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.

and the violin, and she also knows a little ballet

saw a different reaction on her face, a hint

What is he

is not good with strangers, and it's hard to keep him focused on something," Giselle replied. "Killian tried hiring tutors to teach him something

mockery than genuine concern. "As the future Alpha of the Silvermoon

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 the air

composure faltering, not expecting that Giselle would respond negatively to her in front of the

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

can play the piano and violin," she said, her voice taking on a more genuine tone. "I'd really like to watch

and saw her eyes narrowed, tracking Hazel as she played with the other kids, chatting and laughing as though

on Hazel, her face softening for a moment

observing the tension growing like a dark

wasn't simply frustrated with her son's silence or discomfort

with her body angled away from Max as though his mere

watched Vanessa smile warmly at her daughter

so intently? Then, a

could even

hands trembling as she gently examined the scrape.

later, chuckling lightly, "It's alright,

have to be more careful, darling," she murmured, her voice laced with more concern than I had

my God, are you okay?" Giselle's voice was