Ch. 226..230: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 226-230
Chapter 226: Game Master
Andros's POV
I let out a heavy sigh as my gaze lingered on Asha from a distance. The wind danced around her, caressing her hair and blowing her dress like whispers of the past as she stood before our mother's womb.
I headed to her room before this, thinking that she would be there throwing a tantrum. When I found her room empty, I instantly knew where to look next, and I wasn't mistaken.
I knew deep down that she would be drawn to the quiet solace of our mother's resting place, seeking comfort in the memories that lingered there.
I softly approached Asha, stopping just inches behind her. My gaze fell on the fresh flowers adorning our mother's tomb, their vibrant colors standing out against the cold stone.
Asha glanced over her shoulder before turning her gaze back again to the ground, ignoring my presence.
I watched her, framed by the gentle sway of the wind. "People are out there celebrating while you're here choosing to mourn by yourself," I muttered to steal her attention.
Asha turned slightly, her expression resolute. "Let them celebrate. I came here to be with our mother. I know she's sad, seeing our father's illegitimate child sharing the same position as us." Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken feelings.
"Asha, I think Mother would be sad to see you sulking like this, and she would be more disappointed if she had known what you had done," I spoke.
Asha's gaze finally snapped at me when she heard my serious words. "Is that what you think?" she questioned me coldly.
I sighed. "Mother raised us together. She taught us to be kind and obedient and to become an honorable and righteous leader. What you did to Astrid's dress is against what mom had taught us." Asha's jaw clenched. "I only did what has to be done to protect our mother's legacy. I told you already that Astrid is planning to take away everything from us. I'm trying to protect our mother's legacy."
I could see the determination in her eyes, including her fierce loyalty toward our mother
"What you did is the opposite, Asha," I muttered with my brows furrowing together. "Your mistake caused the father to lose trust in you, and you almost earned yourself a punishment. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be standing here right now. You would have been punished according to pack laws, tarnishing your name."
Asha scoffed. "Dad would never punish me. I knew what I was doing. The reason why I was so unafraid to destroy Astrid's dress was because I knew I could get away with it without being punished," Asha answered boldly.
"Look at you. You still haven't
realized your mistake," I scoffed.
"You had no idea what happened to the grand hall as soon as you left. Astrid was trying to convince father to give you heavy punishment to teach you a lesson. Luckily, was there to defend you, and I was able to convince the Father to take my side."
Asha's eyes widened when she heard my words. She looked at me in disbelief. "Is that true? Is that really what happened?" she questioned me.
I sighed and averted my gaze from her. "It's true. Do you now see where your mistake nearly led you?"
"That bitch!" Asha cursed under her breath as she balled her hands into fists.
I held back a smile that threatened to stretch my lips. "It's true," I answered coldly, and Asha blindly believed my lies, drawing more animosity between her and Astrid.
"If only you listened to me. I told you to drop this and stop opposing Astrid. You are only putting yourself in danger," I reprimanded her.
Asha's shoulders heaved as she
took in short, rapid breaths. "This cannot be! We can't just watch her take away everything from us. Don't you see? She's trying to disconnect us from father. I'm afraid this is just the beginning of her plans," Asha spat out angrily.
"How? What made you say that Astrid is trying to disconnect us from Father? What made you say that she's having evil plans?" I questioned her words to make her realize how absurd she sounded even if she were telling the truth.
"Weren't you the one who destroyed her dress? Didn't you hate Astrid, that's why you did that? Why are you putting all the blame on Astrid when you are the one reaping coals above your head?"
"Brother!" Asha raised her voice when I started accusing her.
"Don't you see now, Asha? The more you act like a villain, the more you'll bring trouble to yourself." Asha fell silent, absorbing my words after I parted her with wisdom.
"Astrid is a smart person, Asha. For sure, by now, you already know just how capable and cunning she is," I added.
"You are right," Asha answered defeatedly when she finally realized her mistake. "I made a big mistake. I shouldn't have underestimated her and her influence over her father. I should have listened to you."
I glanced at Asha, whose eyes were now downcast as she reflected on her mistakes.
I placed a comforting hand over her shoulder. "From now on, don't you ever think of harming Astrid ever again, okay?
Asha paused for a moment before giving a careful nod. I hoped my words gave her an idea of how to make her next move.
Chapter 227: Title not Love
Giselle's POV
I gripped my glass tightly as I caught snippets of hushed conversations drifting through the air.
