Ch. 256..260: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 256-260
Chapter 256: Trapped
Astrid's POV
Stepping outside, I took a deep breath of the crisp air, letting the coolness wash over me. The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden rays that danced through the leaves, but my mind was elsewhere - fixed on Drystan.
I wonder why Drystan didn't show up yesterday. Aside from Alpha Damien and his wife, Vanessa, Drystan was also invited to attend the meeting with us.
I even spoke to Killian and convinced him to include Drystan in his plans. The Nightsong Pack had developed so much through the years with the support of the Shadowfang Pack. Their support would lessen the chances of the rogues winning against us.
I was worried when Drystan didn't come yesterday. His absence felt highly unusual, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something must have delayed his journey. Probably, he would arrive by now.
Knowing Drystan, I'm certain that he wouldn't miss the chance to come here. I just wish he had informed me about any delays; it would have eased my worries.
With every passing minute, my anxiety gnawed at me. As I paced the garden, my concerns mounted, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on my chest.
I even reached out to Nova, but she still hasn't responded. I can't help but wonder what was causing the delay or if they were in danger.
My gaze drifted to the horizon, admiring the garden's scenery. In that fleeting moment, my gaze caught a glimpse of a small figure crouching by the pond, dangerously reaching for something floating on top of the
water.
My heart skipped a bit. A rush of instinct propelled me forward. Aside from Ryker, there was no other boy living in the Packhouse except for him.
"Ryker!" I shouted desperately, hoping to steal his attention and pull him away from there. "Ryker! Get away from there!"
My heart raced in fear. I couldn't let anything happen to him.
Before I could reach him, Ryker suddenly lost his balance and fell into the pond. "Ryker!" My scream shattered the air as I leaped in after him.
Although the pond is shallow, reaching just my chest, with Ryker's short height, he could still drown. Panic surged through me as I struggled against the icy water to save him. The chill seeped into my bones, but I pushed through, desperate to save him.
"Help! Help!" A voice rang out, pulling my attention momentarily. When I looked up, I saw Ryker's nanny frantically calling for assistance.
In that instant, a group of people rushed onto the scene out of nowhere.
"Ryker!" Giselle's terrified scream cut
through the chaos as she sprinted towards us. "You tried to kill my son!" Giselle shouted hysterically carelessly accusing me while I was struggling to pull Ryker from the
water, my focus solely on saving
him.
I wrapped my arms around Ryker, pulling him close as I embraced his trembling body. He coughed and spluttered after escaping his lungs while his wide eyes brimmed with tears, reflecting the sheer terror of his near-drowning.
I softly caressed his back, hoping to soothe him as I made my way back to the solid ground.
But before I could even reach the bank, Giselle lunged forward, snatching Ryker from my grasp as if she feared that I might let her son slip back into the pond.
"Arrest her! She tried to kill my son!" Giselle's panicked voice rang out, sharp and accusatory, as she struggled to comfort Ryker.
I was still half-submerged, shivering in the frigid water, but she had already demanded my arrest without proper investigation.
With how fast they got here and how fast Giselle was able to demand the arrest, it was painfully clear that this was no coincidence. This is one of Giselle's traps that she meticulously planned to frame me.
As the guards approached, I pushed their hands away, refusing to let them touch.me. My heart raced, each beat echoing in my ears as struggled to pull myself out of the icy water. My teeth chattered from the cold, but my resolve was growing stronger.
"Wait!" I shouted, my voice trembling but determined. "Why should you arrest me for saving your son? You
all saw what I did—I was trying to save him!"
"Save him?" Giselle scoffed, her eyes blazing with anger. "If we hadn't arrived on time, you would have killed him!"
"Why would I kill him?" I questioned her with a bewildered expression on my face.
Giselle scowled, her expression hardening. "I know you're holding grudges against me all this time. I know you are still blaming me for what happened. You must be trying to get revenge on my son - that's why you tried to kill him!"
My lips curled slightly before a bitter
laugh escaped my lips, surprising even myself. "I think you've read too many books, Giselle. I'm not like you, Giselle, I'm not a killer, and I couldn't hurt the innocent. Don't compare myself to you," I hissed venomously.
