The Lunar Queen Chapter 102

Lyric POV

It’s been a few days since Hannah and Ezra showed up at our borders and it has been constant movement.

The palace somehow feels fuller now. Louder. Warmer.

Leah accepted them with open arms and so did the rest of the pack. Hannah has been having visions more frequently about the king of the west and I’m not sure what that means.

Every vision seems to leave her more drained afterward and each time she says his name Nova grows restless inside me.

He accepted our invitation but in the letter he requested for us to come to him, so we will be doing that in a few days.

The request itself feels strange. Almost cautious. Like he doesn’t leave his kingdom anymore.

The Southern King has agreed to the meeting with all the other supernatural beings. The Fae King even agreed as long as I was there.

That part still bothers me a little because the rumors about me are clearly spreading farther than I realized.

We decided to wait to set a date until after our Dark Valley visit today and our trip to the western kingdom this weekend.

Everything feels like it’s moving too fast and not fast enough at the same time.

I wake up to small lips placing kisses all over my face.

Soft giggles fill the room before I even fully open my eyes.

I’ve been up for a while but Cole and I noticed Hannah likes to sneak in our bed at night or wake us up with kisses so even though Cole left to handle pack stuff I decided to lay in for her.

“Wake up mama Lyric, I’m hungry. My stomach is yelling at me” She says.

Her tiny voice is dramatic enough to make me smile instantly.

“I need 5 more minutes I can’t open my eyes yet” I say smiling.

“But my tummy is yelling now, papa Cole said to tickle you until you get up” she says grinning as her little fingers start attacking me.

I burst out laughing and I pull her into the bed and tickle her back.

Her laughs fill the room and it makes my heart melt hearing her laugh. Just days ago she was scared and alone and now she’s the happiest girl I ever seen.

The sound is so carefree it almost doesn’t match the little girl who crossed kingdoms covered in dirt and fear just days ago.

The difference in her already feels unreal sometimes.

“Okay mama you win” she says laughing harder.

“Okay, let’s go get ready for breakfast. Did you wake your brother up?” I ask her, smile plastered on my face from her playfulness.

“No, he left with papa” she says.

Honestly I’m not surprised. Ezra follows Cole around almost as much as Hannah follows me now.

“Okay what are we feeling today?” I ask her as I pick her up and take her into her room.

“Elise said we should be twins like you and auntie Iris so I want to wear a yellow princess dress and I want pigtails with yellow bows” She says just as Elise runs into her room in a poofy yellow dress.

Of course they already planned matching outfits without me knowing.

“Good morning bug” I say.

“Good morning Lyric” She says running and hugging me from behind.

The excitement radiating off both girls fills the room instantly.

“Hannah banana did we brush our teeth?” I ask her.

She nods “Yes mama. See” She says showing me her biggest smile.

I laugh softly and kiss her forehead before helping her get dressed.

After we get her dressed and I do her hair. They both run out.

“See you at breakfast mama” Hannah says as they are running out.

The word mama still catches me off guard every single time she says it.

I head back to my room and I get dressed in a pair of blue jeans and an off the shoulder shirt.

For the first time in a while things almost feel normal.

I stop in the nursery and our two new nannies are in there with the pups. Having 5 pups now the extra help was definitely a necessity.

“Good morning Olivia and Sadie” I say as I pick up each pup and shower them with kisses.

The nursery instantly fills with tiny giggles and happy squeals.

Eloise’s giggle is infectious and I laugh with her.

“The Alpha and I will be out for most of the day, I pumped enough milk for all three for the day, if you run out especially with this big guy” I say gesturing to Zach.

Zachariah immediately lets out an offended little growl like he understands what I'm saying making me laugh harder.

“You can call Luna Leah, she always has extra milk in her house” I say.

“Yes Luna” They both say.

“Oh and Hannah will ask for ice cream she is only allowed two scoops a day after lunch, she will try to push it, so be firm with her, Ezra is very shy so he might stay in his room most of the day if he isn’t with the girls” I say as I help them change the pups.

Even saying things like that out loud feels strangely natural now. Like they’ve always belonged here.

