Moonlight Betrayal
Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Astrid’s POV

Serena looked up from her hands, the sad look in her eyes had been replaced by one of intrigue. Perhaps I was right after all to bring up the plans for Kaeleen’s surprise birthday party.

"A party?" she repeated, her voice raspy. "For Kaeleen?"

"A huge one," I confirmed, feeling a small smile touch my own lips. "And it needs to be perfect."

Rebecca pushed herself away from the window, her somber expression melting away as she slipped back into her role as the group’s vibrant force of nature.

"A surprise party for my grumpy brother? Oh, I am so in. This is going to be epic."

I rolled my eyes and turned to her with a smile. "You already know about this party, don’t pretend like you don’t."

"Did you have to eat me out that easily?" She asked me with a pout.

Serena wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, a watery chuckle escaping her. "You do know he hates surprises, right? He gets all broody and complains about the lack of control. And there is also the fact that he doesn’t like celebrating his birthday."

"Oh, please," Rebecca scoffed, waving a dismissive hand as she made a beeline for the kitchen. "He might hate surprises from us, because we’re obnoxious and love to see him squirm. But like I said before, a surprise from Astrid?" She poked her head back into the living room, a wide, mischievous grin on her face as she looked at me. "He’ll pretend to be annoyed for about five seconds before turning into a giant, purring kitten. Trust me. He can’t get annoyed at her."

Serena’s smile became a little more real at that, a genuine warmth spreading across her face. "She’s not wrong," she admitted, her gaze on me soft and appraising. "He’d love anything you did for him."

The thought sent a pleasant warmth through my chest. "I hope so. It’s more than just the party, though." I leaned in a little closer, lowering my voice as if sharing a sacred secret. "I’m also drawing something for him."

"The first she’s drawn on a canvas." Rebecca added.

Serena’s eyes widened, and her smile blossomed into something truly beautiful and bright. "Astrid, that’s... perfect. He will treasure that more than anything. Can I see it? When it’s done?"

"Of course," I said, my heart swelling. "I want it to be a surprise for him, but I’d love for you to see it."

The sound of a cabinet opening and the crinkle of a bag came from the kitchen. She reappeared, holding a family-sized bag of potato chips, and flopped down onto the armchair.

For the next hour, we talked. I told Serena about my plans since Rebecca already knows about my plans; a gathering at the pack house, but not a stuffy, formal affair. Something relaxed, with good music, lots of food, and only the people he truly cared about. Serena, her earlier grief momentarily held at bay by the distraction, jumped in with suggestions for his favorite foods and the kind of music he secretly loved but would never admit to.

The mood in the room had lifted, by our shared purpose. Laughter returned, easy and genuine. It felt good to see Serena smile, to see the heavy weight on her shoulders lighten, even if just for a little while.

Eventually, the conversation dulled, and a comfortable silence settled over us. Rebecca finished her chips, her playful energy subsiding into something more serious. She looked at Serena, her expression gentle.

"How is he, Serena?" she asked, her voice soft, all traces of her earlier bravado gone. "For real."

The fragile bubble of normalcy popped. The weight returned to the room, heavier than before. Serena’s smile faded, and she looked down at her hands, which were twisting in her lap.

"The doctors say he’s responding to the treatment," she began, her voice low and steady, the practiced words of someone who has repeated them to herself a hundred times. "The tumors are shrinking. That’s the good news." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "But the chemo... it’s a poison. It’s killing the cancer, but it feels like it’s killing him, too. He’s in pain, even when he says he’s not. He has no energy. Most days, he can’t even stomach the smell of food, let alone eat it. He puts on such a brave face for me, for everyone, but at night... at night I hear him. He’s so strong, but his body is just... it’s taking such a toll."

Tears streamed silently down her face, and this time, she didn’t try to wipe them away. "It’s like watching him fight a war alone when I promised to be right there for him. I try...I...the doctors say he is responding to treatment but he still looks so weak to me."

Rebecca’s own eyes were glassy with unshed tears. She got up from her chair and moved to the sofa, wrapping her arms around Serena’s shaking shoulders.

"He is going to be okay," Rebecca whispered fiercely, her voice thick with emotion. "He’s the strongest person I know. He’s going to get through this. You both will."

"And let’s trust the doctors, okay? Let’s believe that he is going to get better." I said to her,

Serena leaned into the hug Rebecca provided, a sob finally breaking free. "That’s what his sister, Rita, said on the phone yesterday," she choked out. "She said he’s a fighter. And he is. It’s just so hard to watch him fight this hard, alone."

I sat beside them, my hand resting on Serena’s back, feeling utterly helpless but wanting to offer what little comfort I could. We stayed like that for a long time, a silent trinity of shared sorrow and support.

When the tears subsided, we decided it was time to leave. Serena walked us to the door, her face pale and tear-stained, but her eyes held a new sense of calm, of release.

"Thank you for coming," she said, pulling me into another hug. "Really. It... it helped. And even if Hunter isn’t feeling up to it on the day, I’ll be at the party. I wouldn’t miss it."

As she pulled back, she kept her hands on my arms, her gaze searching mine. She leaned in and whispered, so low that only I could hear, "I’m so glad I got to see you again, Astrid. You seem... different. More you. There’s a spark in your eyes that wasn’t there before. Don’t you ever let anyone put that out again. Not ever."

Her words hit me, sending a sharp pang through my chest. My own eyes instantly filled with tears, a mix of gratitude for her words and a phantom pain from the past she was alluding to.

She saw the tears gather and her expression softened into a wry, loving smile. She reached up and gently wiped a stray tear from my cheek with her thumb. "Hey, none of that now," she chided gently. "No more sadness. And you tell my brother that if that asshole Leon ever shows his face again, he needs to get in line. Because I get first dibs on breaking his kneecaps."

A wet, choked laugh escaped me. It was the most Serena thing she could have possibly said, and it was exactly what I needed to hear.

She escorted us outside, where Thomas was waiting patiently by the car. He gave Serena a respectful nod. "Ms. Serena. I hope you and Mr. Hunter have a peaceful evening."

"Thank you, Thomas," she said, her voice regaining its strength. "How is your husband? Did he enjoy the concert you guys went to?"

"He did, thank you for asking, and thanks for the tickets," Thomas replied with a warm smile.

Rebecca and I waved one last goodbye and slid into the back of the car. As we pulled away from the curb, I watched the charming house with its perfect garden recede in the rearview mirror.

The silence in the car was thick and heavy. I glanced at Rebecca. She was staring out the window again, but this time, she wasn’t even trying to hide her pain. Her jaw was clenched, and a single tear traced a path down her cheek. Her brave expression had crumbled, revealing the terrified friend beneath.

Without thinking, I reached across the space between us and took her hand.

She flinched in surprise, her head snapping around to look at me. Her eyes were wide, vulnerable. I didn’t say anything. I just held her hand, my thumb stroking gently over her knuckles, offering a silent current of strength and support.

After a moment, her fingers curled around mine, gripping my hand tightly. She gave me a watery, grateful smile that didn’t need any words. We rode the rest of the way back to the pack house in silence, hand in hand, two friends sharing a burden that was too heavy to carry alone.