Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 275: Waiting Time

Drystan's POV

I watched Astrid closely as she stared down at the heart-shaped rock in her hand, her expression distant, brows furrowed together as though the small stone held the answers to all her questions.

The cold breeze swept through the night, rustling the leaves and sending a shiver down my spine, but I ignored it. My focus was solely on her.

"What's that?" I asked, trying to break the silence that had settled between us.

But she didn't respond. She was too lost in her thoughts to notice me. I watched as her fingers absentmindedly traced the shape of the stone, and something in her posture felt different-uneasy, troubled.

"Astrid," I called again, this time louder. "Are you alright?"

She blinked, as though she was suddenly pulled back to reality. "What?" she asked, her eyes darting to

me for the first time in what felt like minutes. "Oh... yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Her answer was vague, and I wasn't convinced, but I didn't press further. Instead, I took a step closer, hoping my presence would somehow ease whatever was weighing on her mind.

Before I could say anything else, a sudden tightness gripped my chest, and I coughed sharply, struggling to catch my breath for a moment.

My Doctor tried to stop me from leaving, telling me that I couldn't leave just yet. My body has not yet fully recovered and I have to rest, but I was too eager to leave so I could meet with Astrid.

Now, I'm finally starting to feel my body weighing down on me after pushing myself so hard.

turned toward me, her eyes widening with concern.

she wasn't convinced. She moved

was faster, her fingers wrapping around my wrist with a gentle but

a jolt through my spine as she gently pressed her fingers against my

voice laced with worry. "Your pulse... it's weak. Why didn't

trying to brush it off. "Just

furrowing deeper. "It's more than that. Your wolf... it feels

to pull away, but she wouldn't let go, her grip firm as she checked my pulse again, her serious expression softened when

but filled with guilt. She looked at

course not! Don't worry, this is nothing serious. I just needed to rest and my body will recover. I told you, Astrid. I'll wait as long as it takes. I promised

for a moment, I saw something shift in her eyes - guilt, regret, maybe both. She shook her head slowly, her fingers still

not understanding. "Stop? What

anymore," she said, her voice barely a whisper, but the weight

my voice steady. "Astrid, don't say that. You

her eyes meeting mine, filled with sadness. "But that's the problem. I don't have anything left to give you, Drystan. I'm pulling your

words were a knife to my chest, but I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I just stared at her, trying to make sense of it all.

whispered. "Your wolf... it was damaged because of me. Because I was unsure I made you

do anything. This was my choice, Astrid. I wanted to wait for

said again, softer this time. "But it's not fair to you. To you, I'm the most important thing in your life, but to me you are not. You deserve someone who will also put you first. I'm only dragging

dragging me down. I want to be with

that," she said, her voice breaking ever so slightly. "You are the best person I've ever met in my life. You have always treated me with kindness, you

to my chest, stealing the air from

My heart twisted painfully at her confession and for a moment, I couldn't bring myself to