I had voluntarily left the Silvermoon Pack and even rejected Killian as my mate, giving up my Luna position. Yet, she still chased after me, intent on taking my life.
Not only that, but she also killed my innocent son, who wasn't born yet when these things happened. Giselle gritted her teeth, annoyance flashing across her face. "Don't you dare deny what you did, Astrid! We have so many witnesses here who could attest to what happened. You can't get away from what you did."
Chapter 257: Hateful Mother
Astrid's POV
Giselle's words hung in the air, heavy with accusation, yet I stood my ground, the storm of emotions swirling around us. "Witnesses? They saw me jump in to save him, not to harm him! Don't twist this into something that it's not!"
I met her gaze with unwavering resolve, my expression hardening at her words.
People began to turn their heads, drawn in by the rising tension. Whispers spread like wildfire, eyes darting between us as Giselle's fury spilled into the air. "You don't get to turn this around on me! You tried to drown my son, and I won't let you twist the truth to escape your punishment!"
Just then, Killian's loud voice erupted, slicing through the chaos. "What's going on here?!"
He strode forward, positioning himself between us, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. He glanced from me to Giselle, the intensity in his gaze sharpening as he tried to assess the situation. Behind him, Alpha Damien and his wife, Vanessa, followed closely with concerned expressions etched on their faces.
"Killian, I'm so glad you're here!" Giselle exclaimed, her voice dripping with urgency as she approached him. "Astrid pushed Ryker into the pond, and he almost drowned! You have to help us," Giselle spoke grievously, tears forming in her eyes and amplifying her desperation.
Killian's eyes widened, and a wave of worry washed over his features as he turned to look at his son, who was trembling in the cold and dripping wet. "Is he okay? Was he hurt?" His voice trembled slightly, a crack forming in his usually composed demeanor. No one had seen him this distressed before.
"Ryker wasn't hurt," Giselle answered. "Luckily, I arrived on time or else..." Giselle's lips quivered, and a tear escaped her eyes. "I would have found him dead, not knowing what had truly happened."
With that, tears flowed freely down Giselle's face as she finally sobbed, her anguish spilling out like a broken dam. The sight of her grief tugged at the hearts of those watching, drawing sympathetic murmurs from the crowd.
Even I nearly felt bad for her plight.
"Astrid, is this true?" Killian asked, his tone cold as he turned his piercing gaze on me.
I tightened my arms around myself, fighting off the chill that seeped into my bones. I wanted to answer
him immediately, but my teeth chattered so violently that I could barely form words.
I welcomed his cold gaze as I stood there, dripping wet and shivering in front of them.
"I knew this was going to happen. I've been expecting this all along!" Giselle interjected, her voice gaining momentum.
"I tried to warn Killian about you, but he really believed that you've changed. We gave you a second
chance, and we willingly accepted you back into our pack. This is how you repay us!" Giselle spoke up, using every opportunity to frame me.
"Tell me, Astrid. What should I do for you to forgive me?" Giselle asked, feigning innocence, her expression so pitiful it nearly drew gasps from the onlookers.
Murmurs swirled around us, and I felt the tide of discontent as I felt the stares of the crowd piercing into me, their glares sharp and accusing.
I scoffed at Giselle's words, the sound cutting through the tension like a knife, surprising everyone into silence.
I leaned over and picked up the floating toy from the pond that had caused Ryker to lose his balance.
"Ryker was trying to reach for his toy that fell into the water," I said, holding up the kite for all to see. "That's what made him lose his
footing, even jumped into the net
to save him. I couldn't believe that I
was being accused of harming him instead."
Seeing that I had evidence, a ripple of confusion spread through the crowd as they processed my words. I could see the flicker of doubt in their eyes, the realization that maybe Giselle got it all wrong.
Giselle's face paled, her carefully constructed facade beginning to crack. "You're twisting things!" she shouted, frustration lacing her voice. It was as if she was trying to convince the crowd to take her side.
"The moment I saw you at the
Shadowfang Pack, I already knew you were planning something," she continued, her tone accusatory. “You think you can just waltz in here, acting like a hero? You can
everyone except me!
you're
still clinging to the past. I know you
didn't come here to help, you came
here to ruin my life!"
