Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian)

Special Chapter: Ryker's Perspective

The sun was shining so brightly today that it made the grass sparkle like little stars.

I loved running through it barefoot-it felt soft and tickly. I stretched my arms out, pretending I was flying, and ran down the hill as fast as I could.

"Ryker, don't go too far!" Mommy called from the garden bench where she sat with Aunt Nova.

"I won't, Mommy!" I shouted back, spinning around to wave at her. She was smiling at me, and I couldn't help but smile back.

Mommy had the best smile. It made me feel warm inside, like I was wrapped in a big, soft blanket.

I loved hearing her laugh, too, which she was doing now because Aunt Nova said something funny.

They both had big bellies because there were babies inside. I couldn't wait to meet them.

I ran back up the hill to Mommy and climbed onto the bench next to her. "Why are you laughing, Mommy?" I asked, curious.

Mommy chuckled and brushed some grass out of my hair. "Aunt Nova was telling me about how much her baby likes apples. I was just saying that your little brother or sister really loves oranges. I can't stop eating them!"

I tilted my head, looking at her big belly. "I liked oranges too?"

Mommy shook her head, smiling. "No, little one. You liked chocolate pudding. I couldn't get enough of it when you were in my tummy."

I giggled. "I liked pudding before I was born?"

Aunt Nova laughed. "Oh, yes! You liked it so much that we thought you might turn into a bowl of pudding!"

The idea of being pudding was so silly that I laughed and leaned against Mommy. "Mommy, did Daddy bring you pudding all the time?"

The question made Mommy's smile falter a little, and her hand rested gently on my back.

She didn't say anything right away, but her eyes grew soft in a way that made my chest feel heavy.

"No, Ryker," she said finally, her voice quiet. "Daddy wasn't with me when I was pregnant with you."

I frowned. "Why?"

Before Mommy could answer, a shadow passed over us. Daddy had come back from the training grounds, his face a little sweaty but his eyes warm.

He smiled at me and crouched down in front of the bench.

"What's this? Are we talking about pudding?" he asked, trying to sound cheerful, but there was something sad in his voice.

I looked at him seriously. "Daddy, why weren't you with Mommy when I was in her tummy?"

His smile faded, and for a moment, he looked like he didn't know what to say. Then, he sat beside me and pulled me onto his lap.

"Ryker," he began softly, "there was a time when Mommy and I didn't understand each other very well. We... we made mistakes, and we were apart for a little while. But it was never because I didn't love you or Mommy. I didn't even know you were going to be born."

"You didn't know?" I asked, confused.

He shook his head, his jaw tight.

"No.

bead known, I would've et

every step of the way. I'm

JA Aery step of the

I wasn't, Ryker.

I wrapped my arms around his neck because he looked so sad. "It's okay, Daddy. You're here now."

He hugged me tightly, and I could feel how much he meant it when he whispered,

"I promise, I'll never leave you or Mommy again."

Later that day, I sat on the grass and watched Mommy and Aunt Nova laughing together again.

Mommy's hand was on her belly, and her laugh sounded like music.

I thought about how different things were now. When Giselle was my mother, she never laughed like that.

She never smiled at me the way Mommy does. I remembered how Giselle used to look at me like she hated me.

She didn't like it when I talked, and every time I tried to make her happy, she would just get mad.

That's when I stopped talking. It was easier to stay quiet.

When I met Mommy for the first time, I thought she was the prettiest and kindest person I'd ever seen.

She smiled at me and held me like she wanted me, and for the first time, I felt safe.

I didn't say it out loud, but I wished she was my mommy back then.

And then I found out she really was.

I was so happy I couldn't even speak. All I could do was cry and hug her because

it was like a dream come true.

Mommy was my mommy, and Daddy was my daddy, and now we were a family.

"Ryker!” Mommy called, waving me over to the bench again.

I ran up the hill as fast as I could, laughing when Aunt Nova held out her arms and pretended she was going to catch me. "There's my favorite nephew!" she teased pulling me onto her lap. en FindNovel

"You mean your only nephew," I said with a giggle.

"For now," she said, patting her belly. "But don't worry you'll always be my

favorite."

I looked at Mommy's belly and then at Aunt Nova's. "I'm going to teach the babies

how to run fast, okay?"

Mommy laughed, her eyes crinkling. "I think they'd love that."

I leaned against her, feeling warm and safe. For the first time in forever,

everything felt perfect.

Mommy and Daddy loved me, Aunt

Nova and Grandpa Drystan were

happy, and soon I'd have new babies to play with. I didn't need anything else.

This was my family. And I was the happiest boy in the whole world.