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 cin 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 overlike 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.

I swallowed hard, my throat raw. "I have to go." || "No." Killian's grip tightened immediately, his entire body going rigid. "Absolutely not." I stepped back, wrenching my wrist from his grasp. "Killian, he has her. What do you expectto do? Sit here? Wait for another letter? Hope that he won't-" My voice cracked. I couldn't say it. I wouldn't say it.

Killian's jaw clenched. "You need to hold yourself together Astrid. You can let a simple message get into your head!" Killian raised his voice, thinking that would pullout of myself.

"You have to think, Astrid. Ardan shows no mercy. He won't give us this chance without an ulterior motive. This is a trap. He knows exactly what he's doing. And he knows you well enough to be sure you'd go running to him the moment he sent that letter," Killian explained to me.

"And he's right!" I shouted, my chest heaving. "Because my daughter is out there, Killian! She's alone, and she's -" My breath hitched, a sob breaking free despite how hard I fought it.

Tears burned down my cheeks, my body shaking as I clutched the paper to my chest like it held the last remnants of my child.

"I can't-" My voice broke 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 forand I'm not there to hold her." Killian took a step toward me, but I shook my head violently.

"What if she hasn't eaten?" My voice was hoarse, choked with agony. "What if she's cold? What if she's calling forand I'm not there?" My knees buckled, and before I could collapse, Killian caught me, his arms wrapping tightly around me. But I didn't stop.

"I can't live another day not knowing, Killian!" My hands fisted in his shirt, clinging to him as I sobbed. "I have to go. I have to give him what he wants." Killian stiffened instantly, his entire body going rigid. "No," he growled, his voice suddenly sharp, commanding. "You are not going to him." I lifted my tear streaked face to his, desperation twisting my expression.

"Please," begged, my voice raw, trembling. "Please, letdo this. Lettrade myself for her. She's just a child. I can't let her suffer for me." Killian's hands tightened on my arms, his golden eyes burning with something fierce and desperate.

"Astrid, listen to me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "That's exactly what he wants." "I don't 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 that we can save her." Killian exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.

"You think handing 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 only one who can stop him." "And I'll stop him by giving him what he wants," I snapped. "I don't care about his war, about his cause-I just want my daughter back." Killian ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "Astrid, if you go to him, he wins. We lose everything."

I shook my head, my voice breaking. "If I don't go to him, I lose her." Killian's hands clenched at hissidès. "That will never happen. With both of us together, there is a higher chance that we can save Elara and stop the rogue king. The reason why he wants you is because you are a pure blooded almega. The only one who is powerful enough to stop him is you." I knew he was right, but his words fell on deaf ears.

I had already lost my reasoning.

All I could think about is my daughter in danger

Even if there is only a small chance, I will never risk my daughter's life h couldn't gamble her life couldn't risk losing her because of a strategy, because of sbattle between us and him. This wasn't a war for me.

This was my daughter's life.

And I would do anything to get her back.

Even if it meant losing myself.

"Astrid, I know what you are thinking, but you have to trust me. I will find a way. You don't have to choose. We ΝΩ will defeat the rogue king and we will save our daughter," Killian assuredas he clutchedtighten QUMS I sniffed, as I got swallowed by my own thoughts while Killian pressed a kiss on my forehead thinking that I was listening to him.