Ch. 41..45: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 41-45

Chapter 41: Worth the Pain

Astrid's POV

I pressed my lips tightly, suppressing the pain that radiated from my wounds as the Pack Doctor applied ointment to my deep scratches.

"Be careful; do not press too much on the wound," Alpha Everest commanded the Pack Doctor when he saw my pained expression.

The Pack Doctor pauses, then starts to dab ointment on my wound more carefully this time.

Alpha Everest never left my side. He called the Pack Doctor and had me stay in his office to receive medical treatment.

"It's okay," I uttered, knowing that pain is inevitable and the Doctor has to thoroughly cleanse my wounds to avoid infection. "I have high pain tolerance."

As a Pack warrior, I've had worse injuries. As werewolves who use our canines and sharp claws to fight, deep scratches like this are expected. It cannot be avoided in a fight.

I didn't even know I was hurt until Lucinda pointed at the blood seeping through my clothes.

"I think we need to stitch it," the Pack Doctor suggests after cleansing my wound and applying ointment.

I stared at my wound. Usually, my wound shouldn't look as raw and red as it is now; my wolf should have kicked in already and healed my injury.

The fact that my wounds would need stitches to heal just goes to show how weaker I had become. It's like my wolf is not even there to heal me.

My eyes squinted as I felt the needle and thread pass through my skin. It was such a weird feeling, almost tickling, but the pain overpowered it more every time the Doctor tugged the needle and pressed my skin together.

"How is Lucinda?" I asked Alpha Everest, who has been keeping me company, making sure that I am safe and not hurting as much.

I shouldn't have brought her far from the Packhouse. The attack must have relieved some of her trauma.

"She's with Lady Nova and her mother. She had stopped talking again," Alpha Everest answered.

"I'm so sorry," I muttered. "I shouldn't have brought her far from the Packhouse."

"No, it's my fault for not keeping our Pack safe enough." Alpha Everest argued. "You don't have to blame yourself for anything. Because of you, I heard my daughter call me Daddy again. Thank you for protecting my daughter with your own life."

I smiled at his words. I couldn't forget the joy on Alpha Everest's face and the tears that welled in his eyes when he heard his daughter speak again. I was also happy for Lucinda that she finally found her own voice.

I count all my pain worth it as long as Lucinda and Nova are safe. We heard Lucinda speak, and I was the only person who ended up injured.

"It's all done," the Pack Doctor stood up and started to pack up his things. "Always be careful. Avoid moving too much to keep the stitches intact," he reminded me.

I looked at my wound, which was perfectly stitched in a balanced pattern, showing how skillful he was. "Thank you," I muttered to him before Alpha Everest showed him the way out.

"Does it still hurt?" Alpha Everest asks me as he takes a look at my wound.

"Not anymore," I answered him. "I heard you are going to sign an alliance with the Silvermoon Pack. Is that why Giselle is here?" I asked him.

Since we were already in his office, I thought it would only be convenient for us to talk business.

Alpha Everest couldn't respond. He must be wondering where we heard the news.

"You've kept us waiting for your decision for months. Alpha Drystan has been sending gifts to your Pack. The Nightsong Pack gave you special treatment. You've accepted everything and made us wait," I told him. "It wasn't taking advantage of your Pack. I really had plans of forming an alliance with you," Alpha Everest explained.

"Then what made you change your mind?" I prodded.

"The Silvermoon Pack offered to partner with us. How can I pass up such a great opportunity?"

"So, have you signed it with them?"

"I haven't yet. Lady Giselle came here so I could officially sign the papers."

"Oh, that's why she's here?" I asked out loud. I thought she was only here to negotiate, just like me. I didn't know that she was here because he had already decided to sign with them.

"Then why did you let us come here

then, at the same date that Giselle is

supposed to arrive and sign the papers with them? If you have already fully decided to sign with them, then why would you allow us to come here?"

