The Lunar Queen Chapter 78

Cole POV

I’m sitting in the conference room waiting for all the Alphas to arrive when my phone rings.

“Hello,” I say.

My voice comes out even. It shouldn’t be.

“Good morning, cousin. How is it in the East?” Tobias asks.

“It’s not doing too good. I’m holding it together by a thread,” I say truthfully to him.

That’s the clean version. The version that doesn’t involve how close Zeus is to taking control every time someone says her name.

“Should I make the trip to the East?” he asks.

“I think we can manage, but if you do know of any High Priestess-level witches that you can send my way, that would be great,” I say to him.

“My mate is the most powerful witch in my kingdom. We will leave as soon as possible,” he says.

“Your mate is a witch and you never told me?” I ask, shocked.

My fingers tighten slightly around the phone. Information like that matters. Right now, everything matters.

“The same way you never told me your mate is a direct descendant of Selene. If you actually kept in touch with me, cousin, you would know. Besides, this is about getting your mate back—we can argue about secrets later,” he says.

“I will tell my mate to pack herself and the pups up and we will be to you in 2 days, and I will bring some extra warriors because I will be assisting in this fight. David will pay for his and his father’s sins,” he says.

I smile.

It doesn’t reach my eyes.

“He will. See you soon, cousin—and I can’t wait to meet your mate,” I say before ending the call.

Dominic walks in a few moments later followed by the Alphas of the remaining packs in the kingdom.

“Good morning, Alpha,” they all say one by one as they take their seats.

Mason walks in last with his father and Hunter. They sit at the far end of the table.

My gaze lands on him automatically. It lingers longer than it should.

Good. Because he’s looking at me as if he wants to die.

“we may have to kill him” Zeus says watching him through my eyes.

“I know, I'm hoping he remains a minor problem until after we get them back,” I say to him

Minor. That’s generous. That’s me choosing control.

“I think mate should deal with him,” he says before retreating.

That hits different. Because he’s right. And because she’s not here to do it.

Thinking about that makes me miss her more because I know the only one who can really deal with Mason is her. I just want to kill him, and because of her and Winter I haven’t.

He’s spiraling slowly, but the longer she is gone he is getting worse and becoming my problem—and I won’t have that while my mate and my pups are out there in constant danger.

My jaw shifts slightly. Just enough to bleed the edge off. Not enough to lose control.

I focus back on the room and take my eyes off Mason.

I look around and notice two Alphas missing.

“Is Alpha Yuri and Alpha Warren doing video calls?” I ask Dominic.

“I couldn’t get in touch with them. I left multiple messages. I sent scouts to their packs but I haven’t heard back yet,” he says.

A pause. Small. But it lands wrong.

“Okay, keep me updated on that,” I say to him before talking to the men sitting in front of me.

“so as you all know my mate was taken by David my cousin and the rogue king. He has been working with the bear king and a dark witch named Agora as well as the council to gain access to magic that was locked away before the first Alpha King actually took the throne,” I say, pausing, giving everyone a moment to take in what I said.

I watch their reactions. Not their words—their reactions. Who flinches. Who doesn’t.

“My mate and I was part of a prophecy that spoke of destroying those in the royal family who wanted to rule in fear and violence,” I say.

My voice doesn’t rise. It doesn’t need to.

“David has been searching for my mate for years as she is Eloise, the first Luna Queen reborn, and a descendant of Eloise’s fated mate's bloodline—for those who know the true story of Eloise—and therefore a witch as well as being of Alpha blood. She is truly a special wolf and she is the only one who can unlock the magic of the supernatural faction,” I say.

And she’s mine. I don’t say it. I don’t have to.

“So all of that stuff about Eloise and Lucian killing her mate and pup was true?” Alpha Alexander of Blue Valley Pack says.

“Lucian never killed her pup. The members of the faction hid him among the bears where he found his mate in the bear king’s only cub,” I say.

“Holy shit,” Alpha Silas of White Moon Pack says.

“I knew your mate was powerful the moment I seen her in Moonveil during their mating ball week,” Alpha Orion of Red River Pack says.

“I forgot about that—she froze the room,” Silas says.

“yes but David is suppressing her magic with the help of Agora and she is due to have our pups any day now,” I say.

That part shifts the room. Not power. Not prophecy. The pups. That lands.

“okay so what is the plan?” Alexander asks.

They all murmur in agreement.

Good. Now everyone is focused on the reason we are here.

“I need the best enforcer all of you have to attempt to take out the witch. Then we attack the bear king in his territory where James, his son, will take his place as the next bear king. If your enforcers are successful in killing the witch then we make our move on David,” I say.

“Why do we need to wait?” Liam asks.

“the witch Agora used blood magic to cast a spell to hide their settlement so it looks like an empty lot even though you are standing in the center of it,” I say.

I let that sit. Let them understand what they’re up against.

“the spell can only be broken by her death or another witch just as powerful as her, which I have found in the North. My cousin Tobias’s mate is a very powerful witch,” I say.

“So when do we move?” Alpha Clayton of Howling Moon Pack says.

“Tobias and his mate will be here in two days. I want the enforcers on the witch today—the sooner the better. And I want you all to pick one warrior to watch the area. Although the grounds are spelled, the people aren’t,” I say.

“I want the comings and goings of anything moving in that area,” I say.

Nothing gets missed again. Nothing.

They all nod their understanding.

“Get your warriors onto the training grounds for combined training starting now. We need to be ready to move the moment Tobias arrives,” I say.

“we will meet again in the morning after breakfast to put plans and people in motion and map things out. You are all dismissed,” I say.

“Dominic, stay back,” I say.

Once everyone leaves the room—

My eyes flick once more to where Mason sat. Empty now. Still a problem.

“I need you to put someone on Mason. I have a feeling he is going to be a problem and I need to be prepared for that,” I say.

“Got it. What about the girl?” he asks.

“She will come here tonight so we can discuss how to get them out safely,” I say.

“Got it, and I will check in with my scouts about Yuri and Warren and get you that report,” he says before walking out.

The room goes quiet.

Too quiet. No movement. No voices. No her.

I sit back in the chair and close my eyes and picture those beautiful green eyes.

I miss you so much, princess.

Every time I’m alone the silence and the emptiness of her not being here wraps around me just a little tighter.

It’s not loud. It’s worse than that. It’s constant.

Just hold on a little bit longer, my queen.

I’m coming—

and this time, I’m not negotiating. I’m not waiting. I’m not leaving anything alive that stands between me and you.

David will wish he was never born—

and if anyone—ally, Alpha, or blood—gets in my way…

I will kill them too.