Ch. 396..400: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 396-400

Chapter 396: The Return

Astrid's POV

The forest was dark, the faint light of dawn barely piercing through the dense canopy above.

The weight of what had happened pressed down on us, so heavy it felt as though the air itself had thickened, making it hard to breathe.

No one spoke as we began the journey back to the Shadowfang Pack. Even the sounds of the forest seemed muted, as though nature itself understood the gravity of what had occurred.

Killian walked a few paces ahead of us, his posture stiff, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The faint tremor in his shoulders betrayed the storm raging within him.

I wanted to reach out to him, to offer some kind of comfort, but the words wouldn't come.

What could I possibly say to ease the loss of a mother who had both scarred and saved us?

Nova walked beside me, her arms wrapped around herself despite the warmth of the night. Her usual fire was gone, replaced by a quiet stillness that unnerved me.

Drystan, ever vigilant, kept close to her, his expression hard, unreadable.

I glanced back, half expecting to see Rowena striding along behind us with that sharp, knowing look she always wore. But there was only empty space, and the memory of her lifeless eyes staring into the sky stabbed at my heart.

The silence between us was deafening. Every step we took seemed louder than it should have been, the crunch of leaves underfoot a cruel reminder that we were still here, still moving, while Rowena was not.

I couldn't stop replaying the moment in my mind-the look in her eyes as she shoved me aside, the quiet resignation as she accepted her fate.

Rowena, who had always been selfish, calculating, and cold, had done the unthinkable. She had saved us. She had saved me.

My throat tightened as I thought about it. Her sacrifice had been so sudden, so unexpected, that I still hadn't fully grasped it.

For all the pain she had caused, for all the mistakes she had made, in the end, she had given us the chance to keep fighting.

The rogue king's words echoed in my mind as I think of Rowena's sacrifice.

"She planned this! She planned this all along!"

Rowena has always been a scheming and cunning woman. She would do even the most despicable thing just for her survival.

If it were true that she had it in mind to sacrifice her life for us, then that would mean that Killian and I had read her wrong.

Killian's pace slowed slightly, his head lowering as we passed through a grove of gnarled trees.

He hadn't said a word since we left the clearing. His silence felt like a living thing, heavy and suffocating, wrapping itself around all of us.

I quickened my steps, closing the distance between us. "Killian..." I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Killian sighed, but he didn't bother to turn to look at me. With his back turned on me, I could feel the weight of his emotions radiating off him.

I fell back, letting him have his space, though my chest ached at the distance between us.

Rowena's death hung over us like a shadow, dark and unyielding. None of us had expected it. None of us had been prepared for it.

She had always seemed

Qu

untouchable, her sharp mind and ruthless nature making her appear invincible. And yet, in her final moments, she had proven that even

sw novel

she was capable of sac

The gates of Shadowfang territory loomed ahead, tall and foreboding against the backdrop of the faintly glowing moon.

The familiar sight should have brought relief, but the weight in my chest only grew heavier.

The scent of the Packlands surrounded us-home, safety, family-but none of it could erase the ache that had settled deep in my bones.

As we neared the entrance, movement stirred within the shadows. Asha stepped forward first, flanked by warriors, her sharp eyes scanning us with the precision of someone who'd spent hours waiting and worrying.

Her expression flickered between relief and dread as she took in blood, the exhaustion, and the

lingering grief that clung to us like a second skin.

"They're back!" one of the warriors exclaimed, the tension in his voice breaking into a shaky laugh.

Asha's shoulders sagged, her composure cracking for just a moment before she regained it.

She approached swiftly, her wolf pacing beneath her skin as her eyes darted from one of us to the next.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice tight, her gaze locking on Killian.

Killian stopped just beyond the gates, his back still to us, his posture stiff and unyielding. He didn't respond.

Asha's eyes narrowed, worry deepening the lines of her face as she turned to me. "Astrid?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet her gaze. The words didn't come easily,

the weight of them sticking in my throat like lead.

"We destroyed the amulet," I said quietly, the truth of it landing like a stone.

Asha blinked, her breath catching. "The Forsaken Amulet? It's gone?"

"Yes," I said, my voice hollow. "But..."

I hesitated, and Asha's gaze sharpened. "But what?"

Nova stepped forward then, her arms still wrapped tightly around herself, her

voice trembling as she spoke. “We lost Rowena."

Asha's mouth parted, but no sound came out. The warriors around her exchanged

glances, their relief at our return tempered by the weight of the news.

"She sacrificed herself," Nova continued, her voice cracking. "She took the amulet's power and destroyed it... to save us."

