The Lunar Queen Chapter 50

Cole POV

The council is getting brave in their tactics , bold enough to move inside my own palace without fear of consequence.

We all gather in my office and wait for my parents to arrive. Lyric is sitting in my lap because Zeus has not relaxed since she was stabbed , his presence pressing just under my skin, restless and violent.

She runs her fingers through my hair as I take in deep breaths of her scent, trying to calm my beast , grounding myself in her so I don’t lose control in front of everyone.

“My love, talk to me,” she whispers.

“I can’t have anything happen to you or our pups,” I say softly , my grip tightening slightly around her waist without realizing it.

“We will be fine, my love. I’m still here, and whatever they are plotting, we will be prepared,” she says , her voice steady even though I can feel the tension humming beneath it through the bond.

“I feel there is a piece we are missing though. This is bigger than just getting the throne,” she says , her brows pulling together slightly as she thinks it through.

Just as my parents walk into my office.

“Sorry, son, Elise is having a hard time with not being able to be in here,” Dad says.

“It’s fine, Dad. Please have a seat,” I say.

“Go ahead, princess,” I say to Lyric , brushing my thumb along her hip as a silent reassurance.

“I think the servant who stabbed me was sent by Serena. When we left her yesterday, she gave me a bad feeling,” she says.

“Today wasn’t a coincidence. Selene said David is working with dark witches. Serena needed my blood for something, and we need to figure out what and go from there,” she says , her tone sharpening slightly as she connects the pieces.

“Lyric is pregnant,” I blurt out before I can stop myself, the words hitting the room like a shockwave.

Every head snaps up, and all the women in the office squeal in delight , the energy shifting instantly from tension to excitement.

“I thought we were waiting,” she links.

“They need to know, especially with your blood floating around,” I link back , my jaw tightening at the reminder.

“Okay, my love,” she says.

“Caleb, I want you to stay with her at all times. She doesn’t go anywhere by herself,” I say , my tone leaving no room for argument.

“Yes, Alpha,” Caleb says.

“Son, what does her being pregnant have to do with all of this?” Dad asks.

“A servant nicked her at breakfast and took her blood,” I say.

“Oh dear, that can mean anything,” Mom says , worry flashing across her face.

“Exactly,” I say.

“We are missing something though. David is doing a lot just to get the throne. It has to be more to it,” Lyric says.

“What do you mean, Luna?” Dom asks.

“Okay, Selene said he wants to take over the supernatural world, but even if he becomes King, he won’t have the power to take over other supernatural races. Something is missing, and I’m the key,” she adds , the weight of that settling heavily in the room.

“Does the palace have records of Eloise’s mate and their pup?” she asks, looking between me and Dad.

“Not sure, but Caleb can show you where they would be. I have a lot of work to do today,” I say , even though every instinct in me wants to keep her right here where I can see her.

“Okay, that is fine. Can you take me now, Caleb?” she asks.

“Of course, Luna,” he says.

“Please, only Luna around the pack. Just Lyric—I’m still not used to it yet,” she says , giving a small, almost shy smile that doesn’t match the power she just displayed.

She stands.

“Okay, my King, I need to figure this out before they strike again,” she says, kissing me softly , lingering just long enough to steady me.

All the girls follow her and Caleb out, leaving my brothers, Dom, and my parents.

“So what’s our next move?” Dom asks.

“Keep an eye on the council, especially Frances,” I say , my tone dropping colder.

“He and his daughter are up to something involving Lyric, and after her show of power yesterday, they are going to try to make sure her coronation doesn’t happen,” I say.

“Mom, I need you to start planning that with her for very soon. It needs to happen before our pups are born,” I say.

“Pups?” Mom says, excited.

“Yes, we are having triplets,” I say, smiling.

“Oh yes, three grand pups to spoil, I’m so excited,” she says, standing.

“I will go and talk to Ariana about the coronation, honey. Don’t worry about that,” she says, kissing my cheek and my father’s and brother’s and Dom before walking out.

“Anything said about this needs to be kept quiet and conversations had only in our offices, as they are soundproof,” I say , my gaze locking on each of them to make sure they understand.