The banquet has almost come to an end, yet people are still talking about me and Killian. They are speculating that Killian is now regretting our marriage now that his ex-wife's identity has come to light. Their whispers gnawed at my confidence, and their words settled like a stone in my stomach, heavy and unsettling.
I glanced at Killian, who was standing a few feet away from me, talking to an Alpha. I'm sure he's fully aware of the whispers going on around us.
Even I, who didn't like their words, couldn't ignore them because of how much they were talking about us.
Even though Killian could hear them, he just wore a mask of calm, his eyes distant as if he had chosen to tune out the murmurs altogether.
This only added to my set of worries. He could easily stand up and defend himself to stop the rumors altogether. However, he chose to remain silent.
Is this because their words held truth in them?
Now that Astrid's real identity is revealed. Is he really regretting divorcing her and marrying me?
As the night wore on, their words continued to press down on me until the banquet finally concluded.
Killian looked visibly tired as we retreated to our room. His shoulders were hunched, and his eyes looked tired.
Fueled by my insecurity, I still confronted Killian once we were alone in private.
"Is it true? Do you wish you hadn't married me instead?" I asked, feeling the gossips wrap around me like a suffocating shroud.
Killian paused in his tracks, the tension palpable. "You shouldn't be listening to those rumors. You shouldn't let those senseless gossips affect you," he said, glancing back at me with a furrowed brow. "Didn't you hear the words they were saying about us?" My voice turned sharp, hurt spilling over like a cup too full. "Are you really okay with this?"
Finally, Killian turned to face me fully, his gaze warm yet piercing. "I just don't care about their opinions. I thought you knew me well enough."
I clenched my fists, anger coursing
through me like electricity. "I do know you well enough, that's why!" raised my voice, unable to hold back. "I know you still have feelings for Astrid. Now that her real identity is revealed, I'm sure you're regretting alPyour decisions!"
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but pressed on my heart racing. "Tell me! Are you thinking of getting rid of me now?" My words hung in the air, thick with
accusation, making his eyes widen
in shock.
"Of course not!" Killian's voice was firm, almost desperate. "I have no regrets. Ryker is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I wouldn't give him away for anything in this world."
A lump formed in my throat, heavy and raw. Hearing him say Ryker's name, the way he spoke with such conviction sent a wave of despair crashing over me.
Before, it had always been Astrid-her name hovering like a ghost between us. Now, it felt like Ryker had replaced me, carving out a space I would never fill. He is the only thing that is anchoring him to me.
I don't care if he doesn't love me; I just want to be his wife and Luna, to hold onto that title. But now, I was terrified he might reconsider.
"Then what am I to you?" I whispered, my voice shaking. "Just someone to fill a role?"
"No!" Killian stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. "You're my wife, my Luna. I promised to be the best husband I could be, especially after Ryker was born."
"But what if you don't want to be married to me anymore?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I let out my worst fear.
"I'm trying to make this work for you and Ryker," he insisted, frustration evident. "I'm trying to remain loyal. You have to trust that."
"You're trying to make this work, but
your heart is still somewhere else," I
said, the admission hanging heavy between us. "So what should I
l.ne
trust? challenged him, feeling tears
well up. “That I'm just a backup?"
"No! You're my choice," Killian answered, his voice rising. "I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. But I'm sure you know that this wouldn't work unless you believe that I'm here for you."
I stared at Killian straight into his eyes to see through his thoughts, and all I could see was his sincerity.
At that moment, I wanted to grasp his words as a lifeline. I wanted to believe in our future and hold tightly to the life we built together.
But the fear of losing him, of being cast aside, loomed larger than ever, leaving me questioning if I could truly hold onto the title of his Luna.
Chapter 228: Briefing
Astrid's POV
It has been a long and busy day; my body is worn out from engaging in endless conversations with the guests and walking around to accommodate everyone from the ceremony to the special banquet earlier.
I couldn't wait to retire to my room and be alone. I thought I'd be overcome with sleep once my head hit the pillow, but unfortunately enough, my mind couldn't stop buzzing from one thought to another, and I ended up laying on my bed, unable to sleep.
I had a nice warm bath to relax my body as soon as I arrived at my room, and then I wore my best, nice, and comfortable night clothes for a comfortable sleep, but it eluded me.
I have too many worries now that I've done step one of my plans. Giselle and Killian's reaction to the truth kept replaying in my mind like a vivid film, refusing to let me rest.
This is just the first step. I haven't even done anything yet. I'm too excited ti actually be able to do something.
I sat up on my bed and sighed. I'm getting tired of thinking of the same thoughts over and over again and overthinking the simple details to see through their minds.