 

Chapter 397: Pleads

Astrid's POV

"Rowena... sacrificed herself?" Asha's voice cut through the heavy night air, her words laced with disbelief.

She stared at me, her sharp eyes narrowing as though she'd misheard. "You're telling me Rowena-the same woman who would manipulate her way out of a storm if it meant saving her own skin-gave her life for you?"

Her tone wasn't accusatory, but I heard the doubt threaded in her question. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, her gaze swept over our group.

Her lips parted slightly as she studied us, taking in Killian's stiff posture and the unbearable weight etched into his face.

His shoulders trembled just enough for someone who knew him to notice, his pain so palpable it seemed to radiate off him in waves.

Asha blinked, her sharp demeanor softening as realization dawned on her. "She really did it," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "She's gone."

A quiet moment passed between us, thick with unspoken grief, until Nova broke the silence. "Where are the kids?" she asked, her voice thin and frayed with exhaustion.

Asha straightened, her expression tightening with resolve. "Don't worry," she said firmly, her tone laced with reassurance. "I've been personally taking care of them. Leira's been with Elara the whole time."

Nova felt relieved, hearing that her daughter is safe both physically and emotionally.

"I knew Leira wouldn't be troubled if she stays here with Elara. As long as Elara is with her, that girl doesn't care about anything else. Tell me, did she ever asked about us?" Nova's brows lifted slightly as she questioned Asha.

"Of course she did," Asha instantly answered. "After all you guys are still here mother. There wasn't a day where she didn't asked about her mother and father. All of them were asking too many questions that were hard to answer and it was hard to distract their thoughts especially Ryker."

Ryker has a huge age gap from Leira and Elara. With his age and his intelligence it would be hard to fool him and hide anything from him.

"You didn't tell them anything, right?" I asked, hoping that Asha didn't share a word to them.

I strictly told her before we left that she shouldn't tell the kids about the true reasons why we had left. I didn't want the dangers of our journey to rob peace from the children while we are gone.

“No,” Asha said, shaking her head. "Don't worry, I didn't say a thing even to Ryker," Asha spoke firmly.

"I'm so glad you guys are back already. I'm afraid if you had stayed away even for a day, I would have accidentally revealed something to Ryker already. Ryker is far different from his father, he sure knows how to see through people," I chuckled at Asha's words.

"Are they asleep?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly despite my attempt to steady it.

Asha nodded. “Yes. They've had a long day." She paused, her expression softening further. "But I'll tell you this-they missed you. Both of them. Elara especially. She's been asking questions nonstop about when you'd come back."

My throat tightened, and I forced myself to breathe. "How... how were they while we were gone?"

Asha sighed, her face shadowed with a mixture of exhaustion and fondness. "They were worried," she admitted.

"I tried my best to distract

them-little tasks, games, anything to keep their minds off it-but they knew something was wrong. Kids always do." Her lips curved into a faint smile. "But when they wake up tomorrow and see you're back, they'll be thrilled."

I forced a smile on my face at the thought of seeing the kids tomorrow was eagerly hoping to see them how. I missed them so

much They were always in my mind during the whole time I was gone.

I wish they were awake now so I could hold them and talk to them.

Before I could respond, a commotion broke out near the gates. Heavy footsteps

crunched over the packed dirt, and a warrior approached us quickly, his expression tense.

He came to a halt, bowing his head slightly in deference.

"Luna Astrid," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "What should we do with Andros?"

Asha's sharp inhale was audible. She turned to me, her brows furrowed, her confusion evident.

"Andros?" she repeated, her tone laced with disbelief. "As in my brother, Andros?"

The warrior glanced between us, clearly unsure of what to say. I almost forgot about Andros.

Since we met him in the journey, I had him dragged along to come with us just in case that he is planning something with the rogues.

It is safer to bring him back with us than to leave him unattended even though he is banned from entering any Packs.

I squared my shoulders, my heartbeat quickening as Asha's sharp gaze bore into

me.

"Yes," I said evenly, keeping my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me. "He's alive. We found him in our journey and we decided to bring him here."

For a moment, Asha said nothing, her expression frozen in shock. Then she took a step back. She bit her lower lip as she fought back a tear that escaped her eye. "Y-you brought him here," she muttered, her tone unreadable. "Where is he?" "He's there heavily guarded by warriors just in case he does something," I muttered. It tightly in hers. “Asha, for my sake please.... please don't hurt him,” Asha pleaded.

It's been so long since we all had

last seen Andros, but Asha's love for

her brother is still the same and until

now, she's still pleading that I won't only just spare him, but also not hurt him.

 

Chapter 398: Tied by Blood

Astrid's POV

I stared deep into Asha's eyes, clouded with emotions she clearly struggled to

suppress.