Alpha Everest scoffed at my questions. "It's not like that—”

"You feel guilty about us... No, your heart is not fully convinced to sign with them, are you?" I squinted my eyes at him.

"What does my heart have to do with

this? As an Alpha, I need to decide for the Pack. It's obvious that the Silvermoon Pack is the most logical decision," Alpha Everest spoke almost like trying to convince himself.

"I know you have your own doubts and reservations about their Pack. It's impossible that you don't. The fact that you are not thoroughly convinced to sign with them despite their outstanding background must mean something.

It's not even about you signing with our Pack anymore. I'm just genuinely concerned. I don't want you to regret a critical decision in the long run." Alpha Everest couldn't speak. His eyes were deeply lost in his own thoughts.

Chapter 42: Signed Alliance

Astrid's POV

Our conversation ended when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Alpha Everest spoke wearily. He walked back to his office table to meet the guest. "Alpha Everest!"

I raised my head when I heard Giselle's voice.

"I heard what happened. How is your daughter? Are the guests from the Nightsong Pack all safe?" Giselle asked in an amicable voice as she walked to Alpha Everest's table.

She still hasn't noticed me here, sitting silently behind her in the corner of the room.

"Everyone is safe, Lady Giselle. You do not have to worry. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Giselle smiled and placed the papers she was holding on Alpha Everest's table. "These are the papers for the alliance. I was hoping you could sign it now. Killian had informed me that you've already read and agreed to everything." Alpha Everest forced a smile on his face as he looked up at Giselle. "That's true, but you've only just arrived. I haven't mentioned it because I was hoping you could go around the Pack first."

"Actually, I'm not planning to stay long. I'm pregnant, and it's not good for me to get tired. It's also so cold here. I'm not used to the cold," Giselle spoke without shame.

Alpha Everest fell quiet. His eyes blinked as he stared at Giselle in disbelief. "I-I thought you wanted to come here for a visit?" Alpha Everest asked him confusedly.

"I did. Your Pack is such a wonderful place," Giselle happily complimented out of nowhere when she saw how her words affected the Alpha.

"Killian and I will come here soon. We should surely visit this place once our baby is born," Giselle smiled while caressing her baby bump.

"So you're leaving?" Alpha Everest asked her again.

"N-Not yet," Giselle shook her hands, but that was what she was planning earlier. "I just came here to have the papers signed early." Giselle used her finger to push the paper closer to Alpha Everest. Alpha Everest was quiet as his gaze pondered over the papers for a long time.

I pulled my eyes when he sighed and reached for his pen. Alpha Everest had already made his decision. I've tried my best to talk him out of it.

My heart felt heavy, thinking how much I would disappoint Drystan with the news. Nova would surely be angry with this outcome solely because Giselle won against us.

I know it's not too late. I can just stand up and steal the pen from Alpha Everest's hand, but I don't want to be selfish. Alpha Everest is right. Choosing the Silvermoon Pack is the most logical decision. Their Pack would benefit more from an alliance with an established Pack like the Silvermoon Pack.

"I'm sorry, Lady Giselle. I can't."

My eyes shot up to them when I heard Alpha Everest's words. I watched as Alpha Everest placed back his pen inside his table drawer.

"W-What?" Giselle stammered in surprise. "Why?"

"I've changed my mind. I can't sign this alliance with you anymore. I will call Alpha Killian and explain everything to him. I give my apologies," Alpha Everest lowered his head in guilt.

"But you already agreed with everything. I came here because you wanted to sign with us—"

"You can go back to your Pack now since I have no plans of signing with your Pack anymore," Alpha Everest spoke coldly.

Giselle clenched her fist. I could feel the anger radiating from her. "Is this because of those people from the Nightsong Pack? Did they talk you out of this?" Giselle scoffed. "Alpha, our Pack is way better than theirs. We can help you better than them!" "Lady Giselle, please leave my office now. Our conversation is done here. I would explain everything to Killian."

