The Lunar Queen (Lyric and Mason) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“It would be better if you were coming too,” she says.

“I know, but this time next year I will be. Go have fun with your mate. Next year, you will actually be able to feel the bond,” I reply.

“Are you sure?” she asks.

“Yes. Besides, Mr. Alpha King here already said he isn’t leaving, so I have pretty decent company. Jury’s still out on this one,” I say,

winking at her.

I hear Cole chuckle beside me.

“Okay, but I will be first thing in the morning. I think the doc is going to let you leave,” she says, grabbing Dominic’s hand and

walking out.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she yells over her shoulder.

“That’s not a long list of things,” I reply.

“Exactly,” she shouts.

Cole laughs.

“I like her. She’s definitely exactly what Dominic needed. He is always so serious,” he says, still laughing.

“And what about me?” I ask.

“Don’t know. Jury’s still out on that,” he says, winking at me.

“Touché, your Highness,” I say, laughing.

“Seriously, I can tell you’re very sassy and seem to challenge things. I like that he says, making my heart hammer.

He says things so directly, like he’s not scared of wanting what he wants. I don’t know whether that should comfort me or terrify

“He smells nice,” Nova softly says, making me jump.

“Oh my God, Nova, you’re back,” I say to her.

Relief hits so hard it almost makes me dizzy. I hadn’t realized how empty my head felt until she was suddenly there again.

“I’m still weak and need more rest, but I am here,” she says.

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Chapter 33

“I take it your wolf is back,” he says, smiling.

“Yes, she said she’s still weak, but she is here,” I say softly.

“Feels different when you can’t hear them. Once you can, doesn’t it?” he asks.

“Yeah, since I woke up, it’s just been too quiet in my head,” I say.

“So, can I ask you a question?” he asks.

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“If what happened to you on Wednesday didn’t happen, would you still reject him?” he inquires.

here it is. The question I’ve been avoiding asking myself too directly because I already know it hurts.

Honestly, I don’t know. When Nova and I first put it together, I panicked, and he calmed me. It felt too right. Then that morning,

we had a moment and we kissed. It was my first kiss with the boy I loved my whole life-up close and from afar-who turned out to

be my mate, and it was perfect. I thought maybe in that moment, but she walked in on us, and I knew I could never be happy with

him as long as she was around. Then when they grabbed me, I knew it couldn’t ever be what I want it to be with him. It hurts

because I know it’s not his fault, and I know he’s hurting because I can’t even physically be in a room with him without feeling like

I’m back in that room, branded a freak,” I say, tears streaming down my face before I even realize it.

I don’t even feel them at first. I just feel the ache under everything-old love, new pain, and the kind of grief that doesn’t have a

clean place to go.

Cole doesn’t hesitate to wipe them.

“It’s okay, don’t cry. I know this can’t be easy for you or him, which is why I don’t blame him for being upset when he sees me

around you, because you are his mate but he is the reason for your pain,” he says.

“It’s a lot to

adds, rubbing small circles on my hands.

demand anything. It just stays. Steady. Patient. And right now, that feels like more comfort than I know what to

ank you for being here with me, thank you for finding me and anchoring me. I didn’t know who you were, but I heard your voice,

and it helped,” I say softly.

“Anything for you, princess,” he replies.

That simple, easy answer does something dangerous to my heart.

We talk for a little longer before I drift off to sleep, not even realizing how tired I was.

And somewhere between his voice, Nova finally being back, and the way my body no longer feels like it’s fighting to survive every

second, I realize something I’m not ready to say out loud yet-being with Cole feels easy and that scares me because Mason is my

mate.

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