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

it-how easily I

and I pressed

"I promise I

my thoughts.

didn't turn around. I didn't need to. I knew that

Killian.

the only one keeping all

warriors stayed on high alert, the one taking care of the Pack, the one

anxiety, but he had to be strong for us. Especially when all of us couldn't hold

was the one trying

the weight of his own grief pressing

couldn't afford

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

me. “Because he's worrying about Elara," he said softly. "And because he's worrying

That made me flinch.

my

Killian exhaled heavily. "Astrid."

my eyes. "I don't care

crouched beside me, his fingers brushing lightly over my wrist. "And how do you think Ryker feels watching you like this? You haven't eaten in days. You barely sleep You're running

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

is out there, scared, alone. What do you want me

QUMS

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

he said

going to need her mother. And Ryker needs

My chest tightened painfully.

he

I wasn't doing anyone any good like

crushing weight of it-was

to Ryker, brushing my fingers over his cheek. "I just

I whispered. "I just want this to

my hand.

respond, the door to the

enough to

Something had happened.

stood immediately, his body tensing. "What

cloak and pulled

message,” he said quietly. “From

inside me

the parchment, his jaw tightening as he

the words quickly, his entire body