"You shouldn't listen to them, Alpha

Everest. The people there are opportunists and calculating individuals. They are very ambitious, and they try to steal what isn't rightfully theirs." I clenched my fist as Giselle continued to talk ill of us, although I was sure that she was referring to me. Content Belongs to

"I'm sure you have heard, Alpha. The Alpha of the Nightsong Pack has once tried to steal the Alpha position from his older brother before."

"I beg your pardon?!" I stood up and raised my voice when I heard the accusations she had made about Drystan.

Giselle's heart almost leapt out of her chest when she realized that I'd been here the whole time. She looked at me with wide eyes like a deer caught in headlights.

"Take back what you've said! If Drystan really wanted to steal the Alpha position, it would be easier for him to steal the Alpha title from his brother than to raise his own Pack."

Giselle scoffed. "No wonder why the two of you are so close. Both of you share the same attitude of being so ambitious and stealing what is not rightfully yours."

"Enough!" Alpha Everest shouted. "I

must remind you that you are in my

office, and you are quarrelling in

front of me like little children. Lady Giselle, you

you are getting out of line. I can't tolerate you verbally harassing my guest. Please leave my Pack."

"What?!" Giselle yelled at the Alpha angrily. "What did you say?"

"Leave my Pack. You're not allowed to be in my Pack anymore."

"I was just telling the truth! They really stole what is not rightfully theirs. Just look at what they had done today. They stole the deal that is rightfully ours!"

Alpha Everest didn't answer. He just turned his back on Giselle and walked away. Just seconds later, the Pack guards entered and dragged Giselle away.

Giselle still didn't refuse to give up. Although she was pregnant, she fought with all her strength, trying to untangle her arms around the Pack guard's hold. She screamed like a banshee as they dragged her out of the Pack. When the door had closed, silence fell into the room again.

"My wife has been talking me out of my decision to sign with the Silvermoon Pack. She's been trying to convince me to sign with your Pack," Alpha Everest started to speak.

"What changed your mind?" I asked since even his wife's words were unable to convince me.

"Unlike Giselle and the Silvermoon

Pack, I realized that the Nightsong Pack cared more about the people. When you arrived here, you were willing to spend time with my daughter

even though you cam net

here to change my mind. I will never

partner with someone who only cares about the benefits want someone that cares about my people the same way that I do."

I smiled at his answer.

"Bring out your papers. I will sign an alliance with you," Alpha Everest spoke determinedly.

 

Chapter 43: Back to Square One

Giselle's POV

I drummed my fingers an agitated staccato against the steering wheel, my knuckles stark white against my olive skin. With each passing mile, the tension in my shoulders only seemed to coil tighter, a vise of barely contained fury. "That bitch," I hissed through gritted teeth, the venom in my words palpable. Astrid's name was like acid on my tongue, burning with a hatred that refused to be extinguished.

The moment I saw her at the banquet, I knew it was her. She had dyed her hair blonde and changed her name, but I will always recognize her. I will always know her through her cerulean eyes, which look like peaceful waters, even if she drastically changes her appearance.

Her eyes might look calm and peaceful, but she always stirred trouble for me.

As I was on my way back to Silvermoon Pack, I couldn't get my head out of the shame and humiliation that I felt as the Pack guards dragged me out of the Frostbite Pack like I was a piece of trash.

As if failing to get Alpha Everest's signature wasn't already worse, the Alpha also hated me and banned me from ever stepping foot on their Pack again.

How am I going to explain things back in the Pack? It was already a close deal. I was just supposed to get Alpha Everest's signature! Killian will hate me for throwing away this opportunity for which he worked hard.

It would be much worse if Victoria lost her confidence in me because of this. I have barely proven myself as a capable Luna to Victoria.

The one-week training that she gave me was a hell of a one-week of my life. It was just training, but I found it hard to learn and do everything.

I kept making mistakes in my tasks. Most of the time, I don't even know where I went wrong.

