Ch. 46..50: Reclaiming My Broken Luna Chapter 46-50
Chapter 46: Werewolf Assembly
Astrid's POV
I gazed at myself in the mirror, wearing an elegant sleeveless white dress that fitted my body like a glove, showing my curves in the right places.
A smile crept up my lips, like the person that I could see in the mirror. Even though I'm pregnant and my baby bump is showing already, I'm still able to maintain my fit body from before. "You look too beautiful for a pregnant woman."
I turned on my heel when someone spoke behind me. I smiled shyly when I saw Nova standing on my doorstep, staring at me. I felt embarrassed getting caught ogling myself. "You look stunning, too," I complimented her in her sparkling green dress that reminded me of Ariel's tail.
With her strawberry blonde hair, she looks much like a princess from a fairy tale.
"Are you ready?" Nova asks me as she steps inside my room.
I took another look at myself in the mirror and breathed deeply. The time flew really fast. I couldn't coop up inside my room any longer. I need to go out and meet the guests.
"Do you think they will recognize me?" I asked Nova as I looked at my face in the mirror, which still looked the same as before.
Nova scoffed at my question. She held me by the shoulders and forced me to look at her.
"Look at you? Who would recognize you?" Nova asked me with her eyebrows raised. "It's only been a few months, but you have changed greatly. I doubt that anyone would recognize you." Nova squeezed my shoulders.
I sighed, shaking away all my worries. That's right. In just a few months of staying at the Nightsong Pack, my appearance changed.
My tan skin, which I developed from staying under the sun for long hours because of Warrior training, had turned lighter because of less sun exposure.
Also, my cheeks had turned fuller, and I looked brighter than before because I now have a better work-life balance, unlike before when I had to work in a toxic environment with unreasonable hours. Additionally, with my new hair color and haircut, I'm sure no one would look at me and think that I am the Luna Astrid from Silvermoon Pack who worked for long hours and was treated like a servant. "It's okay, Astrid. You don't need to go out there. You can just stay here if you want to," Nova reminded me once again, but I shook my head, refusing to let my fears get the best of me.
I'm going to go out there and meet them. No matter what, I'm no longer going to be a coward hiding behind the Nightsong Pack and relying on the kindness that Drystan and Nova had shown me. "Then, let's go now. It's better to arrive there early than to be fashionably late and gather all the people's attention on us." Nova cheered me up.
In order to hide my baby bump, I
bought a
Sonally tailored coat that would match my dress and put a shadow on my front, which would make my baby bump less visible." The coat is purposefully made to be too big for my size exactly for that purpose.
I draped my white oversized coat over my shoulders, taking away the attention from my baby bump instantly by forming shadows.
I didn't insert my arms in the sleeves, for it is designed to be worn like that. Even if I move or dance around, the coat won't easily slip off my shoulders.
Hand in hand, Nova and I entered
the venue together. I forced a smile
on my face and regulated my breathing to enforce calmness on myself. My nerves were on the edge at the thought of meeting people and fearing that they might
зал
recognize me, but as I greeted more and more people and still none of them recognized me, I started to gain more confidence in myself, and slowly, my anxiety dissipated away.
"Lady Stella, right? It's so nice to meet you," a Luna greeted me with a hug.
I smiled over her shoulder as I wrapped my hands around her.
I know almost all of the Alphas and Lunas that we invited as guests here. I've met them all before, as in the previous Luna of the Silvermoon Pack. In fact, most of them I have contacted in person before.
It felt strange that they didn't recognize me. I think my hair and skin tone really made a great change in my appearance.
Maybe if they looked long and closely, they would have recognized that it was me.
"May I call on Stella, who is in charge of all the preparations? Without her, today's event would have been impossible. Let's welcome Stella
Hart!" Drystan's voice blasted on the
speakers as he announced
name.
I gripped the hem of my coat and forced a smile on my face when everyone applauded and turned their eyes on me.
My heart pounded inside my chest as I took steps near the stage. As the person who prepared everything, of course, Drystan has to mention my name as Lady Stella and give all the credit to me for making this event possible. "Thank you, everyone," I spoke on the stage, making everyone feel quiet.
I swallowed hard as my eyes involuntarily roamed around the room as if searching for something.
The event had already started, but I still hadn't seen him.
As if someone was reading my thoughts, the person I was looking for finally arrived.
