Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 346: Accusation Astrid's POV

"Father," I whispered, the word foreign on my tongue. I had never called him that before.

It had always been "Alpha Theron" or just "Alpha." Whenever I call him that, I could always see it in his face how he desired to hear me call him father.

"Father, Father!" I called him repeatedly, hoping he would hear me, but it was too late.

I reached out with trembling hands, brushing the blood-matted hair from his face. His skin was cold, his eyes closed, his features still etched with the dignity of the leader he had been.

My vision blurred with tears that spilled over, unchecked and endless.

"I'm sorry," I choked, the words barely audible through the sobs that wracked my body. “I'm so sorry, Father. I wasn't a good daughter. I was so hard on you, so angry. I should've... I should've forgiven you."

The words tumbled out in a torrent, each one a dagger to my heart. "I was too stubborn. Too proud. You tried to make things right, and I wouldn't let you. I thought we had more time... I thought..." My voice broke, and I leaned over him, clutching his hand in mine. It was still, unresponsive.

"I forgive you, Father," I whispered, my tears dripping onto his lifeless form. "I forgive you. I love you. I need you. Please wake up. Please don't leave me."

My chest heaved with sobs, and I buried my face in his shoulder. "I'll be better. I'll be a better daughter, I promise. Just... please, come back. I need more time. I need you."

But there was no response, no flicker of life in his still frame. The realization crushed me, and I let out a raw, anguished cry, my body trembling as I clung to him.

"Father, I'm so sorry," I sobbed as I called him father as many times as I could even though I knew he couldn't hear me.

He never had the chance to hear me call him father. I never had the chance to make things right with him.

"I'm sorry father, I promise I will make it up to you. Please, come back. From now on, I will be a better daughter to you just come back."

wish I forgave him. I wish I didn't hold on to my anger so much. I wasted

time I had with my father. Now, I cannot

as I spoke. "I love you, Father. I

he was

voice broke through my

Asha's cry tore through the stillness like a

head to see her running toward us, her face pale, her eyes wide with shock and grief. She stumbled as she reached us, collapsing to her knees beside

hands trembling as

gently, as if afraid to hurt him, even though he was already gone.

she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face

to steady her even as my

had no words. No

her have her time with father. My attention turned to Andros who has been silently standing in front of us, his

has been watching us, his face mirroring

been safe. He had warriors with him, assigned to protect him and Asha. How did he end up alone, vulnerable enough to be

Andros, my voice sharp

lifted his head slightly,

through the air like a whip. "Father was supposed to be alive. He was supposed to

up at us when she heard my

did Father die? How did you find him? And how, Andros, did you fail to protect

Asha looked confused, but she didn't say a word. Andros averted his gaze

late when I found him fighting a rogue," he

narrowing. "You mean to tell me that