Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 430: A Price to Pay

Astrid's POV

The walls of the Packhouse had never felt so suffocating.

Days had passed since Elara was taken, but time had lost all meaning.

The world outside moved on, but inside these walls, inside this nightmare, everything was frozen-suspended in a relentless cycle of fear, exhaustion, and waiting.

Waiting for news. Waiting for a sign. Waiting for something, anything, to bring my daughter back.

But all I had were the heavy, sinking hours in between, where every breath felt like a struggle, where every shadow in the room felt like it was closing in on me.

Ryker's condition wasn't improving.

If anything, he was getting worse.

He barely spoke. He barely ate. When he did sleep, it was restless and fitful, his small hands gripping the sheets as if he were still in battle, as if he were still fighting off the monsters that had stolen his sister.

Every time he closes his eyes to sleep, he wakes up screaming his sister's name, tormented by nightmares.

Ryker is blaming himself for what happened to his sister, worsening his health.

And I... I was barely surviving.

I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Elara's terrified face, her small hands reaching

for me, the way her screams had echoed as she was ripped from my grasp.

I had failed her.

I had failed both of them.

I sat by Ryker's bedside, my fingers brushing through his damp hair, pushing it away from his forehead.

His skin was clammy, his breathing too shallow for my liking.

"Ryker," I whispered, my voice hoarse from days of disuse.

His lashes fluttered, but he didn't open his eyes.

I looked down at his hand resting in mine, so small, so fragile, and I felt the weight

I

shuddering breath escaped me, and I pressed

here," I murmured. "I promise

voice broke through my thoughts. "You can't keep going like this,

didn't turn around. I didn't

Killian.

only one keeping all

one taking care of the Pack, the one managing

but he had to be strong for

was the one trying

his voice, the weight of his own

afford to fall apart

tightening around Ryker's. "He's getting worse," I whispered,

beside me. “Because he's worrying

That made me flinch.

lied, my voice sharper than

Killian exhaled heavily. "Astrid."

care about me, Killian. I care

how do you think Ryker feels watching you like this? You

with unshed tears. "What else am I supposed to do?" My

scared, alone. What do you

QUMS

golden eyes softened, and he reached up to cup my cheek, his warmth grounding me,

you to survive this, Astrid," he said gently. "Because

need her mother.

My chest tightened painfully.

he

I wasn't doing

crushing weight of

brushing my fingers over

just

squeezed my hand. "It

I could respond, the door to

enough to send my heart

Something had happened.

stood immediately, his body tensing. "What

cloak and

quietly.

me went

the parchment, his jaw tightening as he

the words quickly, his entire body