Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 433: Desperation and Decisions Killian's POV The omega's words rang in my ears like a warning bell.

"Alpha! Alpha! It's Ryker! He's awake and looking for you. He won't calm down!" My entire body locked up.

Ryker had always been tormented with nightmares ever since Elara was kidnapped. He often woke up in the middle of the night, demanding to see us and he would always look so terrified.

I stood at the Packhouse entrance, my wolf raging to break free, my warriors prepared to track Astrid before she got too far.

Every instinct insidescreamed atto run, to chase her down, to drag her back before she made the biggest mistake of her life.

But my son needed me.

For a single, agonizing moment, I hesitated.

Then I turned on my heel and strode toward the infirmary, my boots pounding against the floor, my fists clenched so tightly my nails cut into my palms.

My lungs burned with restrained fury, my thoughts a storm of frustration and helplessness.

First Astrid. Now Ryker. I was losing control of everything.

When I entered the room, I barely had tto brace myself before Ryker's panicked voice shattered the air.

"Where's Mom?! Where is she?!" His small frtrembled violently beneath the thick blankets, his bandaged head slick with sweat.

He tried to push himself up, but the doctor rushed forward, gently pressing him back down.

His breathing was erratic, his chest rising and falling too fast.

The moment his frantic gaze landed on me, something insidebroke.

I had seen my son hurt before. I had seen him fall, scrape his knees, even break a bone during training.

But I had never seen him like this.

Never seen this level of pure, unfiltered terror.

I took a step closer, but he shook his head violently.

"Where is she?!" he cried. "Where's Mom?!" I exhaled slowly, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Ryker... It's just another nightmare-" He saw the hesitation in my stance, the flicker of something in my eyes that I tried to bury deep.

And he knew.

His breath hitched. His body tensed. His hands clenched the sheets so tightly his knuckles turned white. And then, he broke.

"No!" Ryker sobbed, shaking his head. “No, she—she wouldn't leave me! She wouldn't leave us!" I clenched my jaw, stepping toward him. "Ryker-" "Why did you let her go?!" His voice cracked, full of betrayal, his tiny fists slamming against the mattress. "You promised! You promised you'd protect her!" I took a shaky breath, kneeling beside him, my hands gripping his shoulders. "Ryker, listen to me." His lip trembled. His voice dropped into something small, broken.

"She left because of me, didn't she?" His throat bobbed, his next words barely a whisper. "She left because I wasn't strong enough to save Elara." I inhaled sharply.

My chest ached.

"Don't you ever say that," I said firmly, my fingers tightening around not your fault." no him to heararomet is Tears slipped down his cheeks, and he weakly pushed against me, his frustration bleeding into sorrow. "But she-she's going to trade herself, isn't she?" His voice cracked again. "For Elara. She thinks she has to." I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to control the burn of emotion rising in my own chest. I had no idea how he knew, but Ryker had always been too smart.

I couldn't tell him he was wrong. Because he wasn't.

Instead, I pulled him into my arms, feeling how small, how fragile he was against me. His body shook with silent sobs.

And I hated this.

I hated that my family-**my entire world-**was crumbling right in front of me, slipping through my fingers like sand.

"I should've been the one," Ryker whispered. "I should've been the substitute, not her." His words gutted me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my chin against his damp hair. "I know you're scared," I murmured. "I know you feel helpless. But you have to trust me." His tiny fingers curled into my shirt. "How?" I pulled back, cupping his face, forcing him to look at me, to see the raw, burning truth in my eyes.

"Because I will bring her back," I said. "I will bring them both back." He sniffled, his eyes pleading for something, anything, to hold onto.

So I gave him the only thing I could.

Hope.

But before I could say anything else, his breathing stuttered.

The doctor rushed forward, checking his vitals as his skin paled, Gis body v.e going limp against the pillows.

m "His body is too weak," the doctor muttered urgently The stress is a taking a topon him." Panic surged inside me.

I grabbed his hand, squeezing gently. "Ryker." His lashes fluttered. He was barely conscious now, his small body exhausted, drained.

"I've got you," I whispered, brushing the hair from his face. Just hold on, buddy. " The doctor looked atgravely. "He needs rest, Alpha. He's pushing himself too hard." I gritted my teeth, standing abruptly. I ran a shaking hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.

I had to pull myself together.

I had a war to fight. A mate to bring home.

I turned to Ryder, my voice like steel.

"Wake the warriors. We leave now." Ryder nodded sharply, already moving.

I turned back to Ryker, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

"I need you to be strong for me, Ryker." His breathing steadied slightly, as if he could still hear me.

I stepped away, my heart shattering into pieces as I forced myself to move.

I had wasted enough time.

Astrid, if you think I'm letting you do this alone-you don't knowat all.