The Lunar Queen Chapter 27

Lyric POV

When we pull up to the bowling alley, I am pumped. I love bowling. For the first time in days, the excitement feels real instead of forced, like I can actually breathe without everything sitting heavy on my chest. “Okay, so we most definitely should do teams,” I say. “And since we are not evenly matched yet—until Eli gets his second chance—I’m definitely okay playing twice,” I add. “So, girls against guys?” Dom asks. “Yup, are you guys ready to lose?” Winter teases. “How are you so sure you’re going to win?” Xavier questions. “Oh, you will see,” Winter replies.

We head to the front to pay for our lanes, and of course, the Alpha King doesn’t pay, which earns a small eye roll from me even though I don’t say anything, because of course he doesn’t, so we get our shoes and march to the lanes. Each girl faces her mate, and Eli and I go last. The first strike, they thought it was luck. After my turkey, they all knew they were screwed, and I can feel their attention shift, feel their eyes on me in a way that’s different now—less teasing, more impressed, and it settles something quiet inside me. The girls and I beat them badly—three games in a row—before they quit on us.

“Where the hell did you learn to bowl like that, Lyric?” Dominic asks.

“Winter and I used to come here all the time as pups. We’d ride our bikes to town and do everything,” I reply. “Bowling and archery were my favorite things to do,” I add.

“You’re good with a bow?” Cole asks, raising an eyebrow.

I scoff. “Good? I’m the best shot in the pack,” I say confidently, lifting my chin just slightly because this—this is something I know I’m good at, something nobody ever took from me.

“Show me then,” he challenges.

“Sure thing,” I respond, walking out of the bowling alley toward the archery range.

When we step inside, the owner greets me. “Hey, Lyric, it’s good to see you up and about,” he says with warm eyes.

“Thanks, Ryan. I appreciate that. Can we get a few bows and arrows? You can just give us two target lanes on rotation,” I request.

“Got it, kiddo. How long?”

“Two-minute intervals, for an hour,” I specify.

“Got it. Here you go,” he says, handing me two bows and two sets of arrows.

“What exactly did you two say to each other?” Xavier inquires.

“I asked for moving targets that rotate out every two minutes in different places in the lane,” I explain.

“Oh,” he responds.

“Ready?” I ask everyone.

When we reach the lanes, Cole goes up against me, because I can’t possibly be a better shot than him. “I know you’re the king, but I’m about to show why I’m about to be Queen,” I say, winking at him, even though there’s something in his eyes that makes my stomach flip in a way I don’t fully understand yet.

The bell signals the first target. Head shot.

The bell rings again. Head shot.

Three more targets—all head shots—before the targets reset for the next two, and by now I can feel it—the shift, the silence behind me, the way they’re actually watching instead of joking.

“You are incredible,” Cole says as he walks up to me. “Shooting like that, you’re going to be a force to be reckoned with at the palace,” he adds while approaching. “You are beautiful,” he says softly, looking at me, making me blush, and it hits differently than anything else anyone has said to me in a long time.

“Thank you,” I reply, looking away. He hooks two fingers under my chin and gently turns my face back to him. “Don’t hide from me, you’re beautiful. You brighten up a room, Lyric,” he whispers.

“Okay, nobody’s called me beautiful in a long time,” I say quietly, and I don’t even mean to admit that out loud, but it slips anyway.

“Well, I’ll make sure you hear it every day, so you don’t forget,” he promises, and something in my chest tightens like I want to believe him even though I don’t know if I should.

“It’s 4:30, guys, let’s head back,” Dominic signals.

“This has been so much fun. I’m glad you came out with me. Mira, I’m really happy I get to see you more. Call me and text me,” I say as we get into the car.

We reach the pack in about 15 minutes. The rest of the royal warriors who didn’t leave with Elias are packed and waiting outside with their mates. We stop in front of the pack house, and my parents, along with the Alpha and Luna, come out to see Cole and his pack off.

“Your majesty, I can never thank you enough for helping us find my daughter. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know if we would have found her in time,” my dad says, tears in his eyes.

I walk over and hug him. “It’s okay, Daddy. I’m okay,” I reassure him, holding onto him a second longer than I normally would because I know how close it was.

“Thank you all for coming. We hope to see you again next year when we host our next ball for our ranked kids, and hopefully Hunter and the boys will find their mates by then,” Alpha Liam says.

“It was an honor to be here. Lyric and Winter are great, and they’ll do great in our Royal Warrior Program,” Cole says.

