The Lunar Queen Chapter 20

Winter POV

I haven’t left Lyric’s room since yesterday.

After this morning, when her eyes opened, I can’t leave.

It feels like if I step out—even for a second—I’ll miss it. Like she’ll wake up again and I won’t be here, and that thought alone makes my chest tighten.

I feel in my heart she’s going to wake up today.

Dominic has been keeping me company while Cole and his brothers go to the meet and greet.

Even though he should be there too because he’s also unmated, he said he’d rather stay with me.

He didn’t even hesitate when he said it either. Like being here with me wasn’t a second choice. Like it was exactly where he wanted to be. And I don’t know what to do with that yet.

“what if he is our mate? He would have known the moment he saw us,” Vega says.

“oh my God, you’re right because honestly, what super hot tattooed god would rather sit with a 17-year-old she-wolf in her best friend’s hospital room instead of potentially finding his mate unless she was his mate,” I say to her.

“our mate is a god,” I say to her.

“yes, he is,” Vega purrs in my mind.

“so tell me about your friendship with Lyric. You two are obviously closer than her and her siblings,” he says, moving his chair closer to mine next to Lyric’s bed.

Close enough that I feel the shift in the air between us. Close enough that my pulse picks up just a little—and I hate that I notice it right now of all times.

“Well, I was born a few months before her, and our mothers were always together. When she and Summer were born, they spent even more time together. By the time we were 2, we were attached at the hip with Mason,” I say.

“We were like the Three Musketeers,” I continue.

“He would spend time with Hunter and the guys, but most of his time was with us, with her.”

I look at Lyric.

“I was her sister; I loved her the most. We did everything together. I was the only one who knew the truth about Summer,” I explain.

And even now, sitting here, watching her lay still, I feel that same helpless anger crawling back up my throat—because I knew, and I still couldn’t stop it.

“She’s always hated her, felt like she didn’t belong, and the Moon Goddess made a mistake from the moment she could form sentences,” I say.

“Lyric is strong,” he says softly.

“How are you feeling right now?” he asks, taking my hand and calming me instantly, his touch grounding me in a way that feels too natural, too easy, like my body already recognizes something my mind hasn’t caught up to yet.

“I just want my sister back. Everybody’s so worried about catching who helped her and exposing Summer. I just want her to wake up. I just want to hear her voice,” I whisper.

My throat tightens halfway through, but I force the words out anyway because if I stop, I might not be able to start again.

i say fighting back tears.

“the funny thing is when she wakes up she isn’t even going to want to talk about this or any of that, she’s just going to shut everything out and train so she can leave and hopefully get into the Royal Warrior Program” I say,

“Oh, you two got in,” he says, grinning.

My head snaps to his.

“Shut up,” I say.

For a second—just a second—the weight in my chest lifts, replaced by something lighter, something almost normal. And I hate how much I needed that.

“Seriously, you and Lyric were part of the reason we came early. We wanted to know why the daughters of the Alpha and Beta wanted to be royal warriors.” He says,

“I would follow Lyric to the end of the earth. She was unhappy with her life, and we found out about it. We trained harder than ever before. We applied. After the stabbing, she was even more determined to apply.” I say,

“Hey, guys, any change?”

Cole walks into the room with Hunter, Jace, and Logan.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask.

“We didn’t feel right being anywhere else,” Hunter says.

And I hear it—the strain in his voice, the guilt sitting under every word. We’re all carrying it, just in different ways.

My aunt and uncle follow right behind them.

“Shouldn’t you guys be downstairs?” I ask.

“Your parents have everything under control,” Uncle Donovan says.

“What were you two talking about when we walked in?” Hunter asks.

“Dominic told me that Lyric and I got into the Royal Warrior Program,” I say proudly.

“I didn’t even know Lyric applied for that,” Uncle Donovan says.

“Nobody did. It was our secret. It was her way out,” I say softly.

Her way out of all of this. Out of the pain. Out of this pack. And now she’s laying here fighting just to breathe.

Then I feel her finger twitch in my hand.

I gasp.

“Lyric,” I say, voice cracking.

My whole body locks up around that one movement, like I’m scared if I breathe too hard I’ll miss the next one.

She jerks on the bed as if in a panic.

Cole moves to her face and locks eyes with her.

“Easy, princess,” he says before her body relaxes.

And just like that, she settles—but the fear doesn’t leave me. Not even close. Because I saw it. The panic. And I know exactly where it came from.

Lyric POV

My chest feels so tight, like every breath has to fight its way in and out of me, my back has a constant dull ache, and my whole body feels heavy.

I hear voices and a beeping sound.

My fingers twitch, and warmth wraps around them.

“Lyric,” Winter’s voice cracks.

The tightness in my chest loosens, then I feel a strong presence moving closer, and my whole body panics.

It hits fast—too fast—like my body reacts before my mind can catch up.

Please don’t let it be him.

Why is he here?

“Easy, princess,” the same deep voice as before says, calming me instantly.

And that’s what confuses me the most—because the panic fades just as fast as it came, like something in me recognizes him even if I don’t understand why.

I try to move, and pain shoots through me, making me groan.

“Don’t move,” Winter says.

“I”—my throat tightens—

“don’t try to talk,” she says with a smile.

I lift my head and look around as much as I can, seeing my parents, brothers, a man with lots of tattoos, the man with the voice, and blue eyes.

Those eyes hold mine a second too long, steady, intense in a way that makes something in my chest shift again—unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.

I try to feel for Nova.

“Nova,” I say, but I get no response.

That emptiness hits harder than the pain. Worse than everything else. Because she’s always there… and now she’s not.

My eyes flutter, getting heavy—

I’m so tired.

“It’s okay, you’re safe, you can rest now,” Winter says, stroking my hair.

Tears fall as sleep takes me.

Not fear this time. Not pain. Just release.

I’m awake.

I’m alive.

But my wolf is still silent.

And that’s the part that scares me the most.