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.

heart ached at the sight of them, at the love and worry etched into their faces. But I couldn't let them get closer.

and footsteps outside shattered the tense

narrowing as he turned towards the door. Asha moved closer to me,

I asked, dread pooling in my

later, 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?"

unless we hand

body went rigid, his fists clenching so

his voice laced

and guilt surged through me, my mind

door. "I'll go to him,"

arm. "You're not surrendering to him, Astrid." "If I

stepped forward, his expression firm. "Astrid, we'll protecty Ryker. We'll defend the pack. You don't have

head. "You don't understand. Andros will kill everyone here

tightening at the anguish on his face. "This is my fight," I

I stepped outside, Andros was waiting, a cold, smug smile on

weapons gleaming in the fading light. And there, in his grasp, was

sight of my son, his small face pale with fear, made my heart

said, my voice steady

that infuriating smirk still on his lips. "And why would I do

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

said, my voice low

bet

he repeated mockingly, feigning shock. "You've forced my hand,

the

way to bring

have come quietly."

respond, the sound of distant footsteps reached my ears. It

first but grew louder, accompanied by the clang

turned toward the noise.