Feeling trapped by my own thoughts, I abandoned my plan of sleeping and slipped into my soft robe, a comforting shield against the night.
I know nothing will happen to me if I continue to battle my thoughts on my bed. Sleep would only elude me even more, and my mind wouldn't stop until I was able to change the trajectory of my thoughts.
Stepping outside, I welcomed the cool night air, hoping that a brief walk would quiet the thoughts swirling in my mind.
Everything around me has turned eerie and quiet in opposition to the bustling atmosphere that we had earlier.
I'm sure everyone has now turned asleep, completely exhausted after the long day, except for me.
That would mean I could be all by myself as I wanted and avoid the chances of meeting someone outside. My social battery has totally depleted, and I have no energy to engage in another small talk if I ever accidentally meet someone outside. Before I could even walk out of the hallway and reach the staircase, my ears perked up when I heard a symphony of footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridor.
My instincts kicked in; it was unusual for anyone else to be awake at this hour after the grueling day we'd all endured in the Pack, more so for a group of people to walk out the corridors.
Curiosity pulled me back, thinking that this might be some danger, especially since we also have outsiders staying in the Pack.
When I turned to look around, I saw Alpha Theron purposefully striding forward with a group of guards following closely behind him.
My eyes twitched lightly as I stared at their urgent expressions. Their footsteps were hurried, and a knot of concern twisted in my stomach. What could have happened?
"Astrid?" Alpha Theron halted abruptly, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he met my gaze.
I glanced at the guards behind him.
before turning fully to face him. " couldn't sleep. I thought a walk
might help clear my mind. But you look troubled. What happened?"
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He sighed, tension evident in his posture. "There's an urgent report that I have to attend to."
"In the middle of the night?" I raised my eyebrows, skepticism creeping in.
"The Shadowfang Pack is conducting several private
operations that you haven't heard of," he explained, his voice steady. Then, a thought seemed to strike. him. "Since you couldn't sleep, would you like to join me instead? Now that you are officially part of our family, you have the right to know about these things."
My heart raced at the invitation. "You mean it? I can come with you?"
"Absolutely," he replied, a hint of a smile breaking through the seriousness. "It's important for you to understand what's happening within our territory."
I felt a rush of excitement mixed with apprehension. "Okay, then. Let's go."
With a nod, he gestured for me to follow. My eyes went wide when Alpha Theron led me to his private office, the one that I had never entered before.
Alpha Theron has two offices, one where he meets other people and the other that is off-limits to everyone except for him.
A sense of apprehension hung in the air as Alpha Theron pushed the door open, revealing a room filled with murmurs of men deep in discussion.
The atmosphere changed when we arrived. The whole room turned quiet, and I immediately felt the intensity of their focus shift towards us.
I looked around, familiarizing myself with the room. Inside, the walls were lined with maps and reports, and a large table dominated the center, cluttered with documents.
My eyes landed on Andros, who walked forward to meet his father. His eyes landed on me in surprise. I'm sure he is not expecting to see me here.
While the other men - their faces a mix of fatigue and determination- stood up as we entered. For some reason, all their faces felt familiar to me.
As I stared at them, trying to remember where I met them, I momentarily realized that I was the only woman in the room.
As I scrutinized them, their gazes also swept over me, some with curiosity, others with a hint of skepticism.
My eyes widened in realization when I finally remembered seeing their faces in the ceremony and the special banquet earlier. That's where I met them.
Alpha Theron stepped forward,
asserting his presence. "Gentlemen,
this is Astrid, my daughter. I
introduced her to everyone during the ceremony, and I'm sure all of you
are already familiar with her. She would be joining us for this briefing."
Chapter 229: Shadowrunner
Andros's POV
I stared at Father in surprise when he announced that Astrid would be joining us for the briefing. This is a highly confidential meeting. Even Asha has never joined us here before.
She's not even aware of our Pack's private operations. However, the Father is willing to spill all of our confidential operations to Astrid.
What does this mean? What are the father's intentions really in bringing Astrid here?
"Thank you for welcoming me," Astrid spoke firmly. Still, the flutter of nerves in her stomach is evident in her face.
Everyone is staring at her with a scrutinizing gaze as if weighing her in, but their father's steady gaze on her encourages her to hold her ground.
I opened my mouth about arguing with my father about this matter when someone spoke up first behind me.
"Alpha, are you sure you are going to bring her into this?" One of our men questioned, his tone skeptical.
