The Lunar Queen (Lyric and Mason) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Winter POV

I haven’t left Lyric’s room since yesterday.

After this morning, when her eyes opened, I can’t leave.

It feels like if I step out-even for a second-I’ll miss it. Like she’ll wake up again and I won’t be here, and that thought alone makes my chest tighten.

I feel in my heart she’s going to wake up today.

Dominic has been keeping me company while Cole and his brothers go to the meet and greet.

Even though he should be there too because he’s also unmated, he said he’d rather stay with me.

He didn’t even hesitate when he said it either. Like being here with me wasn’t a second choice. Like it was exactly where he wanted

to be. And I don’t know what to do with that yet.

“What if he is our mate?” Vega asks.

“He would have known the moment he saw us,” I whisper.

“Oh my Goddess, you’re right.” I glance at Dominic again. “What super-hot, tattooed god would rather sit in his potential mate’s best friend’s hospital room with a seventeen-year-old she-wolf instead of downstairs meeting every unmated girl at this ball?”

“Our mate is a god,” I tell her.

“Yes, he is,” Vega purrs.

“So, tell me about your friendship with Lyric. You two are obviously closer than she is with her siblings,” he says, moving his chair

closer to mine beside Lyric’s bed.

Close enough that I feel the shift in the air between us. Close enough that my pulse picks up just a little-and I hate that I notice it

right now of all times.

“Well, I was born a few months before her, and our mothers were always together. When she and Summer were born, they spent even more time together. By the time we were two, we were attached at the hip with Mason.” I say

“We were like the Three Musketeers,” I continue.

“He would spend time with Hunter and the guys, but most of his time was with us, with her.”

I look at Lyric.

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Chapter 25

“I was like her sister. We did everything together, and I was the only one who knew the truth about Summer”

And even now, sitting here, watching her lay still, I feel that same helpless anger crawling back up my throat-because I knew, and I

still couldn’t stop it.

“She’s always hated her, felt like she didn’t belong, and the Moon Goddess made a mistake from the moment she could form

sentences,” I say.

“Lyric is strong,” he says softly.

“How are you feeling right now?” he asks, taking my hand and calming me instantly, his touch grounding me in a way that feels too

natural, too easy, like my body already recognizes something my mind hasn’t caught up to yet.

“I just want my sister back. Everybody is worried about catching whoever helped Summer and exposing her. I just want Lyric to

wake up. I just want to hear her voice,” I whisper.

My throat tightens, but I keep going before the tears can stop me.

“The crazy part is, when she wakes up, she probably will not want to talk about any of this. She is going to shut everybody out,

train harder, and focus on getting into the Royal Warrior Program.”

“Oh, you two got accepted,” he says, a small grin breaking through.

My head snaps to his.

“Shut up,” I say.

For a second-just a second-the weight in my chest lifts, replaced by something lighter, something almost normal. And I hate how

much I needed that.

“Seriously, you and Lyric were part of the reason we came early,” Dominic says. “We wanted to know why the Alpha’s daughter and

the Beta’s daughter wanted to become royal warriors.”

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12:09 Tue, Jun 30

The Lunar Queen

Chapter 26

“I would follow Lyric anywhere,” I tell him. “She was unhappy here, and once we found out, we trained harder than ever. We applied

together. After she was stabbed, she became even more determined to get in.”

“Hey, guys, any change?”

Cole walks into the room with Hunter, Jace, and Logan.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask.

“We didn’t feel right being anywhere else,” Hunter says.

And I hear it-the strain in his voice, the guilt sitting under every word. We’re all carrying it, just in different ways.

My aunt and uncle follow right behind them.

“Shouldn’t you guys be downstairs?” I ask.

“Your parents have everything under control,” Uncle Donovan says.

“What were you two talking about when we walked in?” Hunter asks.

“Dominic told me that Lyric and I got into the Royal Warrior Program,” I say proudly.

“I didn’t even know Lyric had applied for that,” Uncle Donovan says.

“Nobody did. It was our secret. It was her way out,” I say softly.

Her way out of all of this. Out of the pain. Out of this pack. And now she’s laying here fighting just to breathe.

Then I feel her finger twitch in my hand.

I gasp.

“Lyric,” I say, voice cracking.

My whole body locks up around that one movement, like I’m scared if I breathe too hard I’ll miss the next one.

She jerks on the bed as if in a panic.

Cole moves to her face and locks eyes with her.

“Easy, princess,” he says before her body relaxes.

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