Reclaiming My Broken Luna 2

Giselle's POV

I smiled graciously, a picture of a perfect Luna, as I moved through the crowd of guests.

The pack grounds buzzed with excitement, laughter, and the vibrant energy of celebration.

Ryker's fourth birthday was meant to be a joyous occasion, and I made sure that every detail was perfect. from the decorations to the banquet.

Behind my polite smiles and gracious words, bitterness roiled like a storm within me, growing darker with every passing moment.

Astrid.

She lingered around the pack like a shadow that refused to fade, always present, always reminding me of what I had to claw and fight for.

I could see her now, hovering near the entrance, wearing that same quiet, solemn expression she always carried, as if she bore some unspoken burden. It turned my stomach.

She claimed she was here to offer help to the pack, but I wasn't a fool. I knew there was more to her presence than mere goodwill.

In just a few days, she'd already charmed her way into the hearts of so many those who once looked to me now turned to her, their admiration shifting with a speed that left me seething.

Somehow, without even trying, she had managed to steal the spotlight that should have been mine, making me feel like a stranger in my own home.

What infuriated me most was how easily she'd regained Killian's favor. All it took was a few sympathetic glances, a few words spoken in that soft, humble tone of hers, and suddenly she was back in his good graces.

It should have been easy to push her out of the picture, to make her irrelevant, but Killian's misplaced sympathy had made everything so much more difficult.

Despite all she'd lost, despite her distance from him, he still had a soft spot for her - something that made him overlook what should have been obvious: Astrid had no place here, no place in his life, no place in the pack's future.

I clenched my jaw, forcing my smile to stay in place as another pack member congratulated me on the party.

I nodded, thanking them for their compliments, but my mind was elsewhere.

Today, everything would change.

Today, I would finally rid myself of Astrid's shadow for good.

My heart quickened with anticipation, but I made sure my expression remained serene, welcoming.

Let them see the kind, devoted Luna that they expected. They had no idea what I was truly capable of, and neither did Astrid. She would never see it coming.

As I scanned the crowd, I spotted the Omega I had sent earlier to take care of my little... problem.

He slipped through the guests, moving with the kind of deference that made him nearly invisible.

When he reached me, he leaned in, keeping his voice low, his head bowed as if offering me a message of little importance.

"It's done, Luna," he whispered, his breath barely a tickle against my ear. "We lured the boy out into the forest, just as you instructed."

I felt a rush of satisfaction course through me, though I kept my face carefully composed. Inside, my heart danced with triumph.

Finally, the plan was in motion. Ryker was safely out of sight, wandering into the woods lured far from the safety of the pack.

The Omega's task was simple —

make sure Ryker was unharmed but ensure that he wandered far enough that it would appear as though someone had kidnapped him.

Someone like Astrid.

The corners of my mouth twitched upward into a smile, and I nodded slightly to the Omega, dismissing him with a small gesture.

"Good," I murmured back, keeping my voice as soft as his. "Make sure no one notices his absence until I give the word."

The Omega nodded and slipped back into the crowd, his presence forgotten in the noise and chatter.

I watched him disappear into the sea of guests, and a slow, deep satisfaction settled into my chest. Now, all I had to do was wait.

It would be perfect. When the time came, I'd stage my little performance-acting the concerned Luna, the devoted mother desperate to find her missing son.

And then, when Ryker was found, I'd make sure that a few planted pieces of evidence pointed directly to Astrid.

Perhaps a scarf with her scent on it,

left conveniently near where Ryker was last seen, or a note I'd forged to make it seem like Astrid had lured him there out of some twisted need for revenge.

Killian would be furious. He would never forgive Astrid for endangering Ryker, not when his love for his son blinded him to almost everything else.

He would cast her out of the pack for good, and I'd finally be free of her pitiful, lingering presence.noveldrama

She'd have no one left to protect her,

no place to run. And I would be there to comfort Killian, the dutiful Luna, standing by his side as he dealt with his grief.'

I glanced around the gathering, letting my eyes linger on Astrid for a moment. She looked uncomfortable as ever, out of place amidst the festivities. Good.

Soon, she'd be even more uncomfortable-banished from the pack, with no one left to vouch for her.

I turned my attention back to the guests, resuming my role as the gracious hostess, accepting their compliments and polite conversation with a serene smile.

No one here would suspect me of anything but concern for my son's well-being. Who would suspect a mother for hurting her own child.

No one would believe that I had orchestrated this from the beginning, that I had played them all.

The plan was flawless. As long as everything went smoothly, by the end of the day, Astrid would be nothing but a memory.

And I, I would finally have the peace I deserved-no ghosts, no shadows. Just me, Killian, and the power that I had fought so hard to secure.