The Lunar Queen Chapter 70

Lyric POV

My head throbbed as I woke, my body feeling like lead.

Not just heavy—slow, like something is pressing down on me from the inside.

“Nova,” I muttered, but only silence answered.

That silence hits harder than the pain.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to sit up on the bed.

The room looked vaguely familiar—like my room at Moonveil.

Too familiar. Too intentional. Like someone built this to fool me.

I jumped when I saw a man sitting in a chair in the corner.

“Who the fuck are you?” I demanded, trying to read his mind, but nothing happened.

That empty space where my power should be makes my chest tighten.

He raised his hands in surrender and bowed low.

“My queen, I am not here to hurt you,” he said.

“You helped kidnap me and my pups, and you expect me to believe that?” I snapped back, furious.

He bowed his head.

“No, my queen, but I mean you no harm. I no longer agree with what my alpha is doing,” he said, kneeling.

“I’m supposed to give you this,” he added, holding up two vials.

My eyes lock onto them immediately—danger, control, trap.

“What is that?” I asked, scooting back on the bed.

I knew I could fight him—and probably win—but he didn’t seem like a threat.

That’s what makes it worse.

“One is a potion to erase your memory for a month, though it comes back in fragments. The other suppresses your bond with the king, making it harder for him to find you,” he explained.

“And why aren’t you giving them to me now?” I pressed.

He sighed.

“Because I need you to trust me so I can help you—help myself, my mate, and my pack,” he said.

There it is. Not loyalty—survival. I understand that.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“My name is Jonathan Rivers, my queen. I am the beta,” he replied.

“And before you became a rogue, who were you?” I questioned, sensing something off about him despite my lost magic.

“My real name is Jonathan Blackwood, my queen,” he said.

“Blackwood? Like my mate?” I asked.

“Yes, my queen. My mother had an affair with the former king. I was the result. She didn’t want to be known as a home wrecker, so she fled Hidden Moon. We joined the White Mountain Pack. About eight years later, the pack was attacked by the rogue king, who took my mother as a breeder. He eventually gave her to his beta and he raised me. That’s how I met David. We became friends, but… I don’t want to slaughter innocent wolves. My mother would be ashamed of me,” tears streaming down his face.

He’s telling the truth. Not all of it—but enough.

“How can I help you, Jonathan? I’m held captive, without access to my wolf or my magic. Even if I had them, I can’t shift,” I said.

He nodded sympathetically.

“I know, my queen. He only trusts me to give you the potion—one that blocks your powers and your wolf. It wears off after two hours, but since he dosed you again, the effects could last longer,” he explained.

“You should feel your wolf again soon,” he added.

Soon isn’t fast enough. Not here. Not with him.

I nodded.

“I can’t get you out yet, so I need you to pretend you don’t have your memory—or that you want him, my queen,” he urged.

“What?” I yelled. “I’m not doing that,” I quickly added.

The idea alone makes my stomach turn.

He looked serious.

“If you want to get back to your mate, you have to. He needs to believe you don’t have your memory—that’s the only way this works,” he said.

“We don’t have time to argue about this. The witches will discover we’re hiding you here soon, and if they find out, everything is over,” he says urgently.

Witches. Not just David. This just got worse.

I take a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears.

“Fine. How long do I have?” I ask.

“A few weeks, I hope. He wants to take you to the Runes in two weeks, but I’m aiming for before then,” he replies.

“And my pups?” I prompt.

“Let’s hope they stay put until we get you home, my queen.”

Hope isn’t a plan. But it’s all we have right now.

“I have to go. Remember, you don’t know who you are, or anything. He’ll try to convince you that he’s your mate—go along with it,” he advises.

“Got it,” I say, annoyed at my situation.

I’ve dealt with too many crazy people in my lifetime. Now I have to deal with a wolf who wants to claim me as his mate and use me for his own gain.

My stomach churns with the triplets.

I place my hands on my belly, whispering, “Don’t worry, my pups. Mommy will protect you—no matter how many wolves or bears I have to kill.”

