Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 355: Leader of the Shadowfang Pack Astrid's POV

The night was heavy with silence as the warriors dispersed, the battlefield now empty save for those I loved most.

Andros was gone, banished to a rogue's life, and with him, the storm that had loomed over my family and the Shadowfang Pack for so long.

I stood near the edge of the forest, my legs trembling under the weight of exhaustion, both physical and emotional.

The moon hung low, its light casting a gentle glow over Killian and Ryker, who approached me hand in hand.

"Mommy?" Ryker's voice was soft, hesitant, as if he wasn't sure I would respond.

I knelt down, opening my arms. He didn't hesitate. He ran to me, throwing himself into my embrace, and I held him tightly, burying my face in his soft hair.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "I should have protected you better. I should have been there."

Ryker pulled back just enough to look at me, his small hands resting on my cheeks.

"You did protect me," he said firmly, his young voice full of conviction. "You're the strongest Mommy ever."

His words broke me in the best way, and I held him closer, my heart swelling with love and relief.

Killian knelt beside us, his hand resting gently on my back. "He's right, you know," he said, his voice warm. "You've always been stronger than you gave yourself credit for."

I turned to look at him, my vision blurry with tears. “Killian, I—”

He shook his head, cutting me off. "You don't have to explain anything, Astrid. I've seen you fight for this pack, for your family, for Ryker. You don't have to prove anything to me or anyone else."

more tears fell. "Thank you,"

"For what?"

in me,

always deserved it, Astrid. And I'll always

and the tension broke. We laughed softly,

in the packhouse with Ryker fast asleep in my arms, Asha entered the room. Her

said, sitting up straighter. "Is everything all

of her. "I needed to talk to

my chest tightening. "What about

hesitated, glancing

can't do this," she said, her

them.

And besides...." She paused, her eyes filling with tears. "Father didn't want me to be Luna.

I felt the weight of

she shook her head, stepping

Astrid Listen to me. Father saw something in you-something I see too. You have the strength to lead this pack, to guide them the way he would have wanted.

and then at Killian, who gave me an encouraging

Killian said gently. "You're already doing

tightened with doubt. "I was once a Luna. I'm not sure if

again," I muttered as

words, Killian's

eyes I saw guilt. "You were the best Luna

It was my fault for being hard on you