My body stilled as I stared at the man standing by the entrance.
Chapter 47: Broken Connection
Astrid's POV
"Enjoy everyone, and I hope you'll have a great stay in our Pack," I flashed my pretty smile to the crowd as I stepped off the podium.
The crowd gave me a round of applause right after I ended my speech. The whole time that I was speaking on stage, I could feel his intense gaze boring holes at me, making me feel uncomfortable the whole time. The moment I stepped off the stage, I could finally feel my whole body again.
"Don't forget to breathe, Astrid," Nova chided when I reached her off the stage.
My heart had finally relaxed, and I could breathe properly again after I had escaped everyone's attention.
I gripped Nova's warm hand for support. Nova didn't say a word as I gripped her hand tightly with my icy-cold fingers.
I'm glad that Nova is here with me. She never left my side even though she also has her own personal life. She stood by me, willing to support me.
"I need to take a break," I muttered under my breath.
"Of course, I'll go inform Drystan," Nova answered.
I nodded my head and proceeded to the nearest exit. I took a few deep breaths when I reached the back of the venue, as if I'd finally learned how to breathe for the first time.
Staying inside the crowded venue with all the people I have known before made me feel strangled. I felt suffocated by the pressure. I feel choked up thinking that Killian is there with them. "Looking for an escape?" My body froze up when I heard someone speak behind me.
When I turned my head around, my eyes widened when I saw Killian. I instantly snapped my head forward so he wouldn't recognize me.
"Just... taking a break," I drawled out, hoping he wouldn't figure me out by my voice.
I stiffened when I heard him shuffle behind me. "So you are the person in charge of the preparations, huh? You did a great job. Everyone didn't expect this excellence from the Nightsong Pack."
I smiled. I know that the other Packs are looking down on us just because the Nightsong Pack is relatively new and is still trying to build its name in our society.
This is the exact reason why I chose a luxurious theme for the event, and I even prepared a buffet for the guests. In that way, our guests will have a changed perspective towards us.
"Except for me, though, I didn't expect anything less the moment I found out that you are the person in charge," Killian added.
I fidgeted my fingers when I heard his comment. My heart started to thump loudly in my chest again without knowing if Killian had already recognized me or not.
I ignored his words and maintained my silence.
"Are you still going to pretend that you're dead, Astrid?" Killian questioned closely to my ear.
I jumped forward in surprise and stared at him with a startled expression on my face.
I cleared my throat and straightened myself as soon as I recovered from my shock. "You got the wrong person, sir," I answered him with a straight face. "My name is Stella and not Astrid."
Killian's brows furrowed when he heard me deny my identity. "How long are you going to keep this up Astrid? already saw through your ? 1 disguise. For months, I really
thought you were dead. Are you still
going to fool me until now?
I squinted my eyes at him in confusion. "I don't even know who you are," I shot back. I don't know anyone named Astrid."
Before Killian could win this argument, I made my turn to leave. However, he grabbed me by the arm, stopping me.
"I know you are Astrid," Killian firmly declared. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Enough!" I yelled at him and harshly pulled my arm out of his hold. "I already told you that I do not know you," I glared at him before storming away. Killian looked at me in shock. In the years that we have been together, he never heard me yell or saw me glare at anyone.
He was taken aback when he saw me get angry that he had forgotten to stop me.
As I took a few steps away from him, I did not expect the next thing that he had done.
"I, Killian Sullivan, accept Astrid Zorensen's rejection as her mate and Alpha," Killian declared in a firm voice.
As soon as he completed his
sentence, a burning sensation
flowed through my veins as the last bit of connection that his wolf had with me was cut off. I gritted my
teeth, and I clutched my heart as I
hefer the pain in.
Is this the reason why he badly wanted to know who I was so he could accept my rejection and fully cut his connection with me?
A tear escaped my eye as I slumped on the ground in pain.
"I know it's you!" Killian shouted as his face contorted in pain. "You can always lie to me, but the mate bond never lies."
My face turned red as I held back the pain. "You were right. So, are you happy now?" I shot back at him, "Is this what you wanted? Is this the reason why you wanted to know who I was?" Killian's eyes turned wide. "No, this is not what I want. I—"
"Astrid!" Nova yelled in panic when she saw me writhing on the ground
Chapter 48: She’s Pregnant?
Astrid's POV
A deep breath passed through my lips as a sense of calm washed over me when Nova arrived just in time to rescue me.
