The Lunar Queen (Lyric and Mason) novel Chapter 31

The Lunar Queen

Chapter 31

Lyric POV

I open my eyes and see Cole sitting in the chair next to my bed, looking so calm and reading a book. The sight of him there should

feel strange, but it doesn’t. If anything, it settles something in me before I even realize it.

“You know, I only know of one Cole who would be here this weekend of all weekends, and that is Cole Blackwood, Alpha King, Alph

of The Hidden Moon Pack,” I say with a lot of sass.

“Is that so?” he asks, raising a brow.

That look alone makes it obvious he already knows exactly what I’m doing, and somehow that only makes me want to push more.

“Yes, so your highness, do you sit at teenage she-wolves’ hospital bedsides often?” I ask, raising my own brow.

He chuckles, and it sends shivers down my spine.

Not fear. Not nerves. Something warmer. Something I’m not ready to name yet.

“No, this is actually a first for me. I don’t tend to like being around teen she-wolves; they’re pretty bratty,” he says, amusement in

his voice.

“Well, that’s one thing I’ve never been called-I’m the opposite of bratty, literally,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“Seriously, why are you here?” I ask.

Because teasing him is one thing. Actually knowing why the Alpha King keeps showing up at my bedside is something else entirely.

“Do you want me to tell you the truth, or the reason I gave your Alpha and dad?” he asks, looking up from his book to meet my

gaze.

Something in that question makes my heart jump.

The way he asks it makes it feel important. Dangerous, even. Like whatever comes next is going to change something.

“Both,” I say, my heart beating faster and scared for his answer for some reason.

“I told your Alpha it was because your application for the program impressed me, and since I was coming for the ball, I figured why not meet you? The real reason I was even here two days early may sound kind of creepy” he says.

I laugh at that “Okay well let’s hear it then I say. He chuckles “Fine, Selene has been showing me a pair of green eyes since I was a pup, and when your application came across my desk, I was finally able to put a face to the eyes that have been haunting me” he says. His eyes lock on me as he studies my face. “So you’re sitting at my bedside because you dreamt of my eyes, yup definitely

creepy” I say and he laughs again.

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Chapter 31

“So what does it mean?”

Not sure, but I knew I needed to meet you” he says

“Well that is interesting information” I say

“You’re taking it well, for such a creepy reveal” he states

“Well, I know blessed wolves exist, and some have a closer link to the Goddess than others,” I say. “As for you seeing my eyes in your dreams for years… I guess I am supposed to be important somehow.”

The thought should make me feel special.

Instead, it makes my stomach twist.

Important people usually come with expectations. With pressure. With everyone deciding what they need from you before they ever

ask what you want.

Cole watches me carefully.

“I don’t know what Selene meant yet,” he says. “But I did know I needed to meet you.”

That is somehow more honest than pretending he has answers he does not.

“So, what are you going to do about Mason?” he asks, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I know in my heart I am going to reject him,” I admit. “But that scares me because it is Mason. I loved him for so long. Still, from

the moment they grabbed me, rejecting him has felt like the only thing that makes sense.”

“I’ve been through so much for the sake of loving him, even as a pup when it was just innocent young love. Now I’m his mate, and I

don’t even know if she knows that yet. I will always love Mason. He was a bright light in a very dark time in my life, but I can’t be

his mate. No amount of love or bond will change what has happened, and I can’t forget that,” I say.

And saying it out loud makes it feel more final than it did in my head. He isn’t just the boy I loved anymore. He’s tied to every piece

of pain I’m trying to survive,

“I understand that,” he says quietly. “And you do not have to figure it all out alone. I am here.”

His eyes drop to my hands before lifting back to mine.

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The Lunar Queen