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.

Vanessa spoke boastfully. "She could play both the piano and the violin, and she also knows a little ballet from her

Instead, I saw a different reaction on her face, a hint

about Ryker? I heard that some autistic children are born geniuses. What is he good at?" Vanessa questioned,

replied. "Killian tried hiring tutors to teach him something and gain his interest, but none of them

more as a mockery than genuine concern. "As the future Alpha of

back 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

eyes widened in surprise, her composure faltering, not expecting that Giselle would respond negatively to her in

to spiral into an open confrontation, Giselle's defenses

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

Giselle's gaze and saw her eyes narrowed, tracking Hazel as she played with the other kids, chatting and laughing as though they'd known each

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

sat next to them, observing the tension growing like a dark

silence

how Giselle sat with her body angled away from Max

her daughter while Giselle's face remained

so intently? Then, a sudden cry split through the air. Hazel had tumbled off the edge of the

could even

her hands trembling as she gently examined the scrape. Her face was a mask of fear as if it were her

a moment later, chuckling lightly,

running her hands over Hazel's hair, her breath coming fast. "You have to be more careful, darling," she murmured, her voice laced with more concern than I had ever heard her

my God, are you okay?" Giselle's voice was thick with concern when she