Reclaiming My Broken Luna 2

Astrid's POV

I stared at Rowena, my heart pounding in disbelief. My wolf stirred uneasily within

me, sensing my anger, my sadness, my... disgust.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You have no remorse," I said, my voice trembling, a mix of anger and sorrow. "After everything that happened.

After the pain you caused to Drystan and Nova. After taking someone's mate, someone's sister, you stand here and act as if it was just... business. Just a means to an end."

Rowena's cold, detached gaze met mine. "It wasn't personal, Astrid. It was survival.

You have to understand when you're protecting what's yours, you'll do whatever it takes. Drystan would have taken everything from us."

I took a step forward, my fists clenched, my wolf growling within me. "Do you even hear yourself? You didn't just take everything from Drystan; you destroyed him.

You tore apart a bond stronger than anything in this world. Do you know what it feels like to lose your mate? To live every single day with half of your soul missing?"

Rowena's lips thinned, but she didn't respond.

"I've seen how much Nova grieved for Liora," I continued, my voice rising. "I've seen Drystan bury himself in guilt and misery. And you... You just watched it happen, carrying this secret all these years like it was nothing."

Killian stepped forward, his voice low and trembling with anger. "This is why you offered to help, isn't it?

This is why you made that deal with us to escape punishment. To escape the consequences of what you did."

Rowena's silence was damning.

Killian's eyes darkened, his voice breaking as he spoke again. "You knew this would come out eventually, didn't you? You knew that if Nova or Drystan ever discovered the truth, they wouldn't stop until you paid for it.

So you came to us, made yourself indispensable, knowing we'd protect you because of Ryker, because of Elara. Because of me."

I felt my breath catch as his words sunk in. It all made sense now-her sudden offer of help, her eagerness to align herself with us after years of animosity.

It wasn't out of some newfound loyalty. It was self-preservation.

"You used us," I said quietly, my voice cold and sharp. "You used your own son, your grandchildren, just to save yourself.

Do you have any idea what you've done? What this could do to our Packs? To our alliance?"

Rowena finally spoke, her tone unwavering. "What I did, I did for this Pack. For you, for Killian, for Ryker and Elara.

If Drystan had become Alpha, the Silvermoon Pack would have fallen apart. He didn't have the strength to lead after Liora's death."

Killian's voice was low, dangerous. "He didn't have the strength because you tooknoveldrama

it from him. You killed the one person who made him whole.

Don't stand here and justify this as some act of loyalty to the Pack. This was about power. Your power. Father's power. Nothing more."

"Who else knew about this?" I asked, trying to find out if there was someone else behind this.

"No one," Rowena answered emotionlessly. "It was my own idea. I took everything in my own hands, not even your father knew about this," she spoke while staring at Killian."

"You're unbelievable," Killian said, his voice low and dangerous. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Drystan and Nova trusted us. They trusted me. If they find out about this-"

"They don't have to," Rowena interrupted. "The past is the past. What matters now is keeping the Packs united against the Rogue King. If this gets out, it will destroy everything we've built."

Killian turned away from her, his hands trembling with fury. I reached for him, my touch grounding him as he struggled to compose himself.

"This is bigger than just keeping the Packs united," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "Rowena, what you did what you're still trying to justify-it's not something that can just be buried."

Rowena's gaze hardened, her posture unyielding. "It has to be buried, Astrid. For the sake of everyone."

I couldn't believe her audacity. She had taken a life, shattered the future of Drystan and Nova, and still had the nerve to demand silence as if it were the easiest solution.

My wolf snarled within me, furious at her lack of remorse, but I kept my composure. Barely.

"We can't let this divide us," Killian muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

His jaw tightened, and I could feel the weight of the decision pressing on him. "Not now. Not with everything at stake."

Rowena stepped closer, her

expression softer now, almost pleading. "Killian, I did this for you. For our family. Don't let this ruin us. Think of Ryker, of Elara. If the truth comes out, they'll lose everything

we've worked to protect."

I flinched at the mention of my children. My wolf bristled, torn between the instinct

to protect them and the rage clawing at my chest for what Rowena had done.

"Don't you dare use them as an

excuse," I snapped, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You didn't do this for them. You did this for yourself and for power. Don't

try to twist this into sove

noble."

Rowena's eyes darkened, her mouth opening as if to argue, but Killian silenced

her with a glare.

"You're right about one thing," Killian

said, his voice cold and steady now. "If this comes out, it will destroy everything. But that doesn't mean you're absolved, Mother. You'll have to answer for this-one way or another."

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken consequences.

Rowena's expression faltered, but she quickly masked it with a stoic front. "Do what you have to, Killian. Just don't let it destroy the Packs. That's all I'll say."

Killian turned away from her, and I followed him, the tension between us palpable as we walked back toward the Packhouse.

My mind raced, replaying Rowena's confession and the implications it carried.

"We have to decide what to do," I said softly, breaking the silence as we reached the edge of the courtyard.

Killian stopped, his golden eyes filled with a mixture of pain and determination. "We can't tell them. Not yet."

I hesitated, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "If they find out we hid this from them..."

"I know," he interrupted, his voice heavy. "But right now, the Rogue King is the bigger threat. If the Packs fall apart because of this, we're done. Everyone's done."

I nodded reluctantly, understanding his reasoning but hating it all the same.

This secret wasn't just a shadow over Rowena anymore. It was a shadow over all

of us.