"Ruin your life?" I laughed, the sound sharp and defiant. "You've done that all on your own! You're the one who took everything from me, and now you paint yourself as the victim?"
"You're a monster!" she yelled, her voice rising in a pitch. "You've always been a danger to my family! Even before my son was born, you've been trying to kill him and almost caused me to miscarry!"
At that moment, something clicked inside me. I could still remember that day when Giselle had purposefully fallen down the stairs and accused me of pushing her.
Killian was so worried, seeing her bleed on the ground. To punish me, he didn't let me leave, causing me to miss my chance to talk to my grandmother before she died.
It was clear now that she didn't care about her child's life at all. All she wanted was to make Killian hate
me. She was even willing to put her unborn child in danger for her own twisted agenda.
I stared at Ryker, then at the toy that I was holding - the very object that had led to this chaos. Giselle had done the same thing today; she had gone so far as to harm her own son to frame me. What kind of mother could hurt her own child for her personal gain?
I turned my attention back to Giselle,
fury igniting within me as I glared at her. "Danger? Look in the mirror, Giselle!" fired back, my heart pounding in my chest. "You've made a life out of lies and manipulation. I'm not the one who should be scared of the truth."
Giselle's expression faltered.
Chapter 258: Lies and Manipulation
Killian's POV
My brows furrowed, wondering what Astrid had meant by that. Lies and manipulation? What truth was she even talking about?
I turned around to observe Giselle's reaction. Her expression faltered as if Astrid's words had struck a chord within her. But that moment of vulnerability disappeared just as quickly, replaced by a darkening fury. "You"
"Enough!" I shouted, startling everyone into silence.
Giselle shot me a look of protest, but I held her gaze, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. I could feel the tension crackling in the air, and I knew I had to assert control before this situation spiraled completely out of hand.
If I didn't stop this fight, their argument would never end, dragging everyone deeper into chaos.
"Don't you have any shame?" I hissed at Giselle. "Your son is watching and listening to your words. Is that what you want to teach him? As the Luna of the Pack, you shouldn't be squabbling with someone in front of the public!" I reprimanded her.
I watched as her jaw tightened, her fury momentarily eclipsed by the realization of my words. She turned her gaze away, unable to argue back against me.
"You should go and take care of Ryker before he gets sick," I ordered, my tone leaving no room for debate.
I felt bad for Ryker, who was still shivering while silently watching the scene unfold. His wide eyes
reflected confusion and fear. He was still startled by what had happened to him, and now he was watching people fighting because of him. I have to pull him out of here for his protection.
Turning my attention to Ryker's nanny, I said firmly, "Go call the Pack Doctor and have Ryker checked to make sure that nothing is wrong with him."
"But what about her?" Giselle questioned, her voice rising in defiance, unwilling to back down. "She tried to drown Ryker. She can't go away punished just because she is a member of the Shadowfang Pack. This is a direct offense to our Pack."
"Astrid has explained herself already," I replied firmly. "She didn't try to drown Ryker; she was trying to save him."
Giselle's jaw fell open in disbelief. "You believe her words more than mine?"
My brows furrowed as I looked at her, hoping she would understand and take the hint. I couldn't believe she was still arguing with me, making this situation even harder. Before I could respond, Astrid suddenly spoke up.
"Thank you, Alpha, for trusting my words." She bowed her head slightly in a gesture of respect.
Giselle scoffed, a look of betrayal flashing across her features. "You are just letting her go after she nearly killed your son?!"
Vanessa stepped forward. "Giselle, don't you hear yourself?" she interjected, "Why would Astrid kill your son inside your own Pack? She's the daughter of the Alpha of Shadowfang Pack, and she came here to offer assistance to your Pack. How could you accuse Astrid of such a grave crime?"
The crowd shifted, murmurs rippling through them as they processed Vanessa's words. I could see some
of them beginning to reconsider their stance, their eyes darting between Giselle and Astrid.
Giselle fell silent, unable to say a word.