I held myself back, seeing that there was no need to oppose my father when everyone inside the room had already opposed him.
My father's expression hardened slightly. "Astrid is my eldest child. She deserves to know about this. Also, I've seen her work; she has a lot of experience and an outstanding background. She will be a great help to us."
I maintained my stoic expression as I digested my father's words. She could be his eldest child, but she's just an illegitimate child born out of wedlock. She has no right to be in here.
The tension in the room crackled, but Astrid straightened her shoulders, determined to prove herself. "I want to help," she said, meeting our eyes around the table.
Everyone, including me, was unable to say a word. As long as it's father who permits it, we have no right to question it.
My father gestured to our Shadowrunner, who stepped forward, his demeanor serious, in order to make a report.
The Shadowrunners are our Pack's secret elite agents. These specialized warriors were strategically placed around the world, tasked with critical missions of monitoring rogue activities and sometimes gathering vital intelligence on rival Packs. With their unmatched stealth and agility, they had infiltrated enemy territories, observing movements and assessing threats with keen eyes. All their reports flowed back to us, dealing with every nuance of rogue behavior and potential upheaval. In addition to surveillance, they are also sometimes tasked with covert operations like sabotaging plans or rescuing those in peril.
As secret guardians of our territory, they stand ready to respond to crises, ensuring our Pack remains vigilant against the dangers that lurk around us, even though they don't get the right recognition for their dangerous work. The Shadowrunners were actually founded by my father when he became the Alpha.
After the tragic rogue attack that annihilated the Emberwood Pack, Father gave his command to all our Shadowrunners to focus their efforts on monitoring rogue activities to see if they were planning something.
We do not want what happened to the Emberwood Pack to happen again on other Packs.
To take advantage of the ceremony today, father called in all the Shadowrunners to come and report.
The ceremony is a great excuse to cover up any suspicions about them and to make sure that things are kept secret; father made the extra caution of conducting the meeting at midnight
"The situation on the rogues continues to escalate," he began, his voice low but steady.
I lowered my head when I heard the dire news. Meanwhile, Astrid leaned in, intently focused on his words.
"They've been more active lately, and based on my observations, they appear to be coordinating their efforts. I think the rogues are not acting on their own; they're planning something." The room fell silent, tension thickening the air. The Shadowrunner continued, "Our scouts have reported increased movement in their camps. Their attack on the Emberwood Pack just seems to be the beginning of their larger scheme."
I glanced at Astrid when the Emberwood Pack was mentioned to see her reaction. I saw her throat bob up and down as she was reminded of the horrors that happened to the innocent members of the Emberwood Pack.
The Emberwood Pack was utterly destroyed by rogues, and Astrid was once sent there to organize the relief support we sent for that Pack.
She had met those members firsthand; she knew how much they suffered.
"What kind of plan are we talking about?" one of the men asked, his brows furrowed.
The Shadowrunner met his gaze. "If our intel is correct, they're aiming to unify their forces. The Emberwood Pack was a distraction, a way to
assess our defenses and gathet
information. We believe they're preparing for something bigger - potentially an assault on multiple Packs."
My father's expression hardened. "We can't let this happen. We need to strategize and prepare our defenses immediately, Father. Don't worry, Father, our warriors are ready more than ever. They've been under rigorous training ever since the Emberwood Pack was attacked. Our forces are prepared for whatever may happen," I spoke up to assure our father.
"That's still not enough," Astrid rebutted, making all eyes turn to her. "If the rogues are truly planning an. An all-out assault on multiple Packs then means they are hiding something. Our Pack alone can't handle something like that," Astrid paused.
"Father, we should inform the other
Packs about this while they are here. We are a powerful Pack. The rogues won't think of attacking us. Just like the Emberwood Pack, those rogues would surely attack the weakest Packs first. We need to inform
everyone so they would
bel
prepared," Astrid suggested.
My father glanced at Astrid with a mix of surprise and appreciation in his eyes. "Your instincts are sharp, Astrid. We will need all hands on deck."
Hearing my father's compliments, insecurity filled my heart. My father had never complimented me before. He has always criticized everything that I've done and every achievement I've made.
Meanwhile, just a simple suggestion from Astrid is already enough to make him feel proud.
Chapter 230: I Volunteer!
Astrid's POV
A ripple of agreement swept across the gathered men when they heard my suggestion. One of them spoke up, his brows furrowed in thought.
"Miss Astrid spoke exactly what I was thinking. The rogues are calculating, and we only have limited intel about them. If we warn the others, we can bolster our defenses and strategize together."
