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.

enough, Damien?" he asked. "If you had told me, we could have solved things together. We could have protected your daughter. These

guilt clawed at his chest for each mistake that he made. He had so many chances, but he made his choices out of

His mate who loved and

betraying them for the sake of saving his daughter, would never be

have helped him, would have fought for his daughter's safety if only he had

his emotions. "And Ryker?" he asked, his voice cold and

seemed to hold its breath as the question hung in the air. For a moment, Damien froze, a flicker of something-recognition, fear, or

he went pale, as if he had

directly at me. His eyes, filled with a mix

heart skipping a beat. The intensity of

is it? What truth is he going

building like a storm about to break. But

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

attention snapped to him, the intensity of the moment broken as

have something important to tell you," Beta

and Ryder's

recognition passed between them - a silent understanding as Ryder showed him a paper he has been

must be important, it almost crumpled within Ryder's tight hold as if he is afraid he

his breath, and it took him a moment to

the pressure of his hold. The room fell into a hushed stillness as Killian's eyes dropped to the

turning white as he

frozen, as if the world had crashed