“Thank you ladies, if you need me please call I will have my phone” I say as I walk out of the nursery and make my way down to the dining room.

Cole and Ezra are already sitting at the table and Hannah and Elise are seated on the end.

The sight waiting for me makes warmth spread through my chest instantly.

I walk over to Cole and he pulls me into his lap. I giggle in surprise.

“Good morning my King” I say kissing him softly.

"Good morning my Queen" He whispers into my neck, while taking in my scent making my whole body shiver.

The bond between us feels calm again. Steady. Warm.

Ezra climbs out of his chair and walks over to give me a hug.

“Good morning little guy, how did you sleep?” I ask him kissing his forehead softly.

He smiles shyly “I slept good, I had a nightmare and papa Cole came in my room when” He says quietly.

My eyes immediately lift to Cole’s and pure love shoots through the bond. I love this man.

“Oh yeah and did you like that?” I ask him and he just nods his head.

“Are we ready to start school?” I ask him and he looks at Cole before nodding his head.

He still looks to Cole before answering most things now like he’s silently checking if he’s safe first.

Although he warmed up to us he is still slow warming up to the pack and our family.

“Are you ready to head out after breakfast?, the SUV is ready whenever you are” Cole says.

“I’m ready I already gave Sable and Olivia everything they need and gave them instructions for Hannah and Ezra” I say.

I put a few things on my plate and eat quickly.

The closer we get to leaving for Dark Valley the tighter my chest becomes with unease.

“Okay Hannah, Ezra we have to go visit another pack and we will be back later today okay, be good and listen to Olivia and Sable” I say.

“Don’t give them a hard time girls” I say to Hannah and Elise just as Dominic and Winter walk in.

“You guys ready?” Winter asks.

“Yup we are ready” I say.

“How come I can’t go mama?” Hannah asks running up to me and I scoop her into my arms.

Her lower lip immediately pokes out in a pout.

“Because this trip isn’t safe for little girls, besides I need you here where I know you are safe okay?” I say.

Even saying the words makes a strong sense of protectivness spread through me.

She pouts her lips out even further and I poke her bottom lip “No sad faces, we talked about this. Are you going to be a big girl?” I say.

“Yes mama” she says reaching over to Cole who takes her and spins her around.

The giggles that leave her mouth makes Nova purr in delight.

“See you soon?” He asks her and she nods smiling at him.

The way she instantly relaxes in Cole’s arms still amazes me sometimes.

He puts her down and crouches down in front of Ezra “You going to be okay without us here for a while buddy?” He asks.

He just nods and wraps his arms around Cole’s neck.

The hug catches Cole off guard for half a second before his entire expression softens.

“I’m going to miss you too buddy, we will be back by dinner” he reassures him.

“Okay” he says quietly before coming to give me a hug.

The fear of leaving them behind presses heavily against my chest even though I know they are safe here.

When we get downstairs Hunter is already waiting.

“Just the five of us?” he asks.

“Yeah just us” Cole says as we get in the car.

Hunter gets behind the wheel and the four of us pile into the back.

The mood in the SUV shifts noticeably once the palace gates disappear behind us.

“How are you feeling my king?” I ask him as we start the long drive to Dark Valley.

“I’m in a better space than I was and I think Selene was onto something bringing those pups to us” he says.

“I agree” I say.

“I forgive you for Mason” he says low through the link.

My breath catches instantly.

My head snaps to him to look him in his eyes.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“Yes, I know you didn’t do it to hurt me and you deserved real closure with him after what happened, I just would have preferred to be there for that” he says.

The lingering tension I didn’t even realize I was still carrying loosens painfully in my chest.

“I know and I’m sorry” I say.

“Stop apologizing princess, I’m not mad anymore, I love you and I love our expanded little family, you are perfect and we are good” he says kissing my temple.

Emotion crashes through the bond so strongly tears instantly sting my eyes.

I know whatever waits for us at Dark Valley we probably aren’t prepared for but with my mate and I in a better space we can handle whatever is waiting.

At least that’s what I try to convince myself because the closer we get to Dark Valley the heavier the air begins to feel, and the more restless Nova becomes.