The faint shimmer of tears made her gaze softer, more vulnerable than I had seen

in years.

My heart wrenched for her, for the conflict I knew was tearing her apart.

"It's alright, Asha," I said gently, cupping her hands to steady the tremor in them. "I didn't bring him here to hurt him."

Asha let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as though a heavy weight had been lifted.

I leaned towards her when I noticed her eyes squint in thoughts as if she still had something to say to me.

She retreated back from the intensity of my gaze. “I-I... I just,” she hesitated., her pale eyes drifting away from me.

"It's okay," I said softly, breaking the silence.

I squeezed her hands gently, willing her to look at me again. If you want to see him, you're free to go."

Her head snapped up, her expression startled, as though the offer itself had caught her off guard.

"No," she said quickly, her voice a little too sharp before softening into a murmur. "I cannot do that... it's inappropriate."

I studied her carefully, noting the faint tremble in her jaw and the way her eyes flickered in unspoken conflict.

Ever since Andros was banished, I've never heard Asha speak about her brother again, nor have I seen her shed a tear about him.

When Andros left, it was like he disappeared completely from Asha's life, but it doesn't change the fact that Andros once existed in Astrid's life. He was once Asha's brother whom she had grown up with.

"I understand, Asha," I replied quietly. "Although he is a criminal, he is still your brother after all. It's been a long time since you have last seen him. I know you miss him."

Asha inhaled deeply, her shoulders stiffening as though bracing against my words. She looked away again, her fingers tightening against mine as though she needed something to anchor her.

"I do miss him," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But the crime he had committed is too much. He deserves his punishment and he deserves to be abandoned by us, by me."

"But by punishing him like this, you are also punishing yourself too," I muttered, stealing her attention. "If you want to see him, then just see him. Don't think about proprieties or anything else."

She hesitated, her lips parting as though she wanted to argue, but instead, she nodded, the smallest movement of her head.

"I will," she murmured, though there was a terror in her voice. "But not now."

Asha pulled her hands from mine, stepping back slightly. She turned her face to the side, biting down on her lower lip as though the action could keep her emotions at bay.

"Thank you, Astrid," she said after a moment, her voice trembling but sincere. "know this isn't easy for

you, to keep him alive and to set him after years had passed

you for sparing his life for my sake."

Her words felt like a quiet plea for understanding, and I could see how much she was trying to hold herself together.

"Andros is my brother too," I said softly, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "No matter what he's done, that fact doesn't change."

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to push through the weight of the truth. "But I can't ignore what he's done either. I can't condone his actions, Asha. You know that."

She nodded, her expression somber. "I do. And I don't blame you for it. He... he's made choices that I can't defend either. Father needs to have justice as well."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice as I spoke. "The only reason I brought him

here was to figure out his intentions. To find out if he had made more deals with the rogues."

Asha's brows furrowed slightly, her lips parting in surprise. "Do you think he does?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I couldn't risk leaving him out there, not after everything we've been through. If he has something to do with the rogues, we need to know."

She nodded again, her gaze falling to the ground, understand. And I trust you to handle it. Just... promise me, Astrid. Promise me you'll give him a chance to explain himself before..." Her voice broke, and she looked away.

"I promise," I said firmly. "As long as Andros remains no threat to anyone here, I won't harm him."

Asha's shoulders slumped again, this time with a quiet relief that seemed to loosen the tension in her frame. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I stepped back, giving her space to breathe. "You don't need to thank me," I said gently. "I know how much you care for him. And I know this is hard for you."

"It is," she admitted, meeting my eyes again. Her expression was raw, unguarded

in a way I hadn't seen before. "But I'll manage. I'll have to."

There was a strength in her voice that made me believe her, even if her tear- streaked face betrayed the pain she tried to mask.

As the silence settled between us, the warrior who had brought the news lingered nearby, waiting for further instructions. I turned toward him, my expression hardening.

"Take Andros to the holding cells," I ordered, my tone firm. "Make sure he's guarded at all times."

The warrior bowed slightly. "Yes, Luna."

As he turned and disappeared into the shadows, I glanced back at Asha. Her face

was calm now, her emotions carefully hidden once more.

"Just tell me when you change your mind and you decide to meet him,” I said softly.

She nodded, her jaw tightening. "I will."

But as she turned and walked away, I couldn't help but wonder how far is Asha willing to protect her brother.\

Chapter 399: Tough Love

Astrid's POV

The world outside my dreams pulled me back slowly, the haze of sleep clinging to me as I stirred awake.

Something was missing, though. I reached out instinctively to the empty space beside me, my fingers brushing against the cool sheets where Killian should have been.

