Reclaiming My Broken Luna 2

Astrid's POV

I had braced myself for questions, for confusion, maybe a hint of curiosity when I showed him the book.

But instead of the reaction I expected, his eyes sharpened, and something flickered across his face-fear, maybe?

Leaning forward, he asked in a low, urgent voice, "Where did you get this?"

The question stunned me, and I froze, letting the weight of his words settle over me.

Where, not what.

He already knew. He knew exactly what this book was.

"You knew," I breathed, disbelief thick in my voice.

Alpha Theron's eyes widened, realizing his mistake. "Astrid... I—"

"You knew about this," I cut him off, my voice stronger, tinged with anger. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He opened his mouth as if to explain, then hesitated, his gaze shifting.

"Astrid, this book... it's fake," he said, forcing a steady tone. "Whatever you think you've read in here, it's not real.

A cold, hard anger flared inside me. I already found out about this thing that he is hiding from me and he still dares to lie to me.

"Don't lie to me." My voice was steady, sharp.

"I know it's real. The wolf-the uncontrollable, powerful wolf the book describes - I've already met it. It has even taken over my body a few times before. So don't you dare try to lie to me about this!"

Alpha Theron's face went pale, and he looked at me in shock, as though he'd just seen a ghost.

For a long moment, he said nothing. His mouth parted slightly, his face caught between disbelief and something deeper - regret, maybe, or guilt.

Finally, he exhaled, a low, defeated sound. "Where did you get this book?" he murmured. "You weren't supposed to find out... not like this."

I frowned, his words fueling a fresh surge of anger. "This concerns my life, my future. You should have told me the moment you found out."

Alpha Theron shut his eyes, his shoulders tense, as if struggling to keep himself together.

"I was going to tell you, Astrid," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I just didn't know how. You were just starting to live, to move past so much pain. I couldn't bring myself to ruin that."

"You thought keeping this from me would help?" I shot back, barely containing the edge in my voice.

He nodded slowly, his gaze cast downward. "I just needed more time. I've been searching for a cure, hoping I could find a way to stop this before telling you everything."

A flicker of hope stirred in me. "Then... have you found anything? A way to stop it?"

But his gaze dropped, and he didn't answer. My heart sank.

Of course, he hadn't found anything yet - if he had, he wouldn't have hesitated to tell me.

Sensing my disappointment, he reached across the desk, his voice steadying, trying to lift my spirits. "Listen to me, Astrid," he urged, his voice steady but pleading.

"You don't have to worry. The Shadowfang Pack has the best resources-everything we need.

We're more advanced than any other pack in medicine and technology, and I promise you, we'll find this cure together. We won't stop until we do."

I knew all this already; I had told myself the same things before coming here. But knowing it didn't quiet the fear inside me.

What if there isn't a cure? I was tired of clinging to fragile hopes, only to have them shatter. Life didn't always bend to hope and promises.

"Astrid," he continued, his tone

softening, "you're my daughter. We've only just reunited, and I know...know I failed you before. wasn't there when you needed a

father. But I won't fail you again. Not

this time."

en

I looked up, meeting his eyes, and in his gaze, I saw raw sincerity, an ache to make things right.

I could feel his promise settling over me, and as much as I wanted to believe it, a part of me still wavered.

No matter how sincere he was, no matter how far he was willing to go, finding a cure for my condition wasn't something he could control.

Sensing the conflict in my expression, he leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I promised you, didn't I? That I'd make it up to you?"

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat as he reminded me of his promise.

For a moment, a flicker of hope steadied me, but questions still lingered.

"Who else knows about... this?" I asked quietly, searching his face for any sign of secrecy.

He held my gaze. "No one, except for my Beta. He's been helping me look for a cure."

I opened my mouth to ask him to keep it that way, but he had beaten me to it.

"It would be best if no one else findsnoveldrama

out about this, Astrid. Let's keep this between us. At least until we find a cure He studied me closely "Agreed?"

I nodded, rètief loosening the tension in my chest. "I was about to say the same thing. Right now, Nova is the only person whom I have told about I this and she could keep a secret."

He nods, relieved to hear my answer.

Then he hesitated, as if weighing his next words. "Where did you get the book?" he finally asked, his voice low.

I straightened, steadying myself before answering. "Giselle gave it to me," I answered watching his reaction closely. "I don't know where she got it."

Alpha Theron turned tense when he heard my answer. Was he still keeping something from me?

I was about to ask when his expression shifted, and he glanced toward the door, his gaze sharpening with purpose.

"I have a meeting in here soon," he said abruptly, standing. "You should go rest, Astrid. We'll talk more later."

The abrupt dismissal surprised me, but I didn't protest. I'd had enough secrets for one day.

"I'll keep this book for now. It's best that I keep it and make sure it won't fall on other people's hands."

Alpha Theron instantly grabbed the book before he even finished speaking

I nodded and left, casting one last glance over my shoulder as I stepped out.

As the door closed behind me I managed to steal a glimpse of his face before I left.

He was angry, and I don't know what made him feel that way.