"Luna Vanessa, there's no need to
fret. It was al just a
misunderstanding."Astrid spoke up in defense of Giselle, surprising "When Luna Giselle and Ryker' nanny arrived, Ryker was drowning in the lake already. It was easy for them to mistake me for murder."
"That's right!" I interjected, grateful for her words. "Thank you, Miss Astrid, for your understanding." Giselle clenched her fists but remained silent, the anger still simmering beneath the surface.
Astrid smiled at my words. "It's nothing, Alpha. If it was any other child, I still wouldn't have hesitated to jump in and save them."
"Well, in the first place, this wouldn't have happened if Ryker had been properly cared for," Vanessa voiced out loud, her tone firm but measured.
"As his mother, you shouldn't even take your eyes off him. You know how wild children can be," Vanessa spoke as advice.
"As much as possible, you should be
the one personally taking care of
him." Even if we have talented
a
Omegas in our Pack, I never entrusted my responsibility as mother to other people," Vanessa casually spoke.
Giselle, who has been trying her best not to be rude, finally spoke up to defend herself, "My son has special needs, Luna, and-"
"Then the more you should be personally attending to him," Vanesa countered, cutting her off. "No wonder why Ryker feels closer to Astrid than you.
The crowd murmured again, the tension palpable as Vanessa's words struck deep. I could see Giselle's face flush with a mixture of shame and rage, clearly struggling with the implications of what Vanessa had said.
"Vanessa is right, Giselle." I added, my tone firm but compassionate. "Even if Ryker has a nanny to take care of him, you should at least spend more time with him."
Giselle opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, the fight seemingly draining from her
Seeing this, an idea suddenly occurred to me. "It's perfect timing that you are here, Vanessa! With you around, why don't you both bond with your children together? In this way, our children could also bond with each other."
Giselle looked up at me in surprise. I thought she would disagree with me again, but I was surprised to see light in her eyes.
"Killian, there's no need-" Damien spoke up, but his wife stopped him.
"If that's so, then let me take care of everything, Alpha," Vanessa volunteered.
"Then, bring Astrid with you. After what had happened, this would be a good way for all of you to bond together and resolve all your differences," I suggested.
Chapter 259: Renounced
Drystan's POV
"Alpha, where's Nova?" The Omega asked as soon as I entered the Pack's cafeteria.
I glanced over to the table, where two plates lay waiting. One was carefully arranged for me, the other set for Nova, but it felt more like a cruel joke than a meal. The two sets of meals were a stark reminder of her absence.
As I stared at the untouched food, I was reminded again of the scene I'd witnessed - Nova with Michael, sharing laughter and food, their connection effortlessly and bright. It twisted something inside of me.
My stomach, once grumbling with hunger, now churned uncomfortably. It felt heavy, as though a weight had settled in my chest, squeezing out any appetite I had.
"Alpha, where are you going? Are you not going to eat?" The Omega asked, concern lacing her voice as I turned to leave.
"I just remembered that there's something I need to deal with," I replied, my voice strained, betraying my inner turmoil.
I glanced back at the freshly heated meal, and guilt crept into me at the thought of wasting their efforts. "Please have my food sent to the office," I said, forcing a smile despite the heaviness inside.
"Of course, Alpha." The Omega smiled in relief, her worry easing as she started packing up the food. She was glad just to know that I would eat. She and the other pack members had always been concerned about my health, and it eased their concern when they saw me taking care of myself and working less. I walked back to my office and tried to focus on the papers before me. I had tasks to finish-urgent ones, too-but my mind kept wandering. No matter how hard I concentrated, thoughts of Michael and Nova crept in, uninvited and persistent.
Each time I forced myself to focus, I was plagued by images of them together in private, laughing and sharing moments that felt intimate and exclusive. It pulled me further away from the work that lay scattered across my desk.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. This wasn't any of my business. Michael was Nova's second chance mate. Whatever they did together was naturally out of my concern. I shouldn't even be thinking about them like this.
After another few minutes of fruitless effort, I stood up from my desk once again. I had been sitting there for over an hour, and I had barely read through one paper. This wasn't working.
Maybe a walk outside would help clear my head. Just a stroll around the Packhouse might be enough to put my mind at ease. Fresh air could do wonders, I hoped.