If I wasn't pregnant, I'm sure Victoria would have yelled at my stupidity or raised her hand against me.

She always held her anger back when she was with me, always putting the safety of my baby on top of her priority.

She cares so much about her future "grandson".

You see how much I have suffered and endured just to get here? I even had to suffer in the extremely cold weather at Frostbite Pack.

My jaw clenched, the muscle there twitching with the strain. Alpha Everest's signature is supposed to be the foundation of my rally to become the Silvermoon Pack's Luna.

It's supposed to help me earn a good reputation in the Pack, so I could become good enough to be the Luna.

Each memory of how that conniving, incompetent fool had singlehandedly ruined everything stoked the flames of my anger even higher.

Astrid ruined everything again. I was only a step further to the title, but all my careful planning and tireless efforts were reduced to nothing in an instant because of Astrid's meddling.

I could practically feel the opportunity, my dream of becoming Luna slipping through my fingers, just out of reach.

A low guttural sound rumbled in my chest, my amber eyes narrowing to slits.

If those men I hired did their job properly and managed to kill her, things wouldn't end up destroyed like this.

We had the best opportunity! Astrid is staying at the Frostbite Pack disguised as someone else

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, the leather creaking under the pressure as I remembered the report that I had received after the failed assassination attempt Astrid fought them in human form. She never shifted even though she had to protect Alpha Everest's daughter under her care.

Why didn't she shift?

The tires screeched in protest when I jammed my foot on the brakes, the car lurching forward with a violent jerk. The snow-covered path is silent and empty.

The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears, my breath coming in sharp, panicked gasps when I realized something.

Astrid is pregnant. She's carrying

Killian's true child. That night, when Killian and I were supposed to spend the night together, he mistakenly did it with Astrid, and now she is pregnant.

My stomach twisted with sheer terror. Astrid being alive made things more complicated for me.

Killian can't find out that Astrid is alive. If he finds that out, he will also find out that Astrid is pregnant with his child.

I need to act fast before Killian could find out the truth. I must ascend as the Silvermoon Pack's Luna as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I must keep the two from meeting each other.

I let out a shrift scream and pounded

on the steering wheel in anger. If

Astrid hadn't ruined everything, I

would be planning my ascensiomet

ceremony by now instead of

planning an excuse to coverup for

my failure.

I would not let Astrid ruin this for me. Not when I was so close, so close, to achieving my goal. Failure is not an option - not when the prize was within my grasp.

With a sharp, decisive nod, I set my

jaw, determination burning in my gaze. I would fix this. Somehow, someway, I would make Astrid pay for hertransgressions. And then, then nothing would stand in my way.

 

Chapter 44: Hiding from Problems

Astrid's POV

I got a wide smile on my face as I hopped out of the car. Nova and I had just arrived back at the Nightsong Pack.

Drystan gave me a week to have the alliance papers signed. Guess what? Only a day was needed for me to get his signature. I'm sure he would be surprised to find out about my achievement.

I knock on Drystan's office before twisting the door open and inserting my head in. I beamed at Drystan, whose head was burrowed in papers.

I'm so excited to tell him the news, but he still hasn't realized who is at his door right now.

"Who is it?" Drystan slowly raised his head. When he saw my face all the exhaustion in his face vanished, replaced with the joy of seeing me.

"Astrid, you're back!" Drystan stood up from his seat and rushed towards me.

I entered his office and closed the door behind me. "Look at what I got," I showed the papers to him.

Drystan's jaw fell open when he saw Alpha Everest's clear signature. He snatched the paper from me and looked at Alpha Everest's signature in disbelief.

"H-How did you do it?" He asked in surprise.

I pouted. "You thought I couldn't do it?"

Drystan's brows furrowed, and he shook his head in denial when he heard the disappointment in my voice.

I sighed. "I know you thought I couldn't do it. It doesn't matter though because I won." I grinned. "From now on, you should delegate some of your tasks to me. I would have volunteered to be your Pack's trainer, but I'm pregnant, so you could just let me handle some paperwork instead."

