The Lunar Queen Chapter 44

Cole POV

I knew the moment she asked to talk to him it was a bad idea. That feeling hit fast—sharp and immediate—and it hasn’t eased since. She wasn’t ready, she literally has been on emotional roller-coaster after another since she woke up this morning.

“we’re leaving soon, maybe she just wanted to get it out the way” Zeus says

“she needs time for that one, she still loves him” I say to him my jaw tightening as I force the words out anyway

he growls in response “MINE” he roars

“yes she is ours and she loves us and him” I say to him firmly even though something in my chest doesn’t like saying it out loud “and we will love her through that” I add

He doesn’t even respond he just shut me out. The silence is worse than the growling.

“what the hell just happened?” Hunter says as Mason walks back up.

“not now” Mason says walking past us. He doesn’t even look at anyone, and that alone tells me everything.

He looks at Aria and just runs his hands through his hair and shifts and runs in the opposite direction of Lyric.

“go check on your alpha fellas, he is going to need you three right now” I say to Hunter, Lucas and Micah who walked up as they were talking.

“did he just walk away from me?” Aria says

“little sister” Elias says

“what, my mate just went to go talk to the girl he is obviously in love with his whole fucking life and then walks away from me after she runs off on him after they were being very intimate” she shouts

“look Aria I’m going to say this then go find my sister. Her and Mason is a very complicated situation and like you said he loved her his whole life and she loved him except her love and his love cost her things every single time it was displayed publicly and him he was oblivious, then he found out she was his mate and he couldn’t stay away from her while she was trying to stay away from him and she paid the price every time, so yeah he walked away from you because she walked away from him and he carries so many different feelings for her only to find his mate before even dealing with them. Cut him some slack respectfully” Winter says.

She turns to Iris “are you coming?” she asks

“yes I am” Iris says

They both kiss their mates and head towards the treeline.

“Okay what?” Aria says “are you not upset right now?” she asks me

“Zeus is but that’s the alpha in him being possessive of his mate but my logical mind knows the magnitude of their relationship, Lyric and I talked while they were mated and I know how she felt about him and I knew it was complicated and I knew that she was meant to be mine and at some point she would be and now she is” I say keeping my voice even even though my chest feels like it’s tightening with every word

“regardless of how either of them feel, she is mine and if your pup of a mate would like to challenge me for her he can try and I will kill him where he stands” I say calmly too calmly—the kind of calm that makes everyone else go still

“Cole” Elias says

“I’m just saying if he feels he wants to do something about those unresolved feelings he can try she is already marked and mated” I say

“Aria, Iris said Lyric asked for you, they are at the lake just follow their scents” Elias says

“um should I go?” She asks

“yes, you should, your queen and your sister in-law asked to see you” I growl out my patience already thinning

“okay, okay” she says

“I’m going with you” Mira says

They both walk towards the treeline.

“that was heavy” Xavier says

“you would really fight him for her?” Dom asks

and the growl that tears through me has all of them turning their necks in submission

“MINE” I roar out the word ripping out of me before I can stop it

“I’m sorry alpha” Dom says

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself but I can’t because the last thing I felt before she shut me out was so much turmoil and guilt. It’s still sitting in my chest like it belongs there.

I just want to hold her and tell her I understand and I love her anyway.

“I’m going to find my mate” I say standing and walking in the direction the girls all went

“make mate feel better, she’s hurting” Zeus says quieter now, but just as serious

Mason POV

I knew that the conversation had to happen. I did. I just didn’t know it would hurt this fucking much. Not like this—deep and constant, like it’s not going anywhere.

The look on her face after she hugged me. Love, sadness, pain, conflicted feelings, guilt. All of it hit me at once, and I can’t shake it.

My heart still aches thinking about it.

I couldn’t even face Aria she looks like I already rejected her and I’m not and I won’t but I need to really have a serious conversation with Lyric so we can both deal with these feelings we both have. Because ignoring it clearly isn’t working.

I love Aria, she’s my mate but I loved Lyric without a mate bond my whole life those feelings don’t just disappear.

I smell Hunter, Micah and Lucas as they walk over to me.

“Mase you good man?” Hunter asks clapping my shoulder.

“I’m so fucked about Lyric. I know that we both found our second chance mates but I was in love with her without the bond. You know how I felt about her” I say to them

The words feel heavy coming out, like saying it makes it more real than I want it to be.

“Yeah but Mase you have to move on from that” Lucas says

“you don’t think I know that” I growl out my aura leaking out frustration bleeding through before I can stop it

“okay, I’m not saying you don’t, I’m just saying stop focusing on what you lost with her and focus on what you are building with Aria and let her do the same” Lucas adds

“both of you holding on to what you lost is only hurting yourselves and your mates” Hunter says

“I’m not trying to hurt Aria, I just want to talk to her again” I say

“maybe not today, it’s been a long day Mase and it’s only 5:00, she’s been through it today” Hunter says

That stops me.

I didn’t even think about that, she’s so good at holding herself together it slipped my mind. That alone makes something twist in my chest.

Kane whimpers in my head.

“fuck, Cole must want to kill me” I groan

“only if you were actively trying to steal his mate, which you aren’t right?” Hunter says

I pause for a moment. Too long.

“Mason. You’re not trying to steal the alpha king’s mate right?” Hunter asks again more seriously.

“No. No I’m not” I say hesitantly but even I can hear the hesitation in it

“Mason he will kill you. You will start a war with the royal pack, not only because of you trying to steal his mate but also hurting his fucking sister” Micah says

“I know that” I snap

“so get your head straight because whatever is going on bury it, because Lyric isn’t yours anymore” Hunter says

“I’m trying” I say

“don’t try Mason, do it” Hunter says

“remember who your alpha is beta” I growl at him

“I do remember, but Lyric has been through enough you coming with your confusing as feelings she doesn’t need” Hunter says

I know he is right. That’s what makes it worse.

It hurts that it’s true.

“look Mason I get it and I understand things with Lyric is complicated and unfinished, but as her brother I need to make sure she is good” Hunter says

“So please do me a favor and figure your shit out because Monday she will be leaving and I want her last 2 days here to be stress free” he adds

“I hear you Hunt” I say even though my chest feels tight hearing that she’s leaving again

“now go find your mate, because Lyric is fixing your fuck up” he says walking back towards the pack house

“fuck” I shout out following behind them dragging a hand down my face, knowing he’s not wrong—but not knowing how to fix it either