Nova ran towards me with a panicked look in her eyes. She lifted me up by my arms, slowly helping me to get my feet on the ground. Killian forced himself off the ground, his lips slightly stretching downwards as he winced in pain.
"What happened?" Nova asked me in worry.
I was hyperventilating, so I failed to answer her. I just kept clutching my heart, the place where all the pain was coming from.
Nova's eyes widened when the realization hit her. "H-He," Nova paused, unable to complete her sentence.
Anger flashed in her eyes, knowing that what Killian just did was enough to kill me. With my weak wolf and the life inside of me, I'm not strong enough to handle the rejection.
"Astrid!" Drystan suddenly appeared and ran towards me when he saw my state.
He immediately carried my weight to help Nova, who had been struggling to keep me up.
Still, I couldn't speak. My lips quivered, and tears streamed down my face as my weak wolf whimpered and curled in pain.
She's not able to handle most of the pain on her own, making me feel most of it.
Drystan's features hardened, and the soft lines around his eyes and mouth tightened when he saw me getting tortured
"Quick! Bring her to the hospital and call all the Pack Doctors to check on her," Drystan commanded Nova with a blank voice.
Nova quickly nodded her head and placed my arm around her shoulder to help lift me up.
"Astrid, we're not done yet!" Killian yelled out loud when he saw Nova taking me away from him.
Drystan strode towards Killian without saying a word and punched him in the face. Blood spurted out of his split lip, but Drystan didn't stop there. He lifted Killian by his collar and tightened his fists.
I stopped Nova from taking me away when I saw what Drystan did. I wanted to yell at him to stop, but I didn't have enough strength to do so.
"Don't go anywhere near Astrid. Do you understand?! This is the last time that you're going to hurt her, or else I swear I'm going to kill you!" Drystan yelled in his face.
Killian stared into Drystan's hard gaze like an asshole unbothered by his words.
"Why are you getting yourself involved in this, huh? You ruined everything! If you hadn't faked Astrid's death, I would have fixed our relationship. Now step out of the way and let me talk to Astrid!" Killian commanded. Drystan lost control of himself when he heard his absurd words; he punched him again in the face, giving him a black eye. "You want to get yourself killed?!"
"Stop! Stop! Please, stop!" A woman's voice sliced through the commotion.
When Drystan looked up, his lips thinned when he saw Giselle rush to Killian's side, her belly as big as a watermelon.
"K-Killian. Oh no!" Giselle exclaimed in worry when she saw Killian's face. "Drystan, please let him go," Giselle pleaded with her eyes filled with worry.
wn
Drystan clenched his jaw, and with strong self-control, he finally pushed Killian away from him, making him stumble backward.
Giselle rushed to Killian's side and held him by his shoulder to help him. "Killian, are you alright?" Giselle asked him worriedly.
She lifted her finger to touch Killian's face and take a better look at his injuries, but Killian moved his face away like he was burnt by her touch.
"Leave this instant!" Drystan spoke darkly. "Take your husband away from here. I don't want to see him ever again,"
Giselle glanced at Drystan when he spoke and softly nodded her head. "Killian, let's just leave," Giselle whispered to him.
Hearing this, Drystan turned around to leave, thinking that Giselle would be able to convince Killian to leave his Pack.
Just as Drystan had turned his back on them, Killian spoke again, "I'm not going to leave without Astrid!"
Drystan stopped in his tracks; before
he could respond to Drystan's words, though, he was shocked when he saw me and Nova still standing where he had left us. "Nova, I told you to bring her to the hospital."
"You can't hide Astrid away from me again!" Killian shouted before sprinting forward.
"Killian!" Caught in surprise, Giselle tried to stop him, but Killian was too fast.
Just as Killian was about to grab my arm to steal me away from them, Drystan managed to hold him back, causing Killian to grab my coat instead. Drystan pushed Killian to the ground with my coat still in his hand.
Without my coat, my pregnant belly is exposed
Killian's eyes widened as he stared at my belly, poking forward just like Giselle's.
"Y-You're pregnant..." Killian stammered as he looked at me with disbelief in his eyes.
Even though I was weak and in pain, fear still coursed through me, knowing what this would cost me. My pregnancy is supposed to be a secret. I don't want Killian to know I'm pregnant with his child in fear that he's going to take my baby from me.