Drystan smiled when he heard my words. He looked just happy to have me. I averted my graze from him when I felt uncomfortable with his intense stare.

"Why don't you look happy?" I questioned him.

The way he looks at me is like he's hiding something bad from me.

Drystan sighed and moved his gaze forward. "While you were gone. I received a news from the higher ups," he spoke in a low voice.

My eyes squinted slightly. What is the news all about that would make him feel this upset?

"Our Pack is chosen to host this year's werewolf assembly," Drystan broke out the news, sending me back.

"W-What?" I slumped on the couch when I felt my whole body weaken.

The werewolf assembly is exactly what it sounds like. It is an assembly where all leaders of different Packs gather in one place to promote harmony and unity between separate Packs.

Every two years, one Pack is chosen to host the event, and for some reason, the Nightsong Pack is chosen to host the event this year.

"It's okay, Astrid. I was planning to decline it anyway. I—"

"Decline? How could you decline such a good @pportunity? Hosting this event will boost the reputation of our Pack. It will also jumpstart our goal of reaching out and forming alliances with other Packs. You can't decline a good opportunity that is already handed on to us," +cut him

off.

"We can meet our goal with or without the help of this opportunity, Astrid. With both of us working together, we can make our goal happen," Drystan argued.

I paused and swallowed hard. I'm willing to help him reach his goals and develop this Pack, but I don't want to be the reason why he would decline this opportunity that would make things easier for him.

I owe him so much, and I have been nothing but a burden to his Pack. I can't let him pass up on this opportunity just because he wants to protect me.

"You are worrying too much,

Drystan. Tell them that you'll accept

the opportunity, Drystan, and thank

them forat. Also, entrust all the preparations to me. I have prepared and hosted many Pack events before. I can help you make this year's assembly leave a lasting

impression on our guests."

"But, Killian-"

I forced out a laugh to ease his worries. "You don't have to be afraid. Killian wouldn't know. Knowing Giselle, he would never allow Killian to find out that I'm alive." Drystan's brows furrowed in confusion.

"I met Giselle at the Frostbite Pack, and she recognized me," I told him.

"What?!" Drystan's eyes went wide, and a frantic expression crossed his face.

"I know Giselle. I'm sure she would never mention anything about me to Killian," I muttered.

Giselle had always hated me, and she had always tried to push me out of their lives when I was still the Silvermoon Pack's Luna. She was even so happy when I left the Pack. Seeing me back in the Silvermoon Pack would be her worst nightmare.

"With the proper disguise, Killian won't recognize me, and with Giselle, Killian would be convinced that I'm a different person."

"But, this is dangerous," Drystan countered.

"Assign a team that will help me with the preparations," I ignored his words, making him tense.

Even if Killian recognizes me, what is there to fear? I know that Nova and Drystan would protect me, and even if Killian cries blood, I will never go back to him.

I know I wouldn't be able to hide my secret for so long. I should stop running from my problems. It's time to face them.

When I met Giselle at the Silvermoon Pack, I realized what a coward I was hiding behind the Nightsong Pack.

Hiding from Giselle and Killian just made me a loser. I should face them so I could really say that I've won and had my freedom.

 

Chapter 45: Catastrophic Failure

Killian's POV

"What could have possibly gone wrong?!" I yelled out loud and slammed my fist on the table, making Giselle flinch in her seat.

I gave her the simplest task, and yet she still managed to ruin it. Our alliance with the Frostbite Pack is already a close deal. She just needed to get Alpha Everest's signature to make things official.

I don't understand how she managed to fuck things up.

"Don't yell at her, Killian, she's pregnant!" My mother scolded me as she softly caressed Giselle's back to comfort her.

"Just relax, Giselle, okay? Stress is never good for the baby." My mother's brows knitted together as she spoke to Giselle in worry.

