The Broken Luna, Now His Regret novel Chapter 16

16 Chapter 16 The Fallout

Within an hour, Mira’s press conference had gone viral.

Every supernatural news outlet was running with variations of the same headline:

LUNA RAVENCREST EXPOSES YEARS OF ABUSE

ALPHA’S AFFAIR SCANDAL ROCKS OAKWOOD

“I WAS LIVESTOCK” – LUNA’S SHOCKING TESTIMONY

Kieran sat in his office, watching the coverage on repeat, feeling his entire world /

crumble around him.

His phone was ringing off the hook. Pack elders demanding explanations. Business partners distancing themselves. His own board of directors calling emergency

meetings.

But worst of all was the text from his father:

Emergency pack council. Tonight. Your position as Alpha is under review.

“Sir?” Cassian appeared in the doorway, his expression grim. “The lobby is full of reporters. Security can’t hold them back much longer”

“Let them in,” Kieran said dully.

“What?”

“I said let them in. If Mira can face them, so can I.”

Twenty minutes later, Kieran stood before a sea of cameras and microphones, his expression carved from stone.

“I’ve seen my wife’s–my estranged wife’s–press conference,” he began. “And I want to say this clearly: everything she said is true.”

Shocked silence.

“I did have an affair with Astrid Sinclair. I did neglect Mira during and after her difficult pregnancy. I did allow my mother to abuse her.” His voice cracked slightly. “And I did tell my mother that Mira could handle the risk of another pregnancy while Astrid needed protection. Those words are my greatest shame.”

He met the cameras directly.

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“I don’t deserve Mira’s forgiveness. I don’t deserve my daughter’s love. What I deserve is exactly what I’m getting–the consequences of years of cruelty and neglect.” He took a breath. “Therefore, I’m announcing that I will not contest custody. Brielle belongs with her mother. I’ll accept whatever visitation arrangement Mira deems appropriate.”

“What about Ms. Sinclair?” a reporter shouted.

“Astrid and I are no longer involved. She’s moved out of my home. Whatever relationship we had is over.” Kieran’s voice was flat, emotionless. “The only woman I’ve ever truly loved is Mira. And I destroyed her.”

He walked away from the podium, ignoring the shouted questions, and felt the mate bond pulse with Mira’s shock.

Mira watched Kieran’s press conference from her parents‘ living room, her hand pressed to her mouth.

“He’s lying,” Ronan said immediately. “This is a tactic. He’s playing for sympathy-”

“I don’t think so,” Garrett interrupted quietly. “Look at his eyes.”

Mira looked. And saw genuine devastation in Kieran’s face.

Her phone rang. Patricia.

“Did you see?” Patricia asked.

“Yes.”

“He just handed you everything. Full custody, no fight. Mira, you won.”

But it didn’t feel like winning.

It felt like standing in the ruins of something that could have been beautiful if only

Kieran had tried.

“What happens now?” Mira asked.

“We draft the custody agreement. You get primary custody, he gets supervised

visitation. You approve all major decisions about Brielle’s life. He pays substantial child support. And the divorce is finalized within sixty days.”

“And Brielle?”

Patricia was quiet for a moment. “That’s the hard part. You need to tell her what’s happening. Soon. Before she hears it from someone else.”

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After hanging up, Mira sat in the middle of her family and felt the weight of what she’d done.

She’d won the battle.

But the war for her daughter’s heart was just beginning.

Two days after the press conferences, Mira stood outside Blissfield Villa, her heart thundering against her ribs so hard she could barely breathe.

Patricia had arranged this meeting–one hour with Brielle, supervised by a child psychologist, to begin the agonizing process of repairing their shattered relationship One hour to undo months of poison, of careful manipulation, of a four–year–old being systematically turned against her own mother.

The villa loomed before her, every window a reminder of the life she’d tried so desperately to build here. The life that had crumbled under the weight of Selene’s cruelty and Kieran’s indifference.

Fletcher opened the door before she could knock, his expression carefully neutral though she caught the flash of sympathy in his eyes. “Mrs. Ravencrest. Dr. Hartley is waiting in the sunroom with Miss Brielle.”

“Is Kieran here?” Her voice came out steadier than she felt.

“The Alpha is in his study. He’s given strict orders not to be disturbed. He won’t interfere with your time with Miss Brielle.” Fletcher paused, then added quietly, “For what it’s worth, ma’am, I’m glad you’re fighting for her.”

Mira’s throat tightened. “Thank you, Fletcher.”

Dr. Elena Hartley was waiting in the sunroom–a kind–faced woman in her fifties who specialized in high–conflict custody cases involving supernatural families. She greeted Mira with a warm handshake and a reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

| “Mrs. Ravencrest, thank you for coming. I know this must be incredibly difficult for

you.”

“How is she?” Mira asked immediately, her maternal instincts overriding everything else. “Is she eating? Sleeping? Has she been having nightmares?”

Elena’s expression softened with something that looked like approval. “She’s struggling, as expected. The media coverage has been… extensive. We’ve tried to shield her, but children hear things. She knows Mommy and Daddy are getting

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16 Chapter 16 The Fallout

divorced. She knows there was a very public fight about who she’d live with. And she knows that you won.”

Mira felt her heart crack open. “How much of the press conference did she see?”

“Enough to be confused and frightened. She doesn’t understand why you’d want to ‘take her away‘ from her daddy. In her mind, you’re the one breaking up the family.” Elena’s voice was gentle but honest. “She’s also been exposed to a very specific narrative about your absence. Selene and Astrid have been… quite thorough in their messaging.”

“They poisoned her against me,” Mira said flatly.

“They created a narrative that a four–year–old’s mind could process: Mommy chose work over family. Daddy and Auntie Astrid stayed because they love her. You left because you didn’t.” Elena held up a hand before Mira could protest. “I know that’s not the truth. But it’s the truth Brielle has been living with for months. Undoing that damage will take time, patience, and consistency.”

Mira pressed trembling fingers to her lips. “Can I see her now? Please?”

“Of course. But Mrs. Ravencrest–Mira–I need you to prepare yourself. She’s angry. She may say hurtful things. Try not to take it personally. This is her processing trauma the only way a four–year–old knows how.”

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