He says goodbye to our parents while his pack members pack their cars, then turns to me. “Walk me to my car?” he asks.

“Of course,” I reply, looping my arms through his, aware of how natural it feels and trying not to think too hard about why.

When we reach the car, he looks at me. “I’m honestly going to miss you so much,” he says.

“I’ll miss you too. Sorry I don’t have another hospital bed to sit at,” I joke.

“That isn’t funny, princess. I was scared for you,” he says gently, and the softness in his voice makes my chest ache in a way I’m not ready to unpack.

“You’re right, and I’m sorry,” I reply.

He bends down to hug me and lifts me in the process. “The moon goddess found it funny to mate me with a wolf who is a whole foot and 6 inches taller than me,” I say, rolling my eyes.

He laughs at that. “I will carry you everywhere if you need me to,” he says, smiling.

“Are you insane? Put me down,” I say to him, looking around to make sure nobody is paying attention, even though part of me doesn’t actually mind being this close to him.

“Nervous for somebody to see you get picked up by your king?” he asks, amused.

“You’re so funny,” I reply. “Now go home, I’m officially kicking the Alpha King out of Moonveil Pack,” I say, laughing.

“Oh, I am offended after putting up with all your teenage bratty behavior, and this is how I am treated,” he says, holding his chest.

“You two are funny,” Mira says from the window.

“Your king is very childish; someone should rethink the throne,” I say, pushing him toward the car.

“This is crazy. I will speak with your Alpha about this,” he says, climbing into the car, smiling at me. My heart stops—the smile is perfect, and I hate how easily it gets to me.

“Call me,” I say.

“You can bet on that, princess,” he says as they pull off toward the gates.

“You two are perfect together,” Winter says, looping her arm through mine.

“I never thought anyone else would see me after Mason, but Cole sees me even when I think I’m hiding things,” I say, and saying it out loud makes it feel even more real.

“Well, Mason saw young Lyric, Cole sees older Lyric. I’m almost a woman Lyric, although I already look like one,” she says, laughing.

“Let’s go get some food. I’m starving,” I say.

As soon as we walk into the pack house, we run right into Summer and Savannah. Just perfect.

“Oh, Lyric, where have you been hiding?” Summer says sweetly.

“I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been in the hospital,” I say, shrugging, keeping my tone flat even though something sharp twists in my chest at the sight of her.

“Oh my goddess, are you okay?” she asks, feigning concern.

“Peachy. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m trying to go to dinner,” I say, moving to walk around them.

“Well, sister, I hope that lesson was learned,” she says, stopping me.

“Oh, trust me, lesson learned,” I grit out, meeting her eyes just long enough for her to know I’m not the same girl she left in that room, before continuing toward the dining room.

Inside, everyone starts clapping and cheering.

“We’re glad you’re okay, Lyric,” a warrior named Greg says.

“Thank you, Greg. You guys are all amazing,” I respond.

“You’ve helped so many of us, and we love you,” a pack member named Hillary says.

The head omega, Mary, walks out, tears in her eyes. “Lyric, sweetheart, I’m so happy you’re okay,” she says, wrapping me in a hug.

“Thank you,” I say, tears falling.

“You all have no idea how much this means to me. I really love you all. All of you are my pack, my family. Thank you,” I say.

“Please enjoy your dinners. I am honored,” I add as everyone starts dispersing.

I grab a plate and turn to find a table. I see the guy’s— but Mason is there, so I sit at a table on the other side with Winter.

“I feel so bad for him,” she says, cutting her steak.

“Me too, but we can’t be seen together,” I reply, even though my chest tightens just looking in his direction.

“Did you enjoy your day, beautiful?” Mason links me.

“I did. We went bowling and to the archery range,” I say, smiling despite myself, hating how easy it is to fall into this with him.

“Are you linking him?” she mouths.

I just nod my head smiling.

“Oh, you cheeky girl,” she says, slapping my arm.

“I know you won, I don’t even need to ask,” he says, laughing through the link, giving me chills.

“Yeah, it felt good to be out,” I say softly.

“I miss watching you shoot; you used to love going to the range when we were pups. Glad to know you still go,” he says softly.

“Good night, my sunflower,” he says, cutting the link.

“Girl, let’s go to my room; we can have a sleepover,” Winter says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the elevator.

I look back at Mason, just for a second longer than I should, and realize it’s going to be harder than I thought to reject him.

I look away first, because if I don’t, I might hesitate.

And I can’t afford to hesitate with him.

Not when a part of me still wants to.