The Broken Luna, Now His Regret novel Chapter 30

30 Chapter 30 WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS

Mira’s POV 1

The text came at 7 AM.

*Pack emergency. Elder Thorne collapsed. I’m at the hospital. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promise. – K*

Mira stared at the message, coffee going cold in her hands. Brielle was upstairs in her costume – a pilgrim dress with a white bonnet that Estelle had made.

Another text: *Please don’t tell her yet. I’m doing everything I can to make it.*

This was exactly what Kieran used to do. Promise. Get pulled away. Leave Brielle

waiting.

Except this time, it was a real emergency. Elder Thorne was eighty–seven, had been Caspian’s Beta. If he died, half the pack would mourn.

But Brielle wouldn’t understand that.

She’d only understand that Daddy wasn’t there.

“Mommy!” Brielle’s voice echoed down. “Can you help me with my bonnet?”

Mira set the phone face–down and went upstairs.

**9:30 AM – Oakwood Elementary School**

The auditorium was packed. Mira sat in the fourth row with Garrett and Estelle, scanning the crowd.

She froze.

Third row, left side. Silver hair catching the lights. Charcoal suit.

Valeblack.

He was alone, program in hand, looking out of place among casual parents. When he glanced up and met her eyes, he smiled — small, private.

Estelle noticed. “Is that-”

“Yes.”

–

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“What is he doing here?”

“Regional Healer Award presentation. I forgot.”

–

The seat beside Mira – saved for Kieran – stayed empty.

Brielle was backstage, probably scanning the crowd for the face that wasn’t there.

Mira’s phone buzzed.

*Still at hospital. Elder Thorne stable. 30 minutes. I’m coming. I PROMISE*

She didn’t respond.

The program started with group performances. Kindergarteners sang off–key. First graders paraded in construction paper hats. Second graders performed a Thanksgiving

skit.

Then came the solo showcases.

“Brielle Ravencrest!”

Brielle walked onto the stage, bonnet crooked. Her eyes scanned the audience, landed

on Mira. Then on the empty seat.

Mira saw it – the moment Brielle registered Kieran wasn’t there. Excitement to

confusion to hurt.

Brielle froze at the microphone.

Ms. Yesenia prompted: “Brielle? Ready to sing?”

Silence.

Parents whispered. Mira stood, ready to go to her, when the doors burst open.

Kieran.

He was still in his hospital clothes – dark jeans and a grey henley, no jacket, hair disheveled. He scanned the room frantically, found Brielle on stage, and started moving toward the front.

But he wasn’t alone.

–

Behind him, moving with practiced elegance, was Lydia Thorne – Elder Thorne’s granddaughter. Mira knew her vaguely from pack events. Beautiful, composed, always

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dressed like she was attending a gala. Today she wore a cream silk blouse and designer jeans, diamonds at her throat, her dark hair swept into a perfect chignon.

She was holding Kieran’s coat.

The whispers got louder.

Kieran reached Mira’s row, saw Valeblack three rows ahead, and his expression went dark. But there was no time. He squeezed past knees to reach the empty seat beside Mira just as Brielle started singing.

Lydia followed him. Stood in the aisle, waiting, holding his coat like a dutiful assistant

Brielle saw all of it.

And she forgot the words.

**Brielle’s POV**

The song was “Over the River and Through the Woods.” Mommy had helped her practice every night for a week. She knew all the words. She knew where to pause for breath. She knew when to smile at the audience.

–

But now Daddy was here – finally, finally here – except he’d brought *her*. The lady from the hospital. The one who smelled like perfume and smiled at Daddy the way

Miss Astrid used to.

And Mr. Valeblack was here too. Three rows ahead. Watching Mommy, not Brielle.

The piano started.

Brielle opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

The music kept playing. She was supposed to sing. The words were gone. Everyone was staring. She could hear people whispering.

*“Is she okay?“*

*“Poor thing looks terrified.”*

*“Where are her parents?“*

Tears burned her eyes. The piano kept going, and she wasn’t singing, and everyone was

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watching her fail.

—

**Mira’s POV**

Mira was already moving before she consciously decided to. She pushed past Kieran, ignoring his whispered “Mira, wait-” and walked straight down the aisle to the stage.

