The Lunar Queen Chapter 45

Lyric POV

The next morning I wake up to sparks across my stomach. I open my eyes and find Cole placing small kisses all across my stomach.

“Good morning, my king,” I say, smiling at him.

“Good morning, princess. How did you sleep?” he asks.

“Better than I have in a long time,” I say.

“Good, you in the mood for breakfast with your pack?” he asks.

“Yes, I’m good,” I say.

“Good, because my pups need to eat,” he says, lightly smacking my butt. I suck in a breath, swatting at him, but the warmth blooming in my chest doesn’t fade—this feels safe, normal, ours.

We shower together and have a quickie before we get dressed and head down for breakfast.

When we walk into the dining room, everybody is already here. Cole grabs two plates and makes one for both of us. I sit down next to Iris.

“Good morning, everybody,” I say to the table.

I turn to Iris. “I was hoping we can do something fun today, get to know each other better,” I say.

“I would like that very much,” she says.

“So I was thinking we head to the neutral territory and get a paintball game in today, guys,” I say.

Everybody looks at me like I lost my mind.

“What? Winter, I paintball all the time,” I say.

“Why do you do all these hardcore things for fun, archery, paintball?” Hunter says.

I roll my eyes. “It’s not even that bad, and archery is a good skill to have during war or attacks,” I say, shrugging.

Cole kisses my head. “Eat first and then we can do whatever you want,” he says.

“Lyric, honey, can we talk before you leave?” Mom says.

“Sure, Mom,” I say.

“Why are you eating so much?” Winter links me.

“I’m pregnant,” I link back.

“She is too,” Nova says.

I scream out loud, my fork clattering against my plate as the sharp sound cuts through the room and every conversation dies instantly.

Nova shows me a vision and it’s a few months from now in the palace and all of us are pregnant—me, Winter, Iris and Mira.

“Is that real?” I ask Nova, my pulse kicking up as the image lingers too vividly behind my eyes.

“You okay, princess?” Cole asks, his hand already at my back, grounding, steady, like he feels the shift in me before I do.

“Yes,” I say. “Nova just gave me great news.”

“You’re pregnant too,” I link Winter.

I see her eyes go wide. “Seriously?” she links.

“Yes, we’re all pregnant,” I link.

After I eat I follow Mom and Dad into the garden.

“I believe this is a conversation for all of your children,” I say. “Can you guys come out here?”

A few minutes later they walk out.

“What’s going on, Ly?” Hunter asks.

“Our parents are going to tell us why they had us all thinking Summer and I were twins when we were triplets,” I say.

They both look at each other—too long, too quiet—and something in my chest tightens before they even speak.

“Summer was not your twin, you and Iris were twins,” Dad says softly.

I feel my anger rising, slow at first, then sharp and fast, like something inside me finally snapping loose.

“How did you do it?” I ask.

“Because we were the same age and the entire pack thought she was your pup,” I growl.

“When your mother gave birth and we saw that both of you were spitting images of our first Luna Queen, we knew the prophecy was now active and we thought they would come for both of you,” Mom says, her tears falling freely.

“An omega who’s mate died while she was pregnant gave birth the same night as I did, but she died while giving birth, so we did what we thought was best and separated you two,” Dad says.

“So we sent Iris to your grandparents’ pack in the hopes that keeping you separated would keep you hidden,” Mom says.

“So you’re telling me you adopted an omega’s baby and made everyone think she was yours, then you let her overshadow your REAL pup—the one you carried because she was quiet—and that left the door open for her to constantly hurt me and abuse me? She tried to kill me twice,” I scream out.

“Lyric, your eyes are glowing purple again,” Hunter says.

“She had me assaulted and beaten, and you saw nothing,” I growl, my voice dropping, roughening as Nova presses closer inside me.

I feel sparks on my arms and whirl around.

“It’s okay, my Queen, I’m here, calm down,” Cole says.

“They’ve been lying to me my entire life,” I cry out.

I drop to my knees and he drops with me.

“She caused me so much pain and my whole life I couldn’t understand why my sister would treat me like this—my twin sister at that—even if we weren’t identical. Why would you hurt me so much and she wasn’t even my fucking sister,” I yell.

I can’t even contain the hurt and anguish I feel. It crashes over me in waves, heavy and suffocating, every memory hitting at once.

“I want to leave, I can’t stay here anymore, I want to go home,” I cry looking at Cole.

“Okay, my Queen, we will leave,” he says softly.

“Now, I can’t stay here with them,” I say.

“Lyric this is your home,” Mom says.

I don’t realize I blast Cole off of me when I spin towards her.

“Lyric that is your mother,” Dad says but I can see the fear in his eyes. That fear hits harder than anything he just admitted.

“That’s the only thing keeping me from snapping her fucking neck, this has not been my home in years, I was the outcast the odd ball beta pup and nobody cared except Mason and Winter,” I growl out.

