Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 302: Fear and Disappointment Astrid's POV

Killian took in a sharp intake of breath as if some realization had hit him. He doesn't know, but I've always known.

Giselle had always been crazy enough to pull such tricks. She pulled that trick herself in front of me just to push me out of the Pack.

I know that she is the type of person crazy enough to inflict harm on herself just to get what she wants. Damien's voice faltered, his guilt clear as he relived the moment. "That's when it all started. She threatened me, said if I didn't do what she wanted-if I didn't go along with her lies-she would kill my daughter. I was trapped."

He turned back to Vanessa, his eyes pleading for understanding. "I never wanted to deceive you. I did it because Giselle left me no choice. She was ruthless, and I knew she would follow through with her threats."

The room had fallen deathly silent. Giselle's pale face stood out in stark contrast to the accusations. Everyone was staring at her now, their disbelief turning into disgust.

The woman who had once carried herself with pride and power now looked small, her true nature finally laid bare.

The tension in the room became almost unbearable as Killian's eyes narrowed, his voice a low, controlled anger.

"So it was you," he said, turning his gaze on Damien. "It was you helping Giselle all along."

Damien's face went pale, shame washing over him as he stood exposed. His shoulders slumped under the weight of Killian's accusation, and he struggled to meet his friend's eyes.

"Killian, I—I didn't want to," he stammered, but the words felt empty. "She left me no choice." Killian's expression was a mix of hurt and disbelief. "I treated you like a brother, Damien," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "I trusted you, not just as a friend, but as family. And this is how you repay me?" The silence that followed was deafening. Damien's eyes dropped to the floor, the guilt evident in every line of his face.

"I never wanted to betray you," he whispered. "But she threatened my daughter, and I was trapped. I thought-" he faltered, unable to finish the sentence.

could have protected your daughter. These lies

mistake that he made. He had so many chances, but he made his choices out of

who cared and trusted him. His mate who loved and accepted him, and

his reason of betraying them for the sake of saving his

helped him, would

"And Ryker?" he asked, his voice

For a moment, Damien froze, a flicker of something-recognition, fear,

and he went

he lifted his gaze from the floor, turning to look directly at me. His eyes, filled with a mix of dread and something

beat. The intensity of his stare was

What truth is he going to

about to break. But just then a loud urgent

yelled in urgency. His breath was ragged, his eyes wide with

intensity of the

important to tell you," Beta Ryder tells

and Ryder's

before a flash of recognition passed between them - a silent understanding as Ryder showed him a paper he has

almost crumpled within Ryder's tight hold as if he is

and it took him a moment

room fell into a hushed stillness as Killian's eyes dropped to the paper. He read

his knuckles turning white

he looked frozen, as if the world had crashed down on him, shattering