The pianist – a parent volunteer – stopped playing when Mira climbed the steps.

Mira knelt beside Brielle, whose face was red and tear–streaked. “Baby,” she whispered, just loud enough for Brielle to hear. “Look at me.”

Brielle’s eyes were wild, desperate. “I can’t remember.”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to.”

“But everyone-”

“Forget everyone. Just you and me. Can you do that?”

Brielle nodded, sniffling.

Mira stood, turned to face the audience. Two hundred pairs of eyes staring at her. She found the pianist. “Can you start again? From the beginning?”

The woman nodded, hands back on the keys.

Mira sang.

Her voice was soft, untrained, not remotely perfect. But she knew the words because she’d practiced them with Brielle every night for a week. She sang the first verse alone, then looked at Brielle. “Together?”

Brielle’s small voice joined hers on the second verse. Shaky. Quiet. But singing.

By the chorus, Brielle was actually smiling.

The audience applauded when they finished. Not because it was good – it wasn’t. But because it was honest. Real. A mother salvaging her daughter’s moment.

Mira helped Brielle off the stage. Ms. Yesenia gave them both a warm smile and called the next child.

Mira and Brielle walked back up the aisle. Past Valeblack, whose expression was unreadable. Past Lydia Thorne, still holding Kieran’s coat like a patient attendant. Back

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to their row.

Kieran reached out as they approached. “Brielle, I’m so sorry-”

Brielle turned her face away. Climbed past him to sit between Mira and Estelle. Buried

her face in Mira’s shoulder.

The next performance started. A boy with a trumpet. The sound was tinny and too loud, but nobody seemed to care.

Kieran sat rigid, staring straight ahead, jaw clenched so tight Mira could see the muscle jumping.

Lydia finally left, taking his coat with her.

**10:45 AM – After the Program**

The awards ceremony happened. Valeblack presented the Regional Healer Award to a sixth–grader who’d volunteered at three different clinics. He gave a short, elegant speech about service and community. Parents took photos. Nobody mentioned that he was sitting three rows behind the Alpha’s estranged wife.

But they were all thinking it.

Mira felt their eyes. The whispers. The phones being pulled out to text pack gossip

channels.

When it ended, Brielle refused to participate in the parent–child cooking activity. “I

want to go home.”

“Baby, everyone’s making-”

“I want to go HOME.”

Ms. Yesenia appeared, kind and understanding. “It’s been a big morning. Maybe she needs some quiet time?”

Mira nodded, grateful. “Thank you.”

Garrett and Estelle took Brielle out to the car. Mira stayed behind to collect her daughter’s things from the classroom.

Kieran followed her.

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The classroom was empty, chairs pushed under tiny desks, construction paper turkeys taped to the walls. Mira gathered Brielle’s backpack, her forgotten water bottle, the bonnet that had fallen off during the performance.

“Mira.”

She didn’t turn around. “Don’t.”

“I need to explain-”

“I said don’t.” She zipped the backpack with more force than necessary. “You were late. Again. For the one thing she asked for. The one thing she needed.”

“Elder Thorne collapsed. I was at the hospital. I came as soon as—”

“With Lydia Thorne hanging off your arm like a goddamn accessory.” Mira spun to face him. “Do you have any idea how that looked? Do you have ANY idea what Brielle saw?”

“She was helping. Her grandfather was dying, she was upset, I was trying to-”

“I don’t care.” Mira’s voice went cold. “I don’t care about your excuses. I don’t care about Lydia Thorne’s feelings. I care about our daughter, who stood on that stage and saw her father show up late with another woman and forgot every single word she’d practiced because she thought-” Mira stopped. Closed her eyes. “She thought you’d réplaced her. Again.”

The silence was crushing.

“And Valeblack?” Kieran’s voice was dangerous now. “You didn’t think to mention he’d be here? That the man you’re-” He stopped himself.

“He was invited by the school. As a dignitary. To present an award. Which he did. Professionally. Unlike you, who walked in looking like you’d just rolled out of someone

else’s bed.”

“That’s not fair.”