My eyes swept to the men around the table. Their eyes that initially held skepticism about me are now showing signs of trust.
No longer do they regard me with skepticism; instead, my words ignited a spark of determination in them. Their faces that had once been set in doubt now reflected a shared resolve.
I felt a swell of pride as I started earning their confidence. They no longer see me as just a mere woman or some unworthy illegitimate child.
"Don't worry about that. Tomorrow, I'll hold a meeting for all the Packs, and I'll inform them of everything that we discussed today," Alpha Theron assured everyone inside the room.
"Then, if that's the case, wouldn't it be better also if we discuss our plans and strategies now? Now that we know that the rogues are planning something, what do you think would be the best thing we can do to face this challenge?" Andros spoke up, directing his question to the Shadowrunner who gave the report.
The Shadowrunner stood up and faced the map. Everyone's eyes were on him as we all waited for his answer.
"As of now, we have two Packs we need to watch out for, which are the Ironfang Pack and the Darkwood Pack," The others nodded their head in agreement when the two Packs were pointed out.
"Both the Ironfang Pack and Darkwood Pack are weak in defenses. I'm sure that the rogues are looking to attack them first. They need our help and our protection," The Shadowrunner explained.
I tilted my head as I fell into deep thought. When it comes to weak military defenses, there used to be four Packs: the Ironfang and Darkwood Pack, as well as the Emberwood and Nightsong Pack. The Emberwood is already annihilated. Meanwhile, the Nightsong Pack has a strong connection with our Pack. The rogues will know better than to attack the Nightsong Pack.
"If we can protect both Packs, we will be sabotaging whatever plans the rogues might have," the Shadowrunner finished his words.
"In that case, we can move some of our warriors to those Packs for protection," Andros suggested hastily.
"And then what? Loosen our own defenses?" Alpha Theron rebutted without glancing at his son.
Andros's gaze snapped at his father. He was silenced when he saw the disappointed look on his father's face.
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"I've been thinking of a way to handle this problem while reaping more benefits. As you can see on the map, The Silvermoon Pack and the Ironfang Pack are near each other Meanwhile, the Crimsonbane Pack and the Darkwood Pack share the same close distance as well." Everyone's eyes were opened when the distances were pointed out.
"Since they are from a close distance, then we should strengthen the defense of one Pack enough to defend the two Packs," Alpha Theron continued, tying all his thoughts together. "Exactly, Alpha. With our observations and intel, the Pack that needed our help the most would be the Silvermoon Pack." My eyes widened when I heard the Shadowrunner's reply.
"The Silvermoon Pack?" I spoke out loud, unable to hold back my surprise. "The Silvermoon Pack is one of the Packs with the strongest defenses. Have you been mistaken?" I questioned. The Shadowrunner's expression turned serious when he heard my question.
"That was years before when you were still the Luna of their Pack. Ever since you left your position, the Silvermoon Pack continued to decline," Alpha Theron answered my question. I blinked in disbelief when I heard this. I had no idea that the Silvermoon declined after I left.
Ever since I left, I've lost the power to find out their Pack status, but I never expected that the Silvermoon Pack actually declined when I left.
"That's right. When you left, the Silvermoon Rack lost its core member. Even though Alpha Killian was able to find a new Luna for his Pack, she wasn't capable enough to fulfil her role as a Luna." The Shadowrunner explained.
So Giselle is actually an incapable Luna? This is the first time I heard about that. Is that the reason why Killian never marked her?
"Giselle is only there to fill in the role, but she is never able to fill in the tasks of a Luna," another Shadowrunner added.
“With that, the Silvermoon Pack
needs our help. They need someone who will be in charge of training their warriors to strengthen their military defenses and someone who can also help stabilize their Pack's state," the Shadowrunner, who was
explaining in front, finally concluded.
Disbelief was etched across my face when I heard this. I couldn't believe this. We are looking for someone who could fill in for Giselle's shortcomings in her duties. Before, all of the problems that were mentioned used to be my job. Now that I'm gone, all my tasks were neglected.
Andros suddenly stood up. "Father, I volunteer to take on this task." Andros was so fast that he volunteered immediately without a second thought. Before the Father could give his answer, I also stood up abruptly and faced everyone with confidence. "I'll do it," I volunteered in a firm voice. Andros looked at me in surprise, but I stood my ground and held a defiant expression on my face.
This is the opportunity that I've been looking for. My opportunity for revenge. I must be chosen to be sent back to Silvermoon Pack.