The Lunar Queen (Lyric and Mason) novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Mason POV

I’m standing in the pack dining room as all the packs gather for dinner, and Kane is driving me crazy.

Every scent, every voice, every movement feels too loud, too sharp-like my body is here, but my mind is still stuck in that hospital

room where she opened her eyes and I wasn’t there.

My dad walks up to me.

“Hey son, walk with me,” he says, guiding me out of the dining hall.

The second we step out, the noise dulls, but the tension doesn’t. It just settles deeper under my skin.

“Do not react. Lyric is awake.”

My heart stops as we keep walking.

Everything in me locks up-relief hitting first, fast and brutal, followed immediately by something darker that twists in my gut

Because I wasn’t there. Again.

“How are the borders?” he asks loudly.

“Everything is secure,” I reply.

“Are you sure?” I link him.

“Yes, Donovan linked me. She woke up for a little while. She is asleep again now, but she is alive and stable.” he links back

Alive. The word should calm me. It doesn’t. Not when I know how close we came to losing her. Not when I know why.

“I need to see her,” I say,

“I don’t think that is a good idea,” he responds.

My jaw tightens instantly, heat crawling up my spine.

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“Why? She is my mate,” I grow).

“Yes, but you are also the cause of her being there, even if you didn’t actually do anything,” he says.

That lands. Hard. Like a bit straight to the chest I can’t block. Because deep down I know he’s right.

“Is the king there?” I snarl.

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Chapter 27

“I’m not sure, but it’s likely since he’s not here,” he responds.

Of course he is. He’s always there when she opens her eyes. Always there when I’m not.

“Why is he always there when she opens her eyes? She is my mate. MINE,” I roar.

“Calm down, son,” he says before cutting the link and walking away.

“We need to go to mate,” Kane roars in my mind.

He’s not just angry-he’s frantic. Pacing, clawing at the edges of my control like he’s ready to tear through me to get to her

“We can’t, we have Alpha duties” I grit out.

He roars again.

“She needs us,” he snarls.

The force of it makes my head pound, my vision flashing for a second as instinct and logic crash into each other.

I shut him out and walk back into the dining room. But even as I walk back into that room full of people, full of noise, full of

everything that should matter-there’s only one thing stuck in my head.

She woke up… and I wasn’t there.

Lyric POV

I feel a bright, blinding light behind my eyes, making me groan.

It’s too sharp, cutting through me like it doesn’t belong here-like I don’t belong here yet.

“Too much,” I groan groggily.

“Close the blinds,” the deep voice says.

The light dims, and I open my eyes slowly.

Everything comes back in pieces-shapes first, then colors, then the dull ache that never really left

“Better?” he asks.

I just nod.

My throat feels tight, dry, and like sandpaper.

“Water,” I rasp out.

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Chapter 27

A few seconds later, a straw is brought to my lips, and I swallow gulps of water, easing the tightness in my throat

The relief is instant, but fragile-like it could disappear just as fast if I move wrong.

“Slow down,” he says with a chuckle.

I look up at him, and he is the most gorgeous wolf I have ever seen.

Not just handsome-something about him feels… steady. Grounding in a way I don’t understand yet.

He has tattoos down his arms and neck. His deep blue eyes look like they can see into my innermost hidden parts. A full beard and

a strong jaw.

“Who are you?” I rasp out.

He smiles, and oh goddess, his smile is perfect.

Too easy. Too warm. It makes something in my chest shift when it shouldn’t.

“I’m Cole,” he says.

I look around for Winter. I know I heard her.

“What day is it?” I ask.

“Saturday, the 18th of May,” he says.

Three days.

Three days gone. Three days I don’t remember. Three days where anything could’ve happened.

“What happened?” I ask, memory foggy.

“I don’t think we should talk about that now. Winter should be back soon,” he says.

“May I have more water?” I ask, my throat drying too fast.

He grabs me more water.

“Do you know if I can sit up? It’s kind of weird talking to you while looking at a window,” I say.

He laughs, deep and real, and it sends chills through my entire body,

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