I blinked, still disoriented, as I pushed myself up. The room was dim, the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the windows.

My eyes adjusted slowly, and then I saw him-Killian, standing on the terrace just outside, his broad back turned to me.

His posture was rigid, his hands gripping the railing as though it were the only thing keeping him grounded.

Yawning, I stretched, rolling my shoulders to shake off the remnants of sleep.

The cool air hit me as I stepped onto the terrace and I instantly wrapped my arms around myself.

"Killian," I called softly, my voice still hoarse from sleep. He didn't turn, didn't acknowledge me at first.

His head hung low, the tension radiating from him unmistakable.

I closed the distance between us, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "What's wrong?" I asked, my worry spilling into my voice.

Killian finally turned to look at me. He forced a smile on his face, that looked quite broken. "What are you doing here? You should go back and sleep," he muttered, faking a smile to push me away.

"I can't sleep. I'm not used to sleeping beside an empty space," I muttered as I touched the railing and stood beside him.

"What's wrong?" I asked directly into his eyes, leaving him no room for avoiding

me.

He didn't respond immediately. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.

Finally, he let out a shaky breath, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the railing tighter.

"I can't stop thinking about her," he said, his voice raw, almost unrecognizable.

"Your mother?" I asked gently, already knowing the answer.

He nodded, his shoulders trembling slightly. "She's gone, Astrid. She's... gone." His voice cracked, and my chest tightened at the sound.

I placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him softly, reminding him that he doesn't need to be strong beside me.

He turned to me suddenly, and the sight of his tear-streaked face stole the breath from my lungs.

Killian, the man who had always been my rock, my unshakable anchor, looked utterly broken.

“I should have—” His voice broke again, and he turned away, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I should have fixed things with her. I should have

"Killian," I murmured, stepping closer.

He shook his head, cutting me off. "I hated her for so long, Astrid. I held onto every mistake she ever made, every hurt she ever caused. And

now now she's gone, and ICan't fix it."

en FindNovel

I swallowed hard, knowing exactly how he is feeling right now.

I also went through that same pain when my father died. Like him, I was so

caught up with my own hatred, refusing to forgive, wasting all the chances I had to just enjoy time with my father.

The raw pain in his voice made my heart ache. I reached out, wrapping my arms around him from behind, resting my cheek against his broad back.

He stiffened at first, but then he turned, burying his face in my shoulder. His strong arms clung to me tightly, as though letting go would break him entirely.

"I was so angry," he whispered, his voice muffled against my neck. "So angry at her for everything she'd done +didn't see her for who she was I didn't give her a chance to make things right." FindNovel

Tears wet my shoulder as his sobs grew louder, the weight of his grief crashing over him like a tidal wave.

"I always saw her as a villain," he choked out. "Every decision she made... I thought it was selfish, calculated. But what if... what if I was wrong?"

"You weren't entirely wrong," I said softly, stroking his hair as he cried. "But you weren't entirely right either Still, none of it were your fault. She made mistakes, Killian, but she also made a choice in the end. She chose to save us. To save you."

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes. His golden gaze was bloodshot, his face streaked with tears.

"She wanted to reconcile with me, Astrid," he said, his voice breaking again. “I see that now. And I didn't let her. I wasted so much time-time I'll never get back."

"You didn't know," I said gently, cupping his face in my hands. "You couldn't have known."

Unlike my father, Rowena took a completely different approach to get close to Killian.

Instead of asking for forgiveness like my father did and directly trying her best to make it up to her son, Rowena used tough love until the end.

She played us into thinking that she was doing that all because of her schemes when in truth, she was actually doing those things for her son.

If we had known, if she hadn't played things that way we wouldn't have treated her like a threat and a traitor.

"Rowena knows you were hurt. But in the end, she made a choice that showed how much she loved you. That counts for something, doesn't it?" I mumbled to his

ear.

Killian nodded slowly, his breath hitching as he tried to regain control. "It doesn't make it easier," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"No," I agreed, my voice soft. "It doesn't. But you don't have to carry all of this alone. I'm here. Always."

He pulled me into another embrace, his face pressed against my neck as his tears soaked into my skin.

We stood there in silence, the moonlight casting its pale glow over us as Killian shed the tears he had kept buried for too long.

For the first time in a long while, I felt his walls come down completely. And though

it broke my heart to see him like this, I held him tighter, hoping he could feel how deeply he was loved.

 

Chapter 400: Shadows Of Truth

Astrid's POV

The dungeon was cold, the air damp and heavy with the scent of mildew and rusted iron.

Shadows danced on the rough stone walls as the faint light flickered, casting a dim, suffocating glow.