“Got it, bro. We’re going to let you two talk and check on the warriors,” Elias says.

“Switch up the training regimen and patrols also. They are watching us and our movements—change everything,” I say.

“Got it, Alpha,” he says over his shoulder.

“Winter told me she was pregnant too. She said Lyric told her back at MoonVeil,” Dominic says as soon as the door shuts behind them.

I grin widely. “Congrats, brother,” I say, standing and grabbing the bottle of scotch from my bar.

I pour us both a glass.

“To us becoming fathers and finding our mates,” I say.

“Thanks to you and recognizing those eyes,” he says.

“I didn’t think we would ever find her for you, and then she fell right in your lap,” he adds.

“I know, and now I will not lose her, Dom—or my pups. At some point she won’t be able to shift and really protect herself,” I say , the edge creeping back into my voice.

“We will protect her and your pups, Cole. We got you and her,” he says.

We spend the next few hours talking pack business , but my mind never fully leaves her.

Lyric POV

When we walk out of Cole’s office, Caleb leads us toward the library.

When we walk in, a totem on the wall starts glowing as I walk past it , the light flickering like it’s reacting to me specifically.

“What the hell just happened?” I ask.

“Luna, are you a witch?” Caleb asks , his tone cautious now.

“No, why?” I ask.

“Because that totem was gifted to the royal family by a light witch long ago. It only responds to witches,” he says.

Everybody looks at me with curiosity , the weight of their stares making my stomach twist.

“I’m not a witch. I would know already, right? Nobody in my family is a witch,” I say.

“I can’t be,” I say low , even though something about that totem didn’t feel wrong—it felt… familiar.

“Hello, Thomas. This is our Luna Lyric. She wants to know if we have any information on Eloise’s fated mate and their pup,” Caleb asks.

“Hello, my Queen,” Thomas says, bowing.

“Hello, Thomas,” I say.

“Yes, we actually have a lot of information on her mate. He was a very important Alpha before Lucian became King,” he says.

“Follow me.”

He leads us to a different part of the library, more private and closed off by velvet ropes , the air heavier here, like the knowledge itself carries weight.

“This area is restricted to the royal family only. I hope you find what you are looking for, my Queen. If you have questions, please ask—I have read everything in these texts and things that are not,” he says.

“Thank you, Thomas,” I say.

We all grab a seat and start looking through different texts.

“Look for anything involving Eloise before Lucian kidnapped her,” I say.

“This book dates to before he became King,” Iris says, handing me a book that looks older than werewolves themselves , the pages worn and fragile beneath my fingers.

As I read the book, my eyes go wide with surprise , my heart starting to race as the pieces fall into place.

“Thomas,” I call out.

“Yes, my Queen,” he says.

“Eloise was a witch?” I ask.

“No, my Queen. Her mate was an Alpha and a witch. He led the supernatural faction at the time,” he says.

“Supernatural faction?” I ask.

“Yes, it was made up of one representative from each species, and her mate sat at the head of the table for witches and wolves,” he says.

“When Lucian killed him, the other faction leaders went into hiding, and the witches hid he and Eloise’s pup from Lucian. He was the last one left of his father’s bloodline—the most powerful witch bloodline to ever exist,” he says.

“Legends say when he died, the faction locked away their magic, leaving it to only be unlocked by someone of his bloodline,” he says.

“That’s it,” I shout, standing up , the realization hitting me like a punch to the chest.

“My blood will unlock the magic—I’m the key,” I say.

“David needs me alive to unlock the magic of the faction that will help him rule over all species,” I say , the danger of that settling deep in my bones.

“We need to find where that magic is hidden and get to it first,” I say.

“I can’t believe you are a witch too, Lyric. This is crazy,” Winter says.

“Tell me about it. I learn something new about myself every day,” I say , even as the truth feels heavier with every second.

“We need to get ahead of them. They have my blood, which means soon David will know exactly how useful I am, and he will attack again,” I say.

“The war is coming sooner than we thought,” I say low , my voice steady but my chest tight.

And as I look down at my hands—the same hands that just unlocked answers meant to stay buried—I realize something that makes my stomach drop…

they’re not just coming for the throne anymore—they’re coming for me.