I clenched my jaw in anger as I watched how my mother consoled Giselle and how Giselle enjoyed my mother's company.

She even dragged my mother into this, knowing that she would defend her and take her side. She couldn't even face me on her own and own up to her mistakes.

Giselle had just returned from her trip yesterday. I was waiting for her to report to me and submit the signed alliance papers, but I was told that Giselle was so sick from the trip that the Pack Doctor even had to check on her.

I waited for her to get healed, but when it was time for her to report things to me, she even brought my mother with her.

"What are we supposed to do now? Don't you know how beneficial this alliance would be for the future of our Pack?! I worked hard to make Alpha Everest agree to unite with us. It took me a lot of convincing to change his mind, but you ruined it in the end!" I pushed my office chair in anger.

"Calm down, Killian. You're fretting too much," my mother looked at me like I was overreacting. "Losing this deal is barely our loss. It's the Frostbite Pack who lost such a good opportunity to ally with us. What good would it be if we ally with a Pack that is too far from us?" "There are better Packs out there that you should be thinking of forming an alliance with. Take the Shadowfang Pack as an example. You shouldn't be wasting your time with the other Packs. Think of a plan on how we can get the Shadowfang Pack to ally with us," my mother lectured.

The Shadowfang Pack is the most powerful Pack in existence. They are so powerful that they refuse to ally with anyone because they could sustain their own Pack.

With their precious Luminite, their future is already ensured. It would be a dream to partner with them, a far-fetched dream at that.

"Even so, it's humiliating that a small Pack declined an alliance with us? What would the other Packs think of us?" I shot back at my mother, which she couldn't answer

"I just don't understand how Giselle

can fail such a simple task so drastically, voiced out in

astonishment at what she had done. "How did you manage to make the Frostbite Alpha hate you so much to kick you and ban you from his Pack injust one day of your stay there?"

Giselle couldn't respond. I scoffed in disbelief when her lips quivered, and she lowered her head like she was holding back tears.

"I thought you trained her? I wouldn't have given her this task if you didn't praise her too much," I spoke disdainfully towards my mother.

She turned her head away from me, not able to meet my gaze anymore.

"I-It wasn't my fault," Giselle sniffed. "When I arrived at the Frostbite Pack, Alpha Everest was already talking to people from the Nightsong Pack." My body stiffened at her words.

"What?!" My mother blurted out in surprise. "But hasn't he already agreed to ally with us? Why is he still entertaining people from a different Pack?"

"I don't know either," Giselle answered. "When I asked him that question, he just told me that he had changed his mind and that he was not going to sign from us anymore."

"So it's all the Nightsong Pack's fault then?" My mother's eyes narrowed into slits as she thought of the betrayal that had happened.

"I'm not sure. I don't want to put the blame on them when I don't have any proof," Giselle replied with her brows bent downwards. "I tried to ask Alpha Everest for a reasonable explanation, and I tried to convince him to honor his words, but instead, he Tashed out at me and demanded his guards to drag me out of his Pack."

Giselle choked back tears, trying her best not to cry out. "That bastard!" My mother's lips curled in anger. "If something happened to my grandson, I swear I would wage war against them. I don't care if I enrage the other Packs." "You hear all this, Killian?!" My mother turned her attention back to me.

I swallowed hard when she looked at me, expecting that I would do something.

"You're not going to turn a blind eye to this, do you? Drystan might be your Uncle, but he disrespected us first by stealing this deal from us. You need to talk to him and teach him a lesson," my mother demanded of me. Giselle's tears suddenly shrunk back, and she reached for my mother's hand. "There's no need for that, mother. I don't want to start any conflict."

My mother pushed her hand away. "You don't have to worry about that."

"It's okay," I butted in. "I heard that the Nightsong Pack was chosen to host this year's assembly. It's best to be on their good side; we can't afford to lose an invitation to the werewolf assembly. We have no idea if the Shadowfang Pack would come to the event this time or not."