as you are done," Damien's daughter beamed as she chased after her mother.

"Come out," Damien commanded the moment that his family was out of earshot.

I held myself together as I walked out of the bushes to formally face him. "I-Is she?" I started, unable to complete my question.

Something deep inside me greatly bothered me. I felt ashamed to utter the whole question.

"She was," Damien answered blankly. "She's not anymore."

A lump formed inside my throat as something heavy weighed over my heart.

He is right. She was my daughter. She's not my daughter anymore. I lost the right to be called her mother the moment I chose to abandon her in exchange for becoming the Luna of the Shadowfang Pack. "C-Can you tell me more about her?" I asked Damien with pleading eyes.

It's been three years since I gave birth to her. Since then, I've never seen her, and I've never heard any news from her.

I thought that, with the three years of separation, I wouldn't feel anything else towards her if I ever saw her.

However, the moment I laid eyes on her and realized that she was the child that I had and chose not to have, I was instantly flooded with all kinds of emotions.

I couldn't stop myself. On top of my overpowering emotions, there was that yearning inside of me. I yearned to touch her, I yearned to know her, and I also yearned to tell her that I was her mother.

All those things were wrong in itself. I don't have the right to have those feelings after what I did.

Damien's brows furrowed. "Giselle, don't you remember our agreement?" he reminded me.

My eyes went wide, I opened my lips to argue with him, but no sounds left my mouth.

The agreement he is talking about is the agreement that I even made myself before I gave him my daughter.

In that agreement, I waived off all the rights I have for my daughter. I even made Damien agree not to let my child know anything about me in the future.

I'm no longer her mother. I'm technically just a stranger to her.

"I called you out here just to give you a warning, Giselle. Keep yourself away from my daughter." Damien spoke firmly, his tone free from any discussion. "Does Vanessa know?" I asked him. "Does she know that I am her mother?"

Damien's jaw tightened. "Of course she doesn't. Do you think she would have taken care of her if she knew that you're her mother?" Damien shot back.

I fell speechless at his question. Vanessa had always hated me. She was jealous of the love and care that Damien showed to me.

If she found out that Hazel was the child I had with Damien, she would surely hate her.

"Do you now see why I don't want you anywhere with us?" Damien asked me "If you still care about your child, then do her a favor and keep yourself away from her. If Vanessa figured out the truth Hazel's life would be implicated."

My eyes blinked as I took his words in.

"Also, don't you try to make any contact with Hazel. Do you understand me? Hazel has no idea about the truth. She thinks that Vanessa is her real mother and it's

going to stay that way." Damien

warned me.

"I know that. I just want to know if she's well taken care of. I just want to know how she's doing," I retorted as I held back my emotions.

Damien just scoffed at me,

surprising me. "Vanessa might not

be her real mother, but she showed her more love and care than you ever did. Vanessa would never trade Hazel away for anything even if she wasn't her biological daughter."

My heart stung at his words. He was telling me that Vanessa is a better mother than me.

 

 

Chapter 207: Special Dinner

Astrid's POV

The ceremony is still tomorrow, but most of the invited guests had already arrived a day earlier than the set date.

The invited guests chose to travel in advance, especially those who lived in distant Packs, to ensure that they would be able to attend the ceremony on time in case any delays caused setbacks in their journey. Some of them, I heard, had to travel for days just to get here. You can really see how the Shadowfang Pack is well respected among other packs. Alphas and Lunas really came all the way here to attend an event they were invited to with only one week of notice despite their busy schedule.

In honor of their sacrifices and to make their time worthwhile, Alpha Theron decided to hold a special dinner the night before the event.

This wasn't a part of the plan, but because the guests had transformed into a bustling crowd, it had become a need for us to show them our courtesy, especially knowing what it took them to arrive here.

I quietly followed Alpha Theron as we made our way to the Pack grounds, where the special dinner was held.

Our special indoor venue was already reserved for tomorrow, so we could only hold the special dinner outside, under the stars and the moonlight.

I wore a simple dress with a coat to shield me from the cold of the night. My face felt cold, and my lips were chilled by the cool night air. It felt especially cold tonight.

Meanwhile, Alpha Theron wore a formal male outfit, a suit, and a tie like an owner of a conglomerate company.