Killian stood beside me, his jaw tight and his arms crossed, every line of his body radiating tension.

Across from us, Andros sat slumped against the wall of his cell, his hands loosely bound in front of him.

His face was a mask of indifference, his eyes distant and unfocused as if he were a world away. He didn't look at us, didn't even flinch as we approached.

"Andros," I said, keeping my voice steady.

He didn't move. His breathing was even, his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder.

Killian took a step forward, his boots echoing on the stone floor. "Are you working with the rogues?" he demanded, his voice hard, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Nothing. Not even a flicker of recognition.

Killian's fists clenched at his sides. "Answer me, Andros. Are you one of them?”

I studied Andros carefully, searching for any sign of reaction, but his face was an empty canvas. It was as if we weren't even there.

Killian and I expected this, that he would refuse to cooperate. In the past, he would rather be killed than to ask for forgiveness.

The silence stretched, growing heavier with each passing second. My patience frayed, but I forced myself to remain calm.

"Your silence speaks for you," I said, taking a step closer to the iron bars. "If you won't deny it, then I can only assume it's true."

That caught his attention. Andros's eyes finally shifted, the faintest flicker of annoyance crossing his features.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on me for the first time.

"And how long have you been working with them?" I pressed, keeping my voice sharp.

His lips twitched faintly, as if amused by the question. He leaned back against the wall, letting the silence hang for a moment longer before answering.

"The only time I worked with them," he said, his voice quiet but clear, "was when I made a deal with them. Once."

Killian stiffened beside me, his breath audible in the silence. I swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in.

"A deal?" I asked, my tone colder now. "You mean the deal that ended with our father dead?"

The shift was immediate. Andros's composure cracked like a fragile mask dropped to the floor.

His distant gaze faltered, his lips twitching again, this time not in amusement but in something that looked painfully close to regret.

He blinked, his lashes fluttering against the faint sheen of moisture in his eyes.

His mouth opened as if to speak, but no sound came out. For a moment, he was

no longer the cold, indifferent brother who had stood over our father's body without a shred of remorse.

He was someone else entirely-someone who looked almost... broken.

But I couldn't let myself believe it.

If there's something I regret from what happened in the past, that would be trusting him.

Back then, I used to think that he was a kind man, a loving brother, and a filial son.

He welcomed me entirely as his half sister, unlike Asha who had remained hostile to me.

Little did I know, it was all an act.

And this emotion that he is showing right now could be an act as well.

Andros is a better actor than Giselle. I had to be more vigilant against him.

I scoffed at the sliver of emotion that crossed his face, refusing to believe it. "It's too late for you to show emotion, don't you think?"

Andros's gaze sharpened, his indifference slipping into something heavier as his dark eyes locked onto mine.

"Think what you want to think," he said, his voice steady, the faintest edge of defiance lacing his tone. "But what I said earlier is the truth."

I narrowed my eyes, searching his expression for any sign of deceit. But Andros,

as always, was a fortress-his features gave away nothing concrete.

The flicker of emotion I had seen earlier was gone, replaced by that familiar wall of indifference.

Killian shifted beside me, his breath

unsteady "Since you refuse to tell us about your connection to the

rogues," he began, his voice colder now, then I'll ask a different

question."

I turned to him, noticing the way his jaw tensed, the muscle jumping beneath his

skin.

He looked as if he were wrestling with his own emotions, every word he spoke weighted with something more than anger.

"Did you know about Rowena's plans?" Killian's words were clipped, strained, and for a heartbeat, the room seemed to grow colder.

Andros tilted his head, his brows lifting faintly, as if Killian's question was unexpected. His lips curved into a ghost of a smile-not mocking, but resigned. "Yes."

The single word echoed in the silence, striking me like a physical blow. I stared at him, my breath hitching.

He didn't elaborate, didn't offer anything more. Just that one, damning word.

Killian stiffened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. I could feel the storm brewing inside him, the conflict he was trying so hard to suppress.

 

"When?" he asked, his voice rough, almost breaking. "When did you meet her?”

Andros leaned back against the wall,

his gaze sliding to Killian. "She found

me," he said simply, his tone flat,

devoid of any emotion. "She

approached me."

The air between us grew heavier, the weight of his words settling over all of us. I

glanced at Killian, his golden eyes dark with pain.

"She found you," Killian repeated "How long?"

Andros's lips twitched slightly, but there was no amusement in his expression. "A

few months after I was banished. She tracked me down."

Killian's breathing grew unsteady, his hands trembling as he stared at Andros. "Why?"

Andros tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I never knew it at first until she introduced me to the Rogue King."