The Lunar Queen Chapter 76

Lyric POV

I’ve been trying not to eat the food the omegas bring me, but Jonathan and Seraphina haven’t been coming enough to sustain me anymore. My stomach twists anyway, empty and angry, like it’s punishing me for being careful. I know Jonathan said David has become more paranoid and suspicious of everything and everyone, so they will be coming less—but the silence is deafening. It presses in on me, thick and constant, like the walls are listening. This would be easier if I had Nova, but without her it’s just… lonely.

Even though I felt alone amongst my siblings, I was never truly alone—but here, in this prison, I am. No bond. No voice in my head. Just me and my thoughts—and I don’t trust those to stay steady much longer.

A knock sounds at the door, and Rhea, the omega from the other day, walks in.

“Hello, Luna. The Alpha said I should take you for a walk so that you may get some fresh air,” she says.

My head snaps up before I can stop it. Too fast. Too eager. I force my shoulders to relax.

“He’s letting me go outside?” I ask.

She nods. “Yes, Luna. Just outside the house and the surrounding area.”

Outside. Fresh air. No walls. No ceiling pressing down.

Any moment of fresh air is better than nothing.

I get up—with her help—off the bed. My legs feel heavier than they should, like they don’t fully belong to me anymore. I don’t let it show. She grabs my hand, and we walk outside.

The moment we hit the fresh air, the triplets start moving more than they have since I’ve been here.

I place my hand on my stomach. “Okay, my loves… please. Mommy is too weak for all the moving,” I say.

It comes out softer than I expect. Almost pleading. I swallow that down immediately.

After a moment, they stop.

“Everything okay, Luna?” Rhea asks.

“Yes. They just haven’t been this active in a while,” I say to her.

Active means something. It means something is shifting. I don’t know if that’s good or not yet.

As we walk, I notice a lot of the pack members stop to see who I am.

They don’t hide it. They stare. Some curious. Some cautious. One or two… calculating.

“So, Rhea, how did you become a rogue?” I ask.

She pauses for a moment.

Long enough that I almost think she won’t answer. Long enough that I know this matters.

“My parents were banished from their pack while my mom was pregnant, and then another rogue wolf killed my dad. Then Beta Jonathan found my mom when he was younger and brought her here, and soon after she had me. When I was a pup, the former Alpha killed her for trying to leave with me. The former Beta was assaulting her, and he told her he would do the same to me when I got older… so she tried to run,” she says, tears falling.

My jaw tightens. Not surprise. Recognition.

“Have you been hurt?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No, Luna. Alpha has his toys,” she says.

My stomach turns. Not from the pregnancy this time. From understanding exactly what she means.

“What happened to the Beta and Alpha?” I ask.

“The current Alpha King killed them,” she says.

Cole. Of course he did.

“Rhea… do you want to be part of a pack? And how old are you?” I ask.

Her eyes light up. “Yes, Luna, we all do. Well… most of us do. We don’t want war—we just want a home. And I am 15, Luna,” she says.

Fifteen. My chest tightens for a second—but I don’t let it reach my face.

“Do you know who I am, Rhea?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “Alpha said you are his mate,” she says.

I chuckle dryly at that. It doesn’t sound like humor. It sounds tired.

“I’m not his mate. I’m the Luna Queen,” I say.

She stops, eyes going wide as she spins to look at me.

“You are Alpha King Cole’s mate?” she asks, shock written all over her face.

I nod. “Yes, I am. And David took me the night I was crowned Queen,” I say as I take her hand so we can start walking again.

I don’t give her time to react too long. Shock spreads fast in places like this—and I can’t afford that.

“Oh my god, we need to get you back to him,” she says.

“Breathe, Rhea,” I say softly.

She’s loud. Too loud. I glance around without turning my head. No guards close enough… but still. Careful.

“He’s working to get me back, and Beta Jonathan is trying to help me get out before my pups are born,” I say.

“But I need something from you, Rhea. Can you help me?” I ask.

“Of course, my Queen,” she says.

No hesitation. That’s dangerous—but useful.

“Do you have access to the kitchen when they make my food?” I ask.

“Yes, I do,” she says.

“Good. They have been putting a potion in my food to block my connection to my wolf and my magic,” I say.

She gasps, covering her mouth.

I watch her reaction closely. Fear… anger… not hesitation. Good.

“I can make sure that doesn’t happen. I will stay while they prepare your food,” she says.

“I know some of us who will help you, my Queen,” she adds.

Some. Not all. That matters. I tuck that away.

“Thank you. For right now, I just need my wolf—and the little magic I can use for when my pups come,” I say, slowly shifting my weight.

The movement pulls something low in my stomach. Not pain… not yet. But close enough that I freeze for half a second before continuing.

I scan the area we are in. There aren’t many guards around—mainly women and children. They don’t have gates, just pillars.

Open space disguised as control. Easier to miss something like that… unless you’re looking for it.

“Can we walk to the back of the house?” I ask her.

“Sure,” she says.

When we walk to the back, I notice a hole off to the edge of their border to my right—and nobody guarding back here at all.

Too easy. That’s what makes it dangerous. Either they think no one would try… or they want someone to.

I need to see if David will allow me outside more often.

I know Cole is working on his end to save me—but I know he needs time to find a witch.

And time is just something I don’t have.

My body has been feeling more and more tired every day.

Not just tired. Slower. Heavier. Like something is coming whether I’m ready or not.

I need to start putting the plan with Jonathan and Seraphina together, because although David has not come back in a couple days…

that doesn’t feel like mercy. It feels like buildup.

I refuse to let him touch me again.

Not before I’m able to kill him the next time he does.

And this time—

I won’t be tied down.