“All of you turned your backs on me for her,” I say.

“I don’t want to hear shit from either of you,” I say, turning and walking away before I actually hurt my parents.

Cole follows me to the front of the packhouse.

“Princess talk to me,” he says.

“I just need to leave here, I don’t want to stay here anymore,” I say.

“Okay princess, we can leave but talk to me, stop blocking me,” he says.

I let my walls down and his emotions slam into me—heavy, aching, protective, enough to steal my breath for a second.

The tears fall before I can say anything and I’m wiping his tears.

“My love I’m sorry you had to go through all of this, but no more,” he says.

“I promise to make sure you never have another unhappy day in your life and I will kill anyone who brings you any type of pain,” he says cupping my cheeks.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you too princess,” he says.

“Now let’s go pack,” he says.

Everybody is in the common room when we come in and the emotions rolling around the room is thick. It presses in on me, suffocating, like everyone is waiting for something to break.

“I’m assuming one of them told you,” I say.

The silence gives me my answer.

Mason comes over.

“Hey Sunny can we talk?” he asks.

Cole squeezes my hand.

“Sure,” I say.

We walk to the game room and close the door.

“I’m sorry Sunny, for everything,” he says.

“Mason I’m not angry with you for anything, we are good,” I say.

“Sunny,” he says softly.

He moves to walk towards me and I put my hand up.

“I can’t Mason, look I know that we feel unfinished but I need you to stop okay we have to move on. I love you and a part of me will probably always love you but I’m mated to Cole and you to Aria,” I say.

“But how? How do I forget everything I feel for you? These are real feelings that I had long before a bond, Lyric,” he says stepping closer—and this time I let him.

He cups my cheek and I lean into it.

I put my hand over his cheek and my eyes glow purple.

“What are you doing?” he says, eyes going wide.

“I’m helping you,” I say, tears falling.

“So why are you crying?” he asks, wiping my tears.

“Because I’m going to alter your memories with me, so you don’t see me as the girl you loved and lost—just your best friend’s sister who was your mate and got hurt because of your jealous girlfriend. Everything before your birthday will be different,” I say.

He tries to back away from me but I hold him in place.

“No, I don’t want you to do that Sunny,” he says, tears falling.

“I know Mason but I need to, it’s the only way for you to move on. I saw what will happen if I don’t do this and I can’t let that happen,” I say, tears falling as I alter his childhood memories of me, only keeping everything from his birthday the same.

He freezes and then he looks at me and his hands on my face and my tears.

“You okay Sunny?” he asks.

“Yeah I’m all good, ready to head back?” I ask.

Cole is waiting outside for me when we open the door.

“Everything good?” he asks, grabbing my waist.

“Yes, I had to alter his memories of me. I saw what would happen if I didn’t, and I couldn’t let him die because he couldn’t let me go,” I say.

“As long as we all know that I would have killed him,” he says, a growl coming low in his chest.

I put my hand on his cheek.

“I know, my king, and that is why I did it. Aria doesn’t deserve that, and neither do you,” I say.

“Can we go pack now?” I ask.

“Of course, my love,” he says, taking my hand as we walk up to my room.

Winter and Dom are packing up her room.

“Hey, half-pint, got a second?” Jace says, knocking on the door.

“Sure, bro, what’s up?” I ask.

“Logan and I wanted to know if we can come to the palace with you guys?” he asks.

I look at Cole.

“What you want, my love?” he links me.

“Of course you guys can come, but why?” I ask.

“Well, since Logan hasn’t found his mate yet, when we discovered we didn’t have the same mate, we both agreed we can’t stay here either. We would rather be with you, getting to know our real sister,” he says.

“My chest tightens at that—real sister. The words land heavier than they should.”

“You guys are more than welcome, and I can’t wait to meet your mate. I’m sorry I haven’t yet,” I say.

“It’s okay, half-pint, you will meet her later,” he says.

“We’re leaving in an hour,” Cole says.

“Got it, we will be ready,” he says, running out.

“You think this has to do with your parents?” Cole asks.

“Yeah, I’m sure it does. They lied to us our entire lives, and then the daughter they adopted turned out to be an evil bitch who abused their sister their whole lives. I would leave too. The only thing keeping Hunter here, I’m sure, is Mason and the fact that he is the beta,” I say.

I call to have some omegas help bring my stuff down to the cars.

My dad is waiting outside the packhouse.

“Lyric, sweetheart, can we talk please?” he says, eyes red from crying.

“Sure, Daddy,” I say.

“I’ll be right here, princess,” Cole says, stepping off to the side. His eyes don’t leave me, though—watching, waiting. Ready.

“Lyric, I know nothing I say will change how you feel, but I am so sorry for everything that happened with Summer. I’m sorry for keeping Iris from you. We were trying to do what was right. Selene told us it would be easier to find you if we kept you two together. I never thought Summer would grow up to be jealous of you and Mason’s relationship, and I wish every day I could take it back. I don’t want to lose my pup,” he says, tears falling down his face.

