Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 263: Real Mother

Astrid's

POV

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the playground. Giselle sat on the edge of a park bench, her posture stiff, watching her son, Ryker, who stood a few feet away, transfixed by the swing's rhythmic motion.

He didn't climb onto it; instead, he observed the world around him fading into the background. Giselle didn't bother to approach her son or to keep him company.

Vanessa, sitting next to her, laughed softly as her daughter, Hazel, darted around the playground, introducing herself to other children with ease and grace that came naturally to her.

"That girl," Vanessa mused, smiling fondly, "She could make friends with anyone."

Giselle nodded her smile tight. She watched Hazel charm another group of children, their laughter

reaching her ears like an echo that she wished she could hear from Ryker.

I watched as Giselle's fingers tensed on the edge of the bench as she glanced at her son. He wasn't interacting, wasn't joining in, leaving her nothing to boast about him.

"Ryker is just shy," Giselle replied after a moment, her voice distant as if she felt embarrassed to give that answer. "He's not good with people."

Vanessa waved her hand dismissively. "Oh please, He's just fine. We all have our pace." Her smile was bright; it was so easy to see how delighted she was to rub it on Giselle's face that her daughter was better than hers.

Giselle's shoulders tensed. If they hadn't been at the public playground and no people were watching, she would have responded negatively to Vanessa's words. It's clear what she's doing here.

the piano and the violin, and she also knows a little ballet from

Instead, I saw a different reaction on her face, a hint of sadness and happiness at the same

that some autistic children are born geniuses. What is he good

good with strangers, and it's hard to keep him focused on something," Giselle replied. "Killian tried hiring

though it came off more as a mockery than genuine concern. "As the future

with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You don't have to worry, Ryker's health is improving with his therapy sessions. The Crimsonbane Pack won't raise up in the ranks anytime soon," she quipped, a playful challenge hanging in

faltering, not expecting that

into an open confrontation, Giselle's defenses softened, her expression shifting from sharp to

that Hazel knows ballet and can play the piano and violin," she said, her voice taking on a more genuine tone. "I'd

with the other kids, chatting and laughing as though they'd known each

long on Hazel, her face softening for a moment - until she caught sight of Ryker

observing the tension growing like a dark cloud between Giselle

son's silence or discomfort about strangers;

sat with her body angled away from Max

Vanessa smile warmly at her daughter while Giselle's

with Hazel, and that's why she is looking at her so intently? Then, a sudden cry split through the air. Hazel had tumbled off

could even

toward the girl. "Hazel!" she gasped, kneeling beside her, her hands trembling as she gently examined the scrape. Her face was a mask of fear as if it were her own daughter lying there

moment later, chuckling lightly, "It's alright,

careful, darling," she murmured, her voice laced with more concern than I had ever heard her use with

you okay?" Giselle's voice was thick with concern when she