Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 431: Breaking Point

Astrid's POV

The words on the paper blurred before my eyes, my grip tightening until the edges crumpled in my shaking hands.

My breath came in sharp, uneven gasps, my pulse hammering so loudly it

drowned out everything else.

Killian was speaking — his voice low and urgent — but I couldn't hear him.

All I could see was Elara.

Trapped. Alone. Scared.

The paper shook violently in my grasp as a sob tore from my throat.

My daughter was out there, in his hands. And he wanted me.

The weight of it settled over me like an iron cage.

This was never about the Pack. Never about a war.

It had always been about me.

A hand touched my wrist, firm and grounding. "Astrid."

Killian's voice finally cut through the haze of panic suffocating me. I looked up, meeting his golden eyes-burning with unspoken fear.

For me.

For Elara.

For all of us.

hard, my throat raw.

immediately, his entire body going

Sit here? Wait for another letter? Hope that he won't—" My voice cracked. I couldn't say it.

a simple message get into your head!" Killian

Astrid. Ardan shows no mercy. He won't give us this

He knows exactly what he's doing. And he knows you well enough to be sure you'd go

right!" I shouted, my chest heaving. "Because my daughter is out there, Killian! She's alone, and she's—" My

body shaking as I clutched the paper to my chest like it held the

as I gasped for air. "I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't even breathe without wondering if she's okay. If she's alive. If she's scared. If she's crying for me and

toward me, but I shook

hasn't eaten?" My voice was

if she's calling for me and I'm

I could collapse, Killian caught me, his arms

Killian!"

go. I have to give him

stiffened instantly, his entire body going rigid. "No," he growled, his voice suddenly sharp, commanding. "You are

tear streaked face

desperation twisting my expression.

begged, my voice raw, trembling. "Please, let me do this. Let me trade myself for her. She's just a child. I

hands tightened on my arms, his golden eyes burning with

me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "That's exactly

shouted, shoving at his chest, but he didn't move. "I won't risk her life! I won't gamble

sharply, his fingers curling

yourself over will make her safe? That Ardan will just let her go?” His voice was harsh, almost furious. "You know what he wants, Astrid. He

I'll stop him by giving him what he wants," I snapped.