As the hosts, it's our job to face the guests and accommodate them. Even though we had a big day coming tomorrow, we still had to be there for the guests.

The dinner had already started minutes ago, but we were still on our way to meet them.

"Alpha! Alpha!" Alpha Theron and I paused when we heard rushed footsteps behind us and someone calling after Alpha Theron.

We both turned around to face who it was, only to see Beta Alek chasing after us. "Alpha, can I excuse you for a moment? There's something I need to discuss with you," Beta Alek spoke with urgency.

He knew where we were going. He knew there were guests waiting. For him to hold back Alpha Theron like this, he must have something really important to say.

Alpha Theron sighed, unable to say no to Beta Alek. He slowly faced me with a sorry look on his face.

"Astrid, I'm sorry, but I got to take care of this. Can you go ahead without me and take care of the guests for me?" Alpha Theron almost pleaded.

I fell silent for a moment as I stared at him. I don't think I could face everyone out there on my own.

Although I'm familiar with the people there and have met with most of the guests there, things are now different, and I'm nervous about seeing them.

Everyone knew me as the Silvermoon Pack's Luna and Killian's wife, but now they are going to meet me as a member of the Shadowfang Pack, divorced to Killian.

And I'm sure a lot of them had heard about the fake rumor circulating around that I'm Alpha Theron's mistress. For sure, they already have some prejudices about me, and I'm scared to face them.

"Don't worry, I'll be there as soon as I'm done with this," Alpha Theron assured me. He must have seen the hesitation and worries in my eyes.

Alpha Theron knows about my past, and he is fully aware of the rumors circulating around.

It is the reason why Alpha Theron decided that we go there to meet everyone together, even if it meant that we had to be there late.

"It's alright," I answered under my breath after mustering my courage. "I can handle myself," I answered courageously.

"Then, that's good," Alpha Theron gave me an encouraging smile before he left with Beta Alek.

I followed them with my eyes until they disappeared out of my sight. I wonder what Beta Alek had to say to Alpha Theron.

Once they were gone, I continued

forward until the scent of pine and

earth entered my nostrils. As I walked towards the clearing, a soft glow emerged from the woods, and as entered from the trees, the scene unfolded before me.

The Pack grounds, which used to be a lonely open area, were transformed to accommodate the guests for dinner.

Strings of twinkling lights. Like fireflies caught in a celestial net, they crisscrossed the open space, casting a warm, ethereal glow upon the scene. Tables draped in rich fabrics were arranged in a loose circle, and in the middle was the grand buffet where anyone was welcome to come and eat.

My heart pounded inside my chest

as I trudged forward, stealing everyone's attention. As I stepped into the heart of the gathering alone, I felt everyone's watchful gaze on me as if scrutinizing me.

"I-Isn't that the Luna of the Silvermoon Pack?"

"What do you mean? She's no longer a Luna anymore. Haven't you heard? She's now become a member of the Shadowfang Pack."

"Is that the mistress? Is she the one who is dating the Shadowfang Pack's Alpha?"

Amidst their whispers, someone even scoffed. "After losing her Luna title, she instantly jumped to the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack to climb up the social ladder."

My ears twitched when I heard that statement from the crowd. My head instantly snapped to where I heard that from, and I saw Giselle with a smug look on her face.

 

Chapter 208: Glass House

Astrid's POV

I held myself together as I locked gazes with Giselle. She knew I heard her words. She probably spoke it out loud to make sure that I would hear her.

"Does it even matter who she is? As long as she's a member of the Shadowfang Pack, for sure she could help us. If we want to impress their Alpha, we must at least impress her first." I heard someone whisper.

However, Giselle only laughed, stealing everyone's attention. "She's just a mistress, she had no influence over the affairs of the Shadowfang Pack. It would be better if you just go directly to the Alpha instead of wasting your time with her." I forced back a smile when I heard her words. She had no idea just how much influence I had here ever since I became the Pack's acting beta.

"Astrid," Giselle's voice, laced with venom, cut through the air. "She's just a mistress, after all. A temporary distraction a fleeting fancy. For sure the Alpha will get bored of her just like how the previous Alphas she dated did."

I've been holding myself together, trying my best to ignore Giselle's words and avoid making a scene in front of the guests.

