Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 273: Silent Wish Killian's POV The chandeliers above casted a warm golden glow over the dining hall, but it did nothing to thaw the ice in my chest.

The room was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of easy conversation, but all I could hear was Astrid's soft voice. And him.

Drystan Sitting there next to her, smiling like he belonged.

I gripped my wine glass tightly as I watched him. They sat close, whispering softly to each other between bites, completely at ease.

The way Drystan leaned towards her, his eyes lighting up everytshe spoke it made my jaw tightened. "Alpha Killian," Damien's voice broke through my thoughts. The Crimsonbane Pack's Alpha raised his glass in a toast, "To new alliances and old friendships. It's good to have everyone gathered here tonight." I noticed how Damien's eyes flicked betweenand Drystan as if he sensed the shift in the air.

I averted my gaze, my jaw clenched as I forced myself to smile and raised my glass as well. "To alliances," I echoed, but the words tasted bitter. I downed the wine quickly, hoping it would drown the burning jealousy twisting inside me.

My eyes drifted back to Astrid and Drystan. The way she looked at him, her expression soft, trusting - it made something snap inside me.

Drystan had always been close to Astrid because of the relationship he used to have with her as Astrid's teacher. He used to be just Astrid's mentor, someone who used to stand on the sidelines.

Now, he was the one she turned to, the one she trusted. He is the one who is now close to her, more than close than I was to her.

My wolf stirred uneasily, as unsettled as I was. We both wanted to tear Drystan away from her, to take back what was ours. But the truth gnawed at me, even as I sat there pretending to be calm. Astrid had already changed. Watching them together, seeing how easy it was between them, I couldn't shake the gnawing fear that maybe I had lost her completely.

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to look away, but i couldn't. Every tDrystan smiled at her, every ther gaze lingered on him a second too log, it felt like a knife in my chest.

The distance between us was growing by the second and I was powerless to stop it.

My stomach twisted at my thoughts. How I wish that I was him instead. The one that she trusted, the one that she is close to. I wish I could even sit beside her right one and be the one who could make her laugh. But as I watched them, something darker crept in a fear that twisted tight around my heart. What if she had already moved on completely from me. What if all the feelings that he had left foris hate. I've done so many bad things, leaving her no room to love me.

The thought sent a cold wave of panic through me. What if there was no going back? What if I had lost the chance to fix things, to turn it all around? Even if it turned out that I never slept with Giselle at all, even if Astrid managed to forgivefor the things that happened in the past. Would she still acceptback if Drystan had already won her heart? It's been three long years of them being together. Drystan has kept Astrid company all this time. He was nice to her, he was there at Astrid's lowest point in her life that I caused.

What if I have lost her completely to Drystan? Giselle's hand rested on my arm, delicate and light, but her touch felt distant, like an anchor pullingdown. As my wife, she had to sit right beside me. I wish Astrid is the person sitting right besideinstead. "Excuse me," I spoke, rising to my feet, the words sharper than I intended.

The room quieted, all eyes turning to me, but I only had one person in my sights.

Drystan looked up, his smile infuriatingly calm, as if he didn't notice - or didn't care - that I was unraveling inside.

"I'd like to welcDrystan back to the Silvermoon Pack," I announced, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's good to have my uncle back... after all this time." Drystan was banned from the Pack. He was unwelcomed to enter because of the misunderstanding that happened before.

He once told us before that Astrid's unborn child was his and it madequestion if Astrid had always remained faithful to me.

I thought they've been having an affair. Drystan is my uncle and Astrid was my wife and Luna. Such a serious crime, cannot be let go of unpunished.

That's why Drystan was cut off from our family and was banned from entering the Pack.

Now that they are helping us in strengthening our military defenses for possible rogue attacks, I had to lift the ban and put everything under the bridge.

Drystan met my gaze, his smile widening just a fraction, as if he understood.exactly what was going through my head. "It's good to be back, Kittian," he replied smoothly. "But only chere to see Astrid," his hand lingered on Astrid's as he gazed at her. My wolf bristled inside me, wanting to rip him away from her, but I held myself back.

Astrid looked up then, her eyes meeting mine. For a brief moment, something flickered between us, but just as quickly, it was gone.

She turned away, her attention back on Drystan, leavingstanding there with a hollow ache in my chest. Damien raised his glass again, "I'm afraid I have to apologize to everyone," he began, his tone as light as ever. "I won't be able to stay for the rest of the evening." A few murmurs rose from the guests as his gaze shifted toand he offered a slight nod. "Killian, if you don't mind, I'd like to excuse myself and Astrid. It's been... quite stsince we've had a proper catch-up." Every muscle in my body tensed.

Damien and Astrid? Catching up? In private? The thought was enough to I tighten the knot coiling in my gut. I looked at Astrid, who seemed surprised but didn't hesitate to smile in agreement. Her gaze flickered to Damien, then to me, as if she was waiting for my response.

I wanted to say no. To tell Damien he could take anyone - anyone but her. But I couldn't. Not without looking like a jealous fool in front of everyone.

I forced a tight smile, though the words felt like ash in my mouth. "Of course. You're welcto catch up." Damien's grin widened he lend a hand to Astrid as she stood gracefully, not a hint of hesitation. She had no idea what was boiling inside me.

As they made their way out, I took a step forward to follow them, failing to m tĢiselle's! control myself this tin finger brushed my arm which madestop. "You have to stay, Killian. As the hosts, we needed to be the last person to level here."