Killian's gaze went back and forth between Drystan and me until he suddenly scoffed.
"Is this why you wanted to divorce me? Is this why you even went too far and faked her death?" Killian scoffed bitterly.
I felt confused. I wasn't expecting this kind of reaction from him. I've imagined many possible reactions from him, but none of them went like this.
Chapter 49: Baby Daddy
Killian's POV
"Since when?" I questioned. "Since when have you found out you're pregnant?"
My question hung in the air as the three fell silent. The three of them couldn't bring themselves to look at me anymore after their secrets were exposed.
I laughed bitterly as I turned my gaze away from them. "Now everything makes sense," I muttered.
It was out of nowhere when Astrid suddenly asked me for a divorce.
I couldn't figure out why Drystan would help Astrid and lie to me just for her when I'm his true family.
Now that I found out the big secret that they were trying to hide from me, everything finally made sense.
"Just how long?" I snapped. "How long have you been dating each other behind my back?"
Their gazes suddenly snapped back at me when they heard my question. I looked at each and every one of them, waiting for the first person who was going to answer my question, but they looked clueless as they stared at me. They looked confused as if they couldn't understand my simple question.
I let out a breath and shook my head in disbelief. They are already exposed. Are they seriously still going to act dumb in front of me?
"How long have you been cheating on me, Astrid?" I demanded furiously.
Astrid looked at me wearily as the pain from the rejection slowly dissipated away. She looked at me with hurt in her eyes when she heard my question. She's the one who cheated, but she had the audacity to feel hurt when I asked her why she cheated.
Drystan scoffed in disbelief. "Do you even know what the definition of cheating is, Killian? Cheating was when you fucked and impregnated someone else." "Then, if that is so, let me reiterate my question. How long have you been fucking my own uncle behind my back?!" I shot back with my eyes on Astrid. Drystan's face turned red in anger when he heard my question. At the same time, Astrid looked so abashed after she felt disrespected by my question. Looking at Astrid's belly, it's obvious that she's been pregnant for so long. Her belly is almost the same size as Giselle's.
It only means that she was already pregnant before we even divorced.
It's impossible that I'm the father of her child. In our entire marriage, I never slept with Astrid, not even on the night of our wedding.
We never consummated our marriage, so how could I make Astrid pregnant?
It is the main reason why Astrid never got pregnant. People made rumours that Astrid was barren, which is why she couldn't get pregnant; they had no idea that nothing just happened between us at all, which is why she couldn't get
pregnant.
My mother always nagged at her because she failed to produce an heir. She hated her, thinking that she would end our bloodline because she was barren. Even my mother doesn't know that we never consummated our marriage. "Tell me! Did it start during your 'family visits', or did it start way back before Astrid even found out that I'm his mate?!" I shouted at them, demanding answers.
Before Drystan became the Alpha of
his own Pack, he worked as the commander of our Pack Warriors Pack. He used to be Astrid's teacher.
He taught her everything about.
combat, which is why Astrid became the most powerful fighter in our Pack.
Astrid and Drystan used to be so close because of their teacher-student relationship. I had no idea that they had other relationships as well.
When Drystan became Alpha and started to live far from us, he always came to our Pack for what he called 'family visits'. Something must always happen between them behind my back. After all, how could Drystan make Astrid pregnant while we were still married?
"Watch your mouth, Killian. You are getting too far," Drystan shot back, making my lips curl.
In the end, of course, the answers to those questions don't matter. Astrid cheated. The date when that started doesn't matter. I'm only going to hurt myself by finding out the whole truth.
"You still know how to feel ashamed
after all! I wish you have thought
about that while you were fucking
my wife behind my back! You are my uncle trusted you, and I always welcomed you to our Pack. I wish you've thought about shame as you defiled yourselves."
"Yes! I am the father of Astrid's child. Are you happy now?!" Drystan yelled to shut me up.
My heart felt like it was stabbed a million times when I heard Drystan's confirmation. I knew that he was the father, but hearing that truth come out of his mouth greatly broke me.
I forced out a laugh, refusing to appear weak in front of them. Astrid cheated, but I'm not going to show her that I'm affected.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I guess we are even now. You cannot hold a grudge against me for what I've done," I spoke with an emotionless expression.
"That's right. Now that we have settled our scores, we should go our separate ways. Astrid doesn't need you anymore, so don't you bother her ever again," Drystan spoke firmly.