However, when I heard what she had just said, my vision darkened, and I finally snapped.

"Giselle," I began, my voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You have no right—"

But before I could unleash the torrent of words building inside of me, a female's voice, sharp and clear, cut through the air.

"Giselle," a pregnant woman stood up from the crowd. "Don't you dare speak of mistresses," she spoke, her voice low and dangerous. "You of all people, should know better than to throw stones in a glass house."

I stared at the woman who spoke, wondering why she stood up for me when this had nothing to do with her.

Her words hung heavy in the air. Everybody seemed to hold their breath, the murmur of conversation fading into a hushed silence.

Giselle's face once flushed with indignation, paled as the weight of Vanessa's words sunk in.

Where is Giselle's sting? Where is the audacity she held in shaming me? The moment that the woman spoke up, Giselle was instantly reduced to ashes.

"For a moment there, I thought she was describing herself," I spoke up, adding fuel to the fire.

I was stunned into silence when the woman suddenly laughed at my words. Her laughs came from the pit of her stomach. She really found my words so hilarious.

Giselle's face turned red as a tomato as she stared at us, unable to say a word. The woman's words really drove into her with a chilling precision, breaking Giselle's facade.

Everyone who was so interested in me turned their interest on her and started talking about her.

"What a hypocrite, she speaks about the others without looking on herself first. Didn't she just got pregnant by an Alpha that is not her mate? In fact her husband now was still married with someone else when she got pregnant."

"It doesn't matter whether the wife cheated. It's clear that the husband cheated first."

"A mistress shaming another mistress. Oh how shameful!"

Whispers flooded on top of one another, and the tides turned against Giselle. Giselle could only fume in silence, unable to defend herself from the words of the crowd.

"Come here, sit with me," the woman

gave me a huge smile as she laced her arm around mine and pulled me from the crowd. "I'm Vanessa and you are Astrid, right?" she asked me as she pulled me away.

I forced a smile on my face. I felt uncomfortable with how close she was to me. I've only met her now. "That's right," I answered her.

Vanessa looked nice; out of all the people here, she was the only one who stood up for me. I think that's enough to label her as a good person.

"I heard so much about you, but I'm sure that's not the same for me. Well, I'm Vanessa the Luna of Crimsonbane Pack," Vanessa introduced herself.

My eyes widened in realization. She's that Luna! I've heard some things about her in the past.

I think when I was still the Luna, she wasn't yet the Luna of their Pack, which is why I am unfamiliar with her.

She must have become the Luna of the Crimsonbane Pack after I stepped down as the Silvermoon Pack's Luna.

My brows shot up when I had another realization again. Crimsonbane Pack, isn't that where Giselle stayed before?

If that's the case, it really explains Giselle's reaction and why Vanessa stood up for me.

"You don't have to tell me anything, but I think I already know what Giselle did to you," Vanessa uttered close to my ear. "I know what kind of person Giselle is. You cannot trust

her, especially if your mate is an

Alpha."

I gulped when I heard her accurate words. She seems to know Giselle very well. What exactly did Giselle do when she was staying in the Crimsonbane Pack? "Mommy!" a small feminine voice brought me back to my thoughts.

When I looked down, I saw a little girl rush down between Luna Vanessa's legs. "Mommy, I'm sleepy," the little girl spoke with tired eyes.

"Just wait for a little while, honey. Mommy is already tired and sleepy too," Vanessa placed a hand over her pregnant belly as she answered. "Look! Daddy is coming!" The little girl suddenly beamed excitedly as she pointed out a finger.

 

Chapter 209: New Acquaintances

Astrid's POV

A smile formed on my face as I stared at Vannessa's little girl. Her blonde curls were a tangled mess, escaping from the bright pink headband that sat crookedly on her head. She wore a bright yellow dress with a cartoon unicorn in it. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes, which were just tired and sleepy, suddenly turned bright as she pointed a finger at her approaching father.

"Daddy!" she yelled as she ran towards her father with her tiny shoes, one pink and one blue.

"Oh look at her," Vanessa whispered to me. "I thought she had already used up her energy. I was so ready to get her to sleep."

I chuckled when I heard Vanessa's words close to my ear.

