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.

swallowed hard, my throat raw.

Killian's grip tightened immediately, his entire body going rigid. "Absolutely

wrist from his grasp. "Killian, he has her. What do you expect me to do? Sit here?

hold yourself together Astrid. You can let a simple message get into your head!" Killian raised his voice, thinking that

Astrid. Ardan shows no mercy. He won't

And he knows you well enough to be sure you'd go running to him the moment he sent

"Because my daughter is out there, Killian! She's alone, and

my body shaking as I clutched the paper to

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 I'm not

me,

she hasn't eaten?" My voice was

What if she's calling for me and I'm not

caught me, his arms wrapping tightly around me. But I

another day not knowing, Killian!" My hands fisted in

him as I sobbed. "I have to go. I

going rigid. "No," he growled,

my tear streaked

desperation twisting my expression.

me do this. Let me trade myself for her. She's just a child. I can't

on my arms, his golden eyes burning with something fierce and

his voice thick with emotion. "That's

care!" I shouted, shoving at his chest, but he didn't move. "I won't risk her life! I won't gamble my daughter's life on the chance

sharply, his fingers curling into fists

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 doesn't care about Elara he wants you. He wants your power. Your blood. You're the

by giving him what he wants," I snapped. "I don't care about