Even if I have to pretend to be weak to do it.

Suddenly, a young girl enters with a tray of food.

“Hello, my queen. I’m Seraphina, Jonathan’s mate,” she introduces herself.

“You’re a witch,” I state flatly.

The scent hits before anything else—sharp, unnatural, layered.

She stiffens.

“You can tell?” she asks.

“I smell the magic on you—something I’ve learned to recognize. I didn’t even know magic had a scent,” I reply.

I stand, and she steps forward to help me.

“You smell like dark magic,” I note.

She shakes her head quickly.

“I swear, my queen, I’m not a dark witch. My mother and her coven practice dark magic,” she explains.

I tilt my head curiously.

“She’s telling the truth,” Nova’s voice is weak but clear.

“Nova! You’re back,” I exclaim, surprised.

“The potion they gave me weakened me, but I’m here,” she responds.

Relief hits so hard it almost makes me dizzy.

I try to read her mind, and my eyes widen in shock.

I take a step back instinctively.

“Agora is your mother, and you’re mated to Cole’s brother,” I say quietly.

That connection shifts everything.

“I don’t want to hurt you or your pups, my queen,” she murmurs.

I smile gently.

“Just an observation—like David thought you were dead,” I reply.

Her heartbeat quickens as she fidgets nervously.

“You’re a witch—why not cast a spell to change your appearance?” I ask softly.

She lowers her gaze.

“I don’t know how. I just started learning magic before my mother sent me to follow Jon,” she admits.

I clasp her hands, offering reassurance.

“I don’t know either, but I can help you change your appearance,” I say.

“You’d do that for me?” she asks eagerly.

“We’re supposed to help each other escape,” I reply.

Focusing, I watch as her face transforms right before my eyes.

She gasps.

“Your eyes glow purple when you use your powers,” she observes.

I smile.

“Yeah. They do—when I call upon my goddess powers. I’m not sure what they look like when I use witch magic.”

“Is this food safe to eat?” I ask.

After everything, I’m not trusting anything without asking.

She beams.

“Yes, my queen—I made it myself.”

“Thank you. Please, call me Lyric,” I say, settling on the bed with the tray she brought.

“David will probably come to see you before the night ends. Be ready,” she warns.

“Now that I have my magic back, I can perform a temporary memory loss spell on myself,” I add, smiling.

“I learned how to do that,” I mention, “It lasts about ten minutes.”

“Okay, I should go. Stay safe, Lyric,” she says quietly and exits.

I begin eating her food, contemplating.

“What should we do about David?” Nova asks softly.

“We need to keep this up as long as possible until we can escape. I’m more worried about Cole—I know he’s slipping,” I reply.

If he’s losing control… that vision…

A little later, he walks in.

“Hello, my love,” he greets, and the room thickens with tension.

The air shifts instantly—ownership, expectation, control.

“Who are you?” I ask, my voice trembling.

He smiles warmly and steps closer.

“I’m your mate, love. You got into an accident and lost your memory,” he says gently.

Liar. Every word coated in something smooth and wrong.

“Do you know your own name?” he inquires.

Nova huffs inside my mind.

“He’s delusional,” she mutters.

I shake my head, urgency flooding me—I didn’t have time to cast the spell.

I have to sell this without magic. No mistakes.

“How are the pups?” he questions.

“They’re fine. Someone brought me food,” I reply.

“Good. Tomorrow, I’ll have my beta take you into town to get some supplies for the pups,” he says softly.

“Okay,” I answer hoarsely.

He leans in to kiss me.

“Don’t react,” Nova warns.

He presses a gentle kiss to my lips.

Every instinct in my body screams to pull back—but I don’t.

“Get some sleep, love. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he whispers before closing the door behind him.

I wipe my mouth, tears streaming down my face.

I can’t do this.

I need to get out of here quickly.

Selene, I hope this is all part of your plan.

Because if it’s not… I’m already too deep inside his.