“I forgive you, Daddy. I know that you and Mom didn’t raise Summer to be an evil bitch—she just was. I’m hurt and need time. I won’t completely shut you guys out, but I need space and time,” I say.

“I understand. Please talk to your brothers for me. I know Jace and Logan chose to leave with you, but I understand they are upset,” he says.

“I will talk to them, and I love you, Daddy,” I say, stepping into his arms and healing his guilt—even though he should feel guilty.

He gasps.

“What did you do?” he asks.

“I healed your guilt,” I say.

“His arms tighten around me for just a second longer than normal—like he’s scared if he lets go, I won’t come back.”

“Thank you, my pup,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

“I will let you get back to it,” he says.

An hour later we are standing outside the packhouse saying our final goodbyes to everybody.

Aria comes up to me.

“Hey, may I ask you something?” she says.

“Anything, but is it about Mason?” I ask.

“Yeah… what did you do to him?” she asks.

“I just altered his memories of me a little bit,” I say.

“Why?” she asks.

I take her hands and show her, and the tears are falling—and Mason is by her side instantly.

“Baby, are you okay?” he asks, looking between us.

“I am fine, my love,” she says, cupping his cheek.

“Is that real?” she asks.

“They are always real, but that is what would have happened if I didn’t do that,” I say.

“So how does he see you now?” she asks.

“I’m Winter’s best friend and Hunter’s sister, and at 18 he found out I was his mate and everything with Summer happened,” I say.

“Thank you,” she says.

“You’re welcome. I didn’t want that outcome for any of us,” I say.

“I’m so happy that Cole has you, and I’m happy you are going to be our next Queen,” she says, bowing slightly.

“Oh stop, we are family,” I say to her.

I walk over to Hunter and Felicity.

“Lil bit, I am going to miss you so much,” he says, hugging me tightly.

“I will miss you too, Hunter,” I say.

“You four are leaving me here, the only Cassidy pup left,” he says.

“I know, but I have too many bad memories here, and finding out Summer wasn’t really my sister but the cause of all my pain here was too much,” I say.

“I get it, sis, and if I didn’t have responsibilities here I would leave too,” he says.

“About Mason?” he adds.

“He doesn’t remember being in love with me, and it is better that way because he would have spiraled,” I say.

His eyes go wide.

“He couldn’t let it go and move on,” he says low.

“No, he couldn’t, and too many people got hurt because of that,” I say.

“Thank you for helping him,” he says.

“Of course. I still love him, and I don’t want to see anything happen to him,” I say.

“Even saying it out loud feels wrong and right at the same time—and I hate that.”

He hugs me again tighter.

“I will miss you so much, sis,” he says.

“It was so nice to meet you, Felicity, and welcome to the family,” I say, hugging her.

“It was nice to meet you too,” she says.

I step to Mason.

“Sunny, we are gonna miss having you around here. The packhouse will sound different without you and Winter causing havoc,” he says, smiling.

I laugh at that.

“I will miss you too, Mason, and I know—but there will be new pups running around soon to cause havoc,” I say, winking at him.

“Oh, you know something?” he asks.

“I know a lot,” I say, smiling.

“Okay, I get it, can’t know the future,” he says, laughing.

He hugs me tightly.

“Be safe, and you are going to make an amazing Luna Queen,” he says.

He leans down and whispers in my ear during our hug.

“I know you did something to my memories. I can tell by the way my body reacts around you, but whatever you did… thank you,” he says.

My breath catches for half a second—because even without the memories, something in him still knows me.

“You’re welcome, Mason. Enjoy your mate and be happy. Be the alpha I know you can be. I will be back for your ceremony,” I say.

“Good,” he says, walking back to Aria.

I say bye to the Alpha and Luna.

“Thank you both so much for being my secondary parents and being there for me when my parents weren’t. I don’t know how I would have survived,” I say.

“Oh sweet girl, we love you and we will always take care of you,” Luna Emily says.

“I know, thank you,” I say.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” Alpha Liam says.

After all the tears and goodbyes we all pile into the SUVs. Cole and I are in one of the ones in the middle—well we all are—but there are two in the front of the convoy with warriors and two behind us. Nine SUVs all together.

The moment I buckle my seatbelt—

my stomach drops.

Not nerves.

Not sadness.

Something else.

Cold. Sharp. Wrong.

My fingers tighten around the belt, the material digging into my palm as a slow, creeping chill crawls up my spine.

Cole’s head turns immediately.

“Princess…”

I don’t answer.

Because now— it’s stronger.

That same feeling, the one I ignored before.

My eyes drift to the window…to the trees…to the convoy around us…and suddenly everything feels too quiet.

Too still. Like the world is holding its breath.

“I don’t know…” I whisper.

But deep down—I do.

This isn’t just us leaving.

Something is coming.