The Lunar Queen (Lyric and Mason) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Cole POV

I sit in her room a little longer, just watching her sleep.

The room is quiet except for the soft rhythm of her breathing and the low hospital sounds in the background, but somehow none of

that feels empty. Not with her here. Not with my wolf finally quiet for the first time in days.

“She is beautiful,” Zeus says.

“Yes,” I reply. “She really is.”

“And she does not even know it.”

That might be the part that gets me the most-the way she carries all of that without realizing what she does to a room just by

being in it.

“Hey bro, got a minute?” Elias links me.

“Of course. Lyric just fell asleep. Where are you?” I link back.

“In my room. I couldn’t stay at that ball; all I smelled was her,” he replies.

That alone tells me how bad it is, because Elias does not complain. Not unless it is eating at him.

“Say no more. I’ll stop in my room and grab the scotch,” I say.

I kiss Lyric on her forehead and head out.

Her skin is warm beneath my lips, and even that small contact makes Zeus settle deeper, satisfied in a way I’m not going to examine

too hard tonight.

Before I even reach the pack house, I see Hunter and Mason looking like they’re in a heated argument outside the hospital.

The tension around them is obvious from a distance-sharp, heavy, the kind that makes the air feel charged before a word is even

spoken.

I take three steps before he notices me.

“Your majesty, a word,” Mason growls.

“Mase, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Hunter says.

“I just want to talk to him,” Mason growls.

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Chapter 34

I stop walking so he can approach me.

“What can I do for you, Alpha?” I ask.

I keep my tone even on purpose. Calm bothers wolves like him more than anger ever will.

“Why are you coming out of the hospital?” he asks through clenched teeth.

“I was keeping Lyric company since she wasn’t able to go to the ball tonight,” I reply calmly.

“That is my job,” he growls.

“Well, last time I checked, Alpha, she tried to climb the walls just to get away from you,” I say.

The truth lands where it needs to. I can see it in the way his whole body tenses.

“I got stopped by Mason, might be a minute,” I link Elias.

“Need me to come out?” he asks.

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“Nah, I think his Beta has called for backup,” I reply, cutting the link.

“So what, it’s My job to keep her company? MY job to calm her down? She is MINE,” he roars in my face.

He is too close now, too loud, too ruled by his wolf to even hear himself.

“I advise you to calm yourself, pup. You’re right in normal circumstances-that would all be your job-but unfortunately for you,

your mate is terrified of being in the same room as you,” I say as calmly as I can.

“Just kill him already,” Zeus growls, annoyed.

“That will cause a war we don’t need,” I say.

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“Well, at least punch him,” he suggests.

“That may need to happen,” I agree.

“I’m not trying to steal your mate from you, Mason. I’m just trying to help her heal. Your mate went through something very

traumatic that led to her almost losing her life. She just needs the time and space to heal after that,” I say.

I make myself stay measured, because this isn’t about winning some pissing contest with a younger alpha. This is about keeping

him from making things worse for her.

I see Alpha Liam and Mason’s Gamma and Delta coming from the direction of the pack house, along with Hunter’s dad.

“Mason, what the hell are you doing? Are you trying to start a war?” his dad says, running up.

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“Don’t worry, Alpha. I’m not threatened by the pup; I just want him to understand that this isn’t about me. It’s about his mate and what she needs,” I say to him.

“SHE NEEDS ME!” he roars.

The desperation in it almost matters more than the anger. Almost.

“No, Mason, she doesn’t,” Beta Donovan says.

Mason’s head whips around quickly to him.

“What do you mean? She is my mate, Uncle D,” he says, voice cracking.

There it is. The part of him that is not just angry, but breaking.

“I know, son, but right now, you’re not helping her. You are making it worse,” he says gently.

“She ran from you, Mase. She was pulled back into that moment just from hearing your voice,” Hunter says.

“She is not okay,” he adds.

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The Lunar Queen