The Lunar Queen Chapter 99

Cole POV

I’m not sure what to expect when I get to the border but I wasn’t expecting what I saw when I arrived.

Two tiny pups standing near the tree line surrounded by warriors twice their size. Fear immediately twists in my chest the second I notice how thin they look.

Two pups one about the same age as Elise and the other maybe 3 or 4. When they see me the oldest one stands in front of the youngest one protectively.

Despite the way his small body shakes, he still squares his shoulders like he’s ready to fight every wolf here if he has to.

“Alpha they look to be malnourished and the older one seems to be injured.”

My jaw tightens. The older pup’s shirt is stained with dried blood near his side and bruises darken one side of his face.

I slowly walk over to them. I smile and crouch low still keeping some distance as to not scare them.

The younger pup immediately clings tighter to the older one but neither of them runs. Like they’re too exhausted to try anymore.

“Hi. My name is Cole and I’m the King, where are your parents?” I ask.

“Mama said to look for the lady who’s hair is on fire” The oldest one says.

Confusion flickers through me before realization settles in. Lyric.

I smile “That is my mate, she is the Queen would you like for me to call her?” I question.

He just nods his head. The movement is hesitant, wary, like he’s been taught trusting the wrong person gets you killed.

“Princess I need you to come to the border” I link her.

“Okay give me a minute” she links back.

“What are your names” I ask softly.

He looks at me before the little one steps around him and walks straight into my arms and whispers in my ear “my wolf says I can trust you” she says.

The words hit me harder than they should. She’s so small yet her wolf is already active enough to guide her instincts.

I thought only our pups had their wolves young but she is proof that is not the case.

“Hannah and that is my brother Ezra” she says just as Nova comes running over to us.

The second Lyric shifts back Hannah’s entire face lights up with relief like she finally found safety, she immediately runs to her and Lyric just hugs her.

My mate instantly drops into that soft comforting tone she only uses with pups and something warm settles heavily in my chest watching her.

“Oh well hello there little one” She says looking at me.

“my mama told us to find you if we ever lost them” She says.

Every wolf around us goes still at the words.

“You won’t give us to the bad wolves right?” Hannah asks.

Fear creeps back into her voice immediately and Ezra shifts closer to Lyric without even realizing it.

She smiles and pinches her cheek. “Of course not little wolf” Lyric says smiling “Are you guys hungry we were just going to have breakfast” She says softly to Hannah and Ezra.

Hannah grins wide “Yes, we didn’t eat since mama died” she says sadness lacing her voice.

The entire atmosphere changes instantly. Even the warriors nearby stiffen uncomfortably.

My mate just smiles at them “well then let’s go fill those bellies” she says and holds out her hand to Ezra.

He hesitates before looking at Hannah who nods her head and he takes her hand and they start the walk back to the palace.

He keeps glancing over his shoulder every few seconds anyway like he expects someone to come after them.

I walk slowly behind them and link Dom “I know you just had your pup but I need you to find out if any packs were attacked recently and if anyone is missing” I say.

“On it, what’s going on?” he links back.

“Not sure but two pups just showed up at the border” I link.

“Pups?” he replies

“Yes, we are taking them to get food and then probably the hospital” I say

“Okay, I’m on it” he says before closing the link.

I watch my mate talking with Hannah and it warms my heart because I know she will be a great mother.

Not just to our pups. To any wolf that needs her.

We may be having issues right now but I can’t deny how much I love her.

“Mate made a mistake, they love us” Zeus says.

“I know she made a mistake and I know but it’s still not a good feeling” I reply.

The hurt still lingers in my chest even while watching her laugh softly with the pups.

“she won’t do that again” he assures me before retreating.

It takes about 30 minutes to walk back to the palace. Curious eyes follow us as we walk in with the two pups.

Word travels fast here and by the looks on everyone’s faces they already know something is wrong.

I see an Omega walking past as we step inside “Julia can you grab us some clothes for the pups you can take them to our room” I say.

She glances at the two pups and nods “Yes Alpha” she responds before walking off.

Hannah immediately watches her leave carefully, still suspicious of every unfamiliar wolf around her.

When we walk into the dining room Elise squeals “Friends” she screams bouncing in her seat.

The sudden loud excitement makes Ezra freeze instantly. His entire body locks up like he’s preparing for something bad to happen.

Until he looks up at Lyric who just looks at him and says something to him via mindlink and he nods.

The tiny movement makes my chest tighten because somehow my mate already made him feel safe enough to trust her.

Lyric sits in her seat and Hannah sits on her left and Ezra next to her. I take my seat as Elise runs over to us.

“Hi my name is Elise want to be friends?” She asks them.

The excitement in her voice is so loud and genuine it almost makes me laugh.

“I’m Hannah” Hannah says smiling. She points to Ezra “He’s shy but he’s Ezra” she whispers to Elise.

Ezra immediately ducks his head lower like he’s embarrassed by the attention.

“That’s okay we can still be friends” Elise says.

Watching Elise immediately include them eases some of the tension sitting heavy in my chest.

“Rhea are you ready to start at the high school?, it’s been a couple months” Lyric asks Rhea as the servants start bringing out the trays of food.

“Yes I am ready, but what about the pups?” she asks.

Lyric waves her off “We can handle them and we will get a nanny especially with all of us ranked wolves having pups.”

The dining room already feels louder and fuller with all the newly found mates amongst the ranked wolves.

Lyric begins putting a little bit of everything on their plates and they both begin eating as if someone is going to take their food from them.

The speed they eat at makes my chest tighten uncomfortably. Hannah barely even chews before reaching for another bite while Ezra keeps glancing around the room nervously between bites.

Lyric smiles “Slow down little wolves there is plenty more where that came from” she says giggling.

The gentle reassurance in her voice slowly seems to calm them both.

They both slow down just as Dominic links me “Alpha I heard back from a few packs but it sounds strange” He links.

The serious tone in his voice immediately puts me on edge.

“Strange how?” I ask.

“I think we should talk in person” He links back.

Zeus immediately pushes forward in my mind at the tension in Dom’s voice.

“Okay give me 5 minutes” I reply before closing the link.

“Love I need to go talk to Dominic about some things, are you okay to take them to the hospital alone?” I link Lyric.

“I’m certain Ellie will be going so we should be fine, is everything okay?” she links.

“Yes, he has some information about what may have happened to their parents” I link and she just nods.

The warmth in her eyes immediately fades into concern.

“Hey Ezra can you tell me what pack you guys are from?” I ask Ezra.

“Yes, we are from Burning Sands Pack” he says and I freeze.

Every muscle in my body goes still.

“What’s wrong?” Lyric links.

“That pack is in the Western Kingdom” I link her.

Her eyes go wide “How the hell did they end up all the way in the Eastern Kingdom and how and why did they come here to me instead of their own King or Queen?” She questions.

Exactly. None of this makes sense.

“I’m not sure princess but we will find out” I link her.

But unease settles heavily in my chest because wolves don’t cross multiple kingdoms unless something truly terrible happened, and there’s no telling how far they traveled without their