The Lunar Queen Chapter 39

Lyric POV

We walk into the dining room, which is filled with people. The noise hits me first—laughter, movement, voices overlapping—but it dulls almost instantly as my senses stretch wider than they ever have before, catching everything underneath it. I see Mason and Aria, and they are both marked, which makes me smile. It’s real—but quieter now, like I’m watching myself feel it instead of being pulled under it.

We walk up to the table, and I introduce myself, saying, “Hi, I’m Lyric.”

She responds, “Oh my goddess, you are beautiful,” causing me to blush. The reaction is automatic, familiar—but it doesn’t sit the same way in my chest anymore.

I reply, “Thank you, so are you,” and laugh. “I’m so happy you guys met before the ball and are marked,” I add, smiling.

“Thank you, that means a lot coming from you,” she says, blushing herself.

“You are adorable,” I say to her, laughing. And I mean it—but there’s a part of me that’s watching, measuring, aware of everything around me in a way I never was before.

I sit across from them, and Winter and Dom sit next to us.

“Sunflower, I’m happy for you, and I’m glad you found your true mate. I will forever be sorry for what you went through,” Mason says.

I smile at him. “Mason, stop apologizing. I don’t blame you for anything,” I reply. My voice is soft—but there’s something final in it now, something settled. “Everything is exactly how the Moon Goddess wanted it to be,” I add.

The words sit heavier in the air than they should, like they carry more than comfort—like they carry truth.

“We have one thing to handle before the ball tomorrow,” I continue. The shift in me happens without effort—lighter emotions sliding back, purpose settling in its place. “Where is Elias?” I ask.

“He’s in his room, waiting for you,” Cole responds.

“Well, tell him to meet us in front of the pack house,” I say.

I stop and turn to Mason. “Kelsey didn’t have anything to do with what happened; Summer blackmailed her,” I say, looking at him.

“How did you know what I was planning?” he asks, surprised.

“I read your mind when I healed you earlier. I’m sorry,” I reply. I don’t look away. I don’t soften it. I just say it.

“Kane, come,” I call, and his eyes turn gold, the color of his wolf.

“My queen,” Kane says.

“She is not responsible for what happened. When she returns home, leave her be. She has nothing to do with you losing me,” I state. The command settles into the space between us—quiet, but absolute.

“I will leave her alone. You have my word,” he replies.

“Thank you,” I say.

When Elias walks up to us, he hugs me. “I’m so happy to see that you are okay,” he says.

“Thank you,” I reply. Mira comes running out of the pack house.

“Lyric!” she screams, slamming into me.

“Hey, Mimi,” I say.

“I’m so happy you’re okay,” she says.

“Thank you, me too,” I respond.

My dad and Uncle Liam come out next. I walk over to Uncle Liam and hug him tightly.

“I missed you, sunny,” he says. “I’m glad you’re okay. Your aunt is resting,” he adds.

“I will visit her later,” I say, letting my hand linger just long enough to feel the shift in him—his energy smoothing out under mine before I pull away.

“You’re her, aren’t you?” he asks softly.

“You knew?” I inquire.

“I had an inkling when you were born. I always knew she had a pup outside of their line, but nobody ever managed to find him to know if he lived or died,” he explains.

“Well, he survived and is my mother’s ancestor,” I say.

“I’m not sure how Cole and I aren’t related, since both of our lines come from Eloise,” I add.

“Genetics—although Eloise’s pup with her mate was siblings with the pups she had with Lucian, many generations of Blackwoods and Frasers have diluted any genetic ties you two might have shared,” he replies.

“Thank you,” I say.

“You’re welcome, Sunny. Are you ready?” he asks.

“Yes, I am,” I reply as we head to the cells.

The smell hits me instantly, making me gag. It’s thick—metallic, sour, soaked into the walls—and my body recognizes it before I can stop it, memory and reality colliding in my chest.

Cole is immediately on me. “Are you okay, princess?” he asks.

“I’m fine. Just not used to the smell,” I say. Lie. I am used to it—and that realization sits heavier than anything else.

I release my aura as I walk in, causing all the wolves around me to stiffen. It slips out too easily, like something inside me doesn’t see a reason to hold it back anymore.

