Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 352: Document Astrid's POV

Her words made me flinch, but I didn't respond. Asha reached into her bag and pulled out a document, holding it out to me.

"This," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "is from our father. It's proof that he wanted you to lead the Shadowfang Pack. Not Andros."

I took the paper with trembling hands, scanning the words. My father's

handwriting, so familiar and yet so distant, stared back at me. The weight of his decision settled over me like a crushing burden.

I fell silent, I had no idea that despite my cold treatment towards him, he still chose to hand me his position before he died. Overwhelming grief enveloped my heart once again as I remember how he died.

"I can't do this," I said, shaking my head and thrusting the document back toward Asha. "I can't lead the pack."

"Astrid—” Asha began, but I cut her off.

"You don't understand," I said, my voice breaking. "My wolf... it's getting stronger. Harder to control. I can feel it-the power, the rage. One day, I'm going to lose control completely, and when that happens..."

I looked away, tears stinging my eyes. "When that happens, I'll be nothing but a killing machine. I can't risk that. I won't risk that."

Killian stepped closer, his expression pained. "Astrid, you're stronger than you think. You can fight this."

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You don't understand, Killian. There's no hope for me. And I won't let Ryker be part of this nightmare."

His face darkened. "Ryker deserves to know who you are. He deserves to know his mother."

I clenched my fists, anger and sorrow battling within me. "No," I said firmly. “He can't know. He's safe with you, Killian, and that's how it has to stay. I'm going to die eventually, whether it's by Andros's hand or my own wolf. I don't want Ryker to go through the pain of losing me."

Killian stared at me, his jaw tightening. I could see the conflict in his eyes, but I refused to back down.

"I came here to hide, to protect everyone from what I've become," I said, my voice quieter now. "Please, just... leave me be."

Asha's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Killian's hands clenched at his sides, but neither of them moved.

at the love and worry etched into their faces. But I couldn't let them get closer. Not when I was so

and footsteps outside

door. Asha moved closer to me, her face pale with

asked, dread pooling

Alpha Damien's Beta bursts into the room, his expression grim. "Alpha, Alpha Andros is here. He has warriors with him... and

My heart stopped. "What?"

Ryker unless we hand you

body went rigid, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned

bastard," he growled, his voice laced with

through me, my mind spinning. Ryker. My

and Killian, rushing toward the door. "I'll go to him," I said, my

him, Astrid." "If I don't, he'll hurt Ryker,"

expression firm. "Astrid, we'll protecty Ryker. We'll defend the pack. You

don't understand. Andros will kill everyone here if he has to. He won't stop until he

tightening at the anguish on his

waiting, a cold, smug smile on his

gleaming in the fading

my son, his small face pale with

him go, Andros," I said, my voice steady

"And why would I do

at my sides, anger boiling beneath the surface. I wanted nothing more than to rip him

this," I said, my voice

bet

mockingly, feigning shock. "You've

the

to bring

have come quietly."

respond, the sound of distant footsteps reached my

louder, accompanied by

as he turned toward the noise. Moments later,