Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 223: Return of A Friend

Astrid's POV

Alpha Theron gazed at me with a wistful look in his eyes, reflecting a tapestry of emotions within them after Andros had left, leaving only the both of us behind.

I shifted on my feet, feeling uncomfortable under his nostalgic gaze. He is staring at me with memories playing in his eyes.

And then, the corners of his lips curled slightly, like he had just woken up from a dream.

"Oh, Astrid. You've grown up so much already. Your dress really looks good on you," Alpha Theron muttered, confirming my thoughts.

He is staring at me the way a father does when he looks at his grown-up daughter while reliving past memories.

"I wish I was there to see you grow up. I wish I was really there with your mom," he whispered with pain in his voice.

A lump formed inside my throat when I heard his words. In the past, he had the option to fulfill those wishes he mentioned.

However, in the end, he still chose to leave us. It doesn't matter whether he regretted his decision or not.

The day he needed to make the crucial decision, the time that we needed him the most, he had set his priorities, and we weren't on top of them.

"Enjoy your day, Astrid," he spoke, his voice a gentle breeze carrying the weight of unspoken words.

I gave him a respectful nod, accepting his words gratefully. I gazed at him for a moment longer before I gracefully excused myself, stepping away, engulfed in my lonely silence yet again.

banquet waiting for us, an after-celebration for my introduction ceremony, which meant that I

contact with Giselle. I couldn't forget how pale and horrified she looked when she saw me and realized my real

on the front of my mind, and I couldn't

the other hand, Killian held a more complicated reaction. Unlike Giselle, it was hard to see

over Killian's face, there's nothing more I saw

face, but there was nothing

I stepped into the grand banquet hall, a hush fell over the crowd, and all eyes turned to me

bothered to hold a conversation with me. I felt like an invisible person around

was only Vanessa who

only person who was not judgmental enough to see me as a

was the only person who stood up for me while Giselle tried to

was out. Something had shifted among the guests. Everyone was looking at me with interest and fear

they couldn't

once indulged themselves in the lie that I was Alpha Theron's mistress, and last night, they ignored me and whispered those lies

staring at me intently. I

she looked at me. Before, there was always hostility and hatred in

eyes always had a look of a predator in them, as if she was ready to devour me. However, that

guests. She looked like she wanted to

reach me, I was stunned when someone ran towards me and enveloped me in a tight hug. "Astrid! I missed you so much!" My whole

invaded my private space finally stepped back, I saw Nova's familiar face

muttered, barely above a