"How is my little darling doing?" Vanessa's husband beamed energetically as he picked up his daughter, trying his best to match her energy.

Vanessa and her husband sweetly gazed at each other. By the depth of the look in their eyes, you can see how much they are in love with each other.

I think they are also secretly talking through their Pack link.

"Come with me! Let me introduce you to my husband," Vanessa spoke happily.

I yelped when she suddenly laced her arm around me and pulled me towards her husband before I could even say no to her.

I was about to complain about it, but the mirth in my eyes instantly vanished when it landed on Killian, who was standing silently beside Vanessa's husband.

Our arrival interrupted the important conversation that they were having.

"Astrid, this is my husband, Damien," Vanessa introduced him to me.

I met his gaze as I turned to look at him. Out of the blue, I noticed a flicker of unease in his eyes the moment our gazes connected.

I maintained a blank expression, pretending that I didn't notice it. I wonder what that was for.

I gave him a smile out of respect as the Alpha of the Crimsonbane Pack. "Alpha Damien, thank you for accepting our invitation," I spoke professionally.

"The pleasure is ours. We are so delighted to be included in the invited guests," Damien replied respectfully.

Killian stood out like a sore thumb beside Alpha Damien, and I tried my best to keep my eyes on him.

Alpha Damien and Luna Vanessa shared another look with each other. I think they could sense the friction between me and Killian.

"I hope you are enjoying your stay here," I spoke up to steal their attention once again and to take their minds off from me and Killian. "I apologize for taking my leave early. I have to get going and talk to the other guests." I could only excuse myself and take the leave first. Things would only turn more tense and awkward if I stayed around Killian.

"You're leaving already?" Vanessa spoke in surprise. I met her gaze and saw how reluctant she was to let me leave.

It's my first time meeting her. I didn't expect to see such feelings from her. I gave her a small smile to make her feel at ease. "I'm so sorry. I really liked to stay here and talk with you, but it's my job to accommodate the guests and talk to them on behalf of our Alpha," I explained to her.

That's true, but not entirely my reason.

"Oh, right. I've been meaning to ask, but where is the Alpha?" Damien asked me.

I shifted my gaze to him. "Alpha Theron is coming. There was just an urgent matter that he needed to attend to."

"Oh then, we shouldn't hold you back much longer," Damien replied.

"Astrid, let's see each other again tomorrow," Vanessa reached out for my hand and gave me a smile.

As I walked out of their group, my mind lingered back to the reaction that Damien had when he first saw me.

Although he was able to mask the surprise that flickered in his eyes, I could feel that there was something odd in the way he interacted with me. I just couldn't point out why he would feel different around me.

As far as I can remember, Alpha Damien and I haven't met before. I cannot think of any reason why he would be so odd around me.

"It seems that the Alpha really trusts

you. I heard he had a son and a daughter yet he chose to give this task to you,” I was pulled out of my thoughts when Giselle suddenly

stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

Sure, this isn't my job to do, and I do not want this job either, but Alpha Theron could only depend on me on this, so I had no choice.

Andros is busy with his own tasks, and Asha is unhappy with this event, so we cannot ask her to go out and do this.

I sighed as I lifted my gaze on her.

She had already lost in taunting me earlier already. What is this now that she's playing? I think she's not going to stop unless she really gets what

she wants, which is humiliating to me.

"It's because our Alpha values loyalty and competence over fleeting infatuations. Unlike some, I haven't built my position on whispers and stolen affections," I shot back in a calm tone. Giselle's carefully painted smile cracked, the porcelain mask of composure shattering like a cheap trinket.

Her eyes, which were usually shimmering with calculated charm, now narrowed to icy slits, reflecting the fury that surged through her.

Blood rushed to her cheeks, painting them a fiery crimson that clashed with her chosen shade of lipstick.

"Stolen affections?" she hissed venomously. "You think I'm not competent? That's rich, coming from someone who..." Giselle paused as she struggled to find a suitable counter-argument. My words had hit a nerve, exposing the insecurity and guilt that she was trying to mask.

 

Chapter 210: Three Years Old

Giselle's POV

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I thought of a word I could use so I could continue my statement.

However, my mind went blank, and all I could feel was the fiery rage, which was hot and consuming and beginning to build within me.