“Baby, I know what you’re doing, but try to reign it in a little,” Cole links me.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry, guys,” I say as I watch everyone relax.

I stop at Brad and Nathaniel’s cell first, and they bow the moment I arrive as my aura washes over them.

“My Queen, we’re so sorry she didn’t give us a choice,” Brad cries.

“Be quiet,” I command, allowing the command to wash over them. It lands instantly—no hesitation, no resistance. Submission, complete and immediate.

“You two beat me and then violated me repeatedly as I bled out. Please spare me your lies. You could have helped me, but instead, you hurt me,” I state. No shake. No break. Just truth.

“Come forth,” I say, bringing their wolves forward. I look at Nathaniel. “What is your name?” I ask.

“Frost, your Majesty,” he replies.

“How do you feel about your human?” I ask.

“I am disappointed. I told him to stop, but he blocked me out. That’s why, when the Alpha and Beta pairs took us to the torture cells, I didn’t heal him unless they commanded me to,” he explains.

“I will release you back to the goddess, and you will not die with your human. I hope your next one is better,” I conclude.

“Come,” I say, and he steps forward. I put my hand to his forehead.

“I, your Lunar Queen, release you back to our mother moon to be paired with a new human worthy of you,” I say.

“Thank you, my queen,” he responds.

My eyes flash, as does my hand, and his eyes turn white before his body collapses to the ground.

“What is your name?” I ask, addressing Brad’s wolf.

“Jax, my queen,” he replies, bowing.

“How do you feel about your human and what he has done?” I ask.

“I, like my brother, do not agree with what he did to you,” he responds.

“Then you too shall be released back to our mother moon to be paired with a human worthy of you,” I say, pressing my palm to his forehead.

I walk away as his body crumbles to the ground next to his brother.

I then walk over to where Summer and Savannah are in their cells. I stand between both.

“You two were my biggest tormentors growing up. Savannah, you let Summer talk you into doing whatever to me,” I say.

“You bitch, you should be dead,” Summer screams.

The words hit—and nothing in me moves. No flinch. No reaction. That’s new.

“Don’t worry, sister. I am saving the best for last,” I reply, turning to Savannah.

“You sliced my arms with a silver knife. You are the reason I bled out,” I say.

I lift her with my mind, crushing her throat with the wind. The control is effortless—too smooth, too natural, like it was always meant to be mine.

I manipulate the air into invisible blades and slice her the same way she did me, as she screams in agony.

“How does it feel? Should I allow someone to violate you while you bleed out?” I ask. My voice stays level—and that makes it worse.

“Please, I’m sorry, I was scared of her. I didn’t want to die,” she cries.

“So, better me than you, right?” I say.

“Come forward,” I call to her wolf.

“What is your name?” I ask.

“Nala, my queen. I am not okay with what she has done. Please send me back,” she says.

“As you wish,” I reply, placing my hand on her forehead.

I separate her and send her back, and Savannah’s body crumbles to the ground as well.

I turn to Summer, smiling. And this time… it isn’t soft. It isn’t kind. It’s deliberate.

“My dear sister, how are you?” she asks.

Elias walks into the cells at that moment.

“Mate,” she says, looking at the door to see who comes down the stairs.

“You will never be my mate, you evil bitch,” Elias growls.

“I, Elias Blackwood, son of Oliver Blackwood, former Alpha King, crown prince of the royal throne, reject you, Summer Cassidy, daughter of Beta Donovan Cassidy of the Moonveil Pack,” he declares.

“No,” she whispers. “No, my mate was a prince. No—wait,” she begs.

“I’m sorry, I can change,” she says.

“You will never change,” he growls.

“Accept it,” he commands.

“No, I can’t,” she replies.

“Accept his rejection, Summer,” I order.

“I, Summer Cassidy, daughter of Donovan Cassidy, Beta of the Moonveil Pack, accept your rejection,” she says, dropping to the floor and screaming in pain as the bond severs.

The sound tears through the room—but it doesn’t touch me the way it should. Not anymore.

“Good. Now we can begin,” I say.

And as she curls in on herself, shaking, broken, finally quiet, I step forward—slow, deliberate—until I’m standing right in front of her cell, looking down at what’s left of the girl who spent years trying to break me.