My body tensed at the thought of separating ways from Astrid forever. Once I leave now, I will no longer have any connection with her. I would no longer have any reason to meet her.
Chapter 50: Confession?
Astrid's POV
I lay motionless on my bed, my eyes distant and unfocused as the weight of Killian's words pressed heavily upon my heart, sapping me of my energy and will.
My mind couldn't stop going back to his shameless accusations. I couldn't believe how he could accuse me of cheating him and sleeping with his own uncle when he was the one who cheated in our marriage.
I couldn't believe how shameless he was to put all the blame on me when he was the one who ruined our marriage.
All my life, I have dedicated my life to him as his wife, even though he never appreciated everything that I did. I stayed loyal and faithful to him, always mindlessly hoping that he would grow feelings for me or hopefully become a loving husband in return.
I waited for years and invested all of my efforts in our relationship. In the end, all it took was for his ex-girlfriend to come back, and he threw away everything that we had and impregnated her.
"I've completed the examination," The Pack Doctor spoke, breaking me away from my thoughts. "The baby is perfectly healthy. Their heartbeat is strong, and all the vital signs are right where they should be."
A faint, tremulous smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
"What about Astrid?" Drystan asked.
Nova had already left since someone from our Pack needed to handle the ongoing event outside.
The Pack Doctor nodded solemnly. "Physically, she's doing well too. The effects of the broken mate bond are taking a toll, as expected, but her body is adapting." He paused, his gaze softening with empathy.
He then turned his attention back to me after he answered Drystan's question. "I know this is an incredibly difficult time for you, Astrid, but you and the baby are safe, and I will do everything in my power to help you recover. "The bond..." I murmured as I clutched the bedsheet.
I know that I'm the first one who rejected Killian, and he merely accepted my rejection. Still, sadness welled in my heart now that I officially don't have any connection with him.
This is what I wanted. This is what's best for me and for my child. I just felt sad because Killian was once a huge part of my life, but now he's gone.
I hope I willn't meet or see him again.
"Yes," the Pack Doctor replied, "the bond. I recommend you remain on strict bedrest until the effects have fully worn off. Your body and mind need time to heal, to find a new equilibrium," he explained.
I slowly nodded my head. I don't have the energy to do anything anyway. After I heard Killian's words, I was planning to stay in my room until I emotionally recovered.
"Thank you, Doctor," Drystan muttered as the Doctor took his leave.
"Everything will be fine, Astrid. Rest
now. Nova and I will handle the Werewolf Assembly until the end," Drystan reached for my hand and squeezed it when he saw my emotionless expression.
"I'm sorry, Drystan," I muttered under my breath. I felt so guilty that I couldn't look at him.
Because of me, he was involved in my problems and was accused of sleeping with someone else's mate.
Killian made many heavy accusations against him. I'm just glad that we were the only people in the area, or else it would cause a stir if someone else had heard it.
"I don't know where Killian got those thoughts. I'm sorry, I should have defended you," I spoke up.
Although Drystan frequently visits our Pack as a family member, we rarely even have the time to talk to each other.
I was always so occupied with work that I didn't have time to spare to catch up with him as my old teacher.
The last time we were really close to each other was when he was still working as the leader of our Pack military. After that, we rarely met and talked to each other.
It is the exact reason why I felt uncomfortable taking his help since a lot of things had changed ever since he became the Alpha and Killian and I got married.
"Forget about Killian's words. We know to ourselves that we have done nothing bad. Let's not allow his words to bother us," Drystan answered as he stroked my hair out of my face.
Drystan is the only person who has
ednes
always been nice to me, except for Nova. I practically owe my whole life to Drystan, not just because he saved my life many times but also because he is the one who taught me the knowledge and skills that I have now.
If it wasn't for him, I would have failed as a Luna in the Silvermoon Pack.
"Also, thank you for telling Killian you're the father of my child," I said shyly.
I was shocked when Drystan suddenly claimed my child as his out of nowhere. Killian was already accusing him of a lot of evil things that could ruin his reputation as an Alpha.
Yet, instead of denying all of them, he even claimed my child as his just to save my ass, even at the expense of ruining his reputation.
Drystan's face suddenly turned
serious. "Astrid, I'm willing to be a
father to your child. I didn't only say those words to make him stop and convince him to leave you alone. I could be the father that your child deserves to have."