All around me slowly went quiet, and all I could hear was my heart pounding inside my chest, each beating a hammer blow against my ribs. Astrid had a smug smile on her face as she looked at me, waiting for me to finish my statement.

As I glared at her, something caught my eye behind her. Just at the corner of her face, I saw Killian beckoning me to come over behind her.

He had a bright, welcoming smile on his face, blissfully unaware of the anger raging inside of me.

Astrid looked over her shoulder when she noticed my attention on something else. She followed my line of sight and saw Killian calling me to come over to him like a sweet, loving husband.

I let out a deep breath as if Killian was a disturbance to me. "I have to leave, my husband is calling me," I spoke with a subtle, almost mocking infection in my voice, a reminder of the man that she had lost, the man who now stood by my side.

Astrid didn't say a word; she looked unaffected on the outside, but I'm sure my words still brought painful memories to her. After all, Killian still used to be her mate and her husband.

Even though I was unable to finish my statement earlier, in the end, I will always be the winner because I'm the one who won Killian.

With a restrained smile on my face, I stepped forward and walked past her to approach Killian.

I gasped when Astrid suddenly grabbed my arm when I reached her side. My eyes snapped towards her as I felt her hands tightening around me.

"What do you want?" I hissed at her.

Killian is still looking. I don't want him to think that there is a problem.

Suddenly, Astrid's grip around my arm loosened, and I hurriedly pulled myself away from her.

"Nothing," Astrid whispered casually and gave me a smile.

A shiver went down my spine as I stared at her cold, distant smile. Before I could even react, Astrid just walked away like nothing happened.

'What was that? Why did she stop me?' I thought to myself as I followed her with my eyes until she disappeared from my line of sight.

"Giselle, come here!" I was pulled back from my thoughts when I heard Killian's familiar voice calling to me.

I plastered a smile on my face before I spun around and faced him. All the other emotions in my face instantly vanished, replaced with a warm and kind smile as I approached him. "Yes, dear?" I spoke delicately as I instinctively wrapped my arms around him.

However, I stilled, frozen in shock, when I saw the people that Killian was with.

"Giselle, can you believe it? Damien has a daughter that he never told anyone about," Killian tells me as soon as my eyes landed on Vanessa and Damien, the people that he's with.

en

"A-a daughter?" I muttered, not expecting that my voice would come out weak and unsure.

I cleared my throat and collected myself together as soon as Killian looked away.

"What is her name again?" Killian asked Damien as he looked at the child in Damien's arms so tenderly.

My breath hitched when Damien met my gaze. His eyes were cold, and his brows were furrowed slightly. He looked upset that we were here troubling them.

I instantly broke eye contact with him as if I was burned by his gaze. I felt deeply bothered and anxious when I remembered Damien's warning to me.

He warned me to keep my distance from his daughter to avoid arousing any suspicions that would put my daughter's life in danger.

"Her name is Hazel," Vanessa stepped forward and answered Killian's question with a kind smile on her face.

Although I was standing right beside Killian, Vanessa never looked my way or acknowledged my presence.

She's purposefully ignoring me in

front of Killian. Although this could

make Killian suspicious, this is better than Vanessa exposing

anything that Killian doesn't know

about.

en

"Hazel, what a nice name," Killian replied before glancing at me. "Look at her Giselle, isn't she so pretty?" Killian asked me, putting me in the spotlight.

I gripped the hem of my shirt to stop my arms from trembling.

"Sure, she is," I answered him as I forced a smile on my face.

I took a glance at Damien's child, but it didn't last a second before I looked away.

I couldn't bring myself to stare long at my daughter, who was just inches in front of me, staring at me like I were a stranger.

"How old is she?" Killian asked again, feeling very interested in the child.

"She's only three years old, Alpha," Vanessa answered once again.

Damien had been brooding in silence ever since I arrived. Thankfully, Killian did not pay any attention to it.

Hearing her answer, excitement

crossed Killian's features. "Three years old? What a coincidence!" Killian suddenly turned elated. "My son has turned three years old too."

"Oh, is that so?" Damien, who had not said word this whole time, finally spoke up.

My eyes snapped to him when I heard his words. I was worried that he'd say more than he's supposed to.