As I stepped out of my office, I took a deep breath, determined to shake off the weight of my thoughts and return refreshed and focused.
As I walked towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water, I paused at the entrance to the living room. My heart sank at the sight before me: Michael and Nova were completely absorbed in each other. They were wrapped up in a moment, giving a public display of affection.
I watched as Michael leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair behind Nova's ear, his fingers lingering on her skin.
She smiled up at him, her laughter ringing like a bell, and for a brief moment, I felt like an outsider in my own home.
"Seriously?" I snapped, my voice slicing through their bliss like a knife. Their heads whipped around to face me, and I could see the color drain from Nova's face as she scrambled to pull away from Michael. "Is there a problem, Drystan?" Michael asked, his tone casual, almost dismissive.
Anger surged through me at his nonchalance"We have rules in the Pack about PDA, Michael," I said, my eyes narrowing as they snapped to Nova. "+guess Nova has been gone too long to remember that. Even so, as a woman, you should have some shame and respect for yourself."
Nova's eyes widened in disbelief, clearly not expecting to be singled out. "What?" she blurted, her voice rising in indignation. "Michael is my mate!"
"That's right, but to him, you are not," I replied firmly. "Michael is human, and he has no claim on you unless you two are married. You should control yourself and protect your own dignity."
"Who do you think you are?" Nova shot back, her eyes sparking with fury. "You don't get to lecture me
about dignity! There's nothing wrong with what I did. We aren't even kissing!"
"Oh, but you were about to. Your faces were less than inches apart. If I hadn't come in to interrupt, who knows what else would have happened?" I retorted, my voice rising.
Her face flushed red with anger. "How dare you! I was not "
"It's just a misunderstanding," Michael interjected, stepping forward as he tried to defuse the situation. "Drystan, we weren't doing anything like you think. I respect Nova, and I won't do anything to her without marrying her first."
Instead of feeling relieved by his words, my annoyance flared even more.
"That's not the point here, Michael! Even if you weren't really doing anything, what is it to him? Our business has nothing to do with him!" Nova snapped, her voice tightening.
"Of course, this is my business! I'm
your Alpha,
and it's my job to keep everyone protected. I can't let you throw away your dignity for a
fleeting moment!" I shouted, my net
frustration boiling over. "From now
on Michael is banned from coming to our Pack."
"Are you serious?!" Nova yelled, her annoyance palpable. "I can't let you do that. I won't allow it!"
At that moment, Michael stepped forward, his posture tense. "Drystan, I'm Nova's mate. No matter how much you try to separate us, we are meant to be together."
"I know why you're doing this, Drystan," Nova blurted, her face flushed with anger. "You're doing this because you don't want us to be happy. You want us to be miserable like you are!"
Her words hit me like a punch. I felt my heart race, a mix of betrayal and indignation coursing through me. "You think this is about me?" I shot back, my voice rising again. "This is about you both understanding your place!"
"Fine! If that's what you want, then I'll leave! I, Nova Sinclair, renounce my membership in Nightsong Pack. I no longer wish to be bound by its rules or responsibilities." Nova spoke defiantly without a hint of hesitation in her eyes.
My eyes widened, not expecting that Nova would denounce us so easily. At that moment, I realized there was no turning back. The rift between us had widened, and there was nothing I could do to bring things back the way it was.
Chapter 260: Insulting Lecture
Nova's POV
Anger coursed through me like wildfire, igniting every nerve in my body. I wanted nothing more than to punch Drystan in the face right then and there. His words were so insulting, cutting deeper than any physical blow.
He wasn't just criticizing my actions; he was getting personal, attacking my dignity in the most humiliating way possible while framing it as his innocent act of concern.
I never felt so insulted in my entire life, and Michael just had to hear those words and witness the whole spectacle. What would Michael think of me now?
We were just talking, being together alone as friends. We don't even have a real relationship with each other. Drystan just walked right in on us, accusing us of things that I don't even know where he got from. Drystan had turned our friendly conversation into a public shaming, and for sure, Michael felt uncomfortable with it as well.
The way he lectured me about dignity, shame, and purity, it's as if he viewed me as some kind of whore was beyond infuriating. He was deliberately humiliating me!
I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I wondered what Michael was thinking about me now. He must
be wondering if I had a history of something like this in the past, which would explain Drystan's exaggerated behavior.
But the truth is, I had none! I never had a boyfriend, and I've never tried dating in my entire life. I had no idea where Drystan's outrageous thoughts came from. It was as if he viewed me as nothing more than a disgrace,
mere object of scorn.
I was so provoked by his insulting words that I didn't think twice about renouncing my membership to the Pack. I hadn't even fully processed the weight of my decisions. The words just spilled from my lips without a second thought, just so I could break free from his control and authority over me.
"Nova," Michael stared at me with wide eyes, surprised by my words.
"We are leaving, NOW!" I grabbed his arm, determined to walk away and pack our things so we could finally be out of this place.
Just as we were about to step out of the room, Drystan suddenly coughed out loud. His cough was dangerously alarming, and my head instinctively whipped around to find out what had happened to him. My eyes widened in horror when I saw the blood pooling in his palm that he used to cover his mouth. He stared at it, disbelief flickering across his features, while blood trickled from his mouth, staining his clothes.
"Drystan," I uttered shakily, my voice barely above a whisper.
In an instant, my anger evaporated, replaced by a tide of fear and concern that threatened to overwhelm
me.
He suddenly stumbled, his body swaying as he reached for the wall, seeking support. But it wasn't enough; his strength gave way, and in a heartbeat, he collapsed to the floor.
"Drystan!" I yelled, panic surging through me like a tidal wave. I rushed to his side, my heart racing as I caught him just before he hit the ground, cradling him against me.
"Drystan, Drystan," I called, my voice trembling as I tapped his cheek, desperately trying to rouse him. Just moments ago, he had been full of energy, arguing with me when he just started coughing blood. "Someone help us! Call the Doctor!" Michael shouted from outside, his voice frantic and echoing with urgency.
I continued to hold Drystan, feeling
the warmth of his body, hoping against hope that he would respond. Seeing him up close, I noticed his weathered features - lines etched deep into his skin like he had added more years to his age in just three years that I was gone.
His face, which used to be filled with youth and vitality, is now marked with exhaustion, reflecting the stress that had worn him down over time.
This led me to wonder what had happened to him while I was gone.
"Nova," Michael said, his voice cutting through my thoughts as he suddenly grabbed my arm. "Help has arrived. You need to move over and let them work."
Before I could fully process his words, Michael gently pulled me up and guided me to the side.
Reluctantly, I stepped back, my heart heavy with concern as I watched the others carefully carry Drystan to a stretcher.
We followed closely behind as they transported him, my eyes locked on his pale face. The Pack Doctor was waiting, ready to take charge, as they placed Drystan onto the bed.
"Make sure he's stable," the Doctor instructed, his voice steady but urgent. I could see the focus in his eyes as he began to examine Drystan further, checking his vitals to assess what had happened
I stood at the edge of the room, feeling a mix of helplessness and determination. My heart raced as dread filled my thoughts
"What happened to him? Is his life in danger?" Tears blurred my vision as I asked the Doctor, my voice trembling with worry.
The Pack Doctor looked at me with a heavy expression, regret shadowing his features. "Drystan has overworked himself," he began, his tone measured yet grave. "This has caused damage to his wolf, which is why he coughed up blood."
I took a sharp intake of breath at his words, the weight of their meaning crashing over me like a wave. My gaze flickered to Drystan, and the sight of him in such a vulnerable state broke something inside me. Tears spilled from my eyes as I realized the extent of his suffering.
How could someone overwork themselves to the point of causing damage to their wolf? Life must have
been so hard on Drystan since I left. Without a Luna and without me, he had no one to share his burdens.
A wave of guilt washed over me, and
I felt a deep ache in my chest. I
grow
shouldn't have left him. I was so selfish! I knew the tasks would heavier after the alliance with the Shadowfang Pack, yet I chose to abandon him when he needed me the most
I was so focused on my own pain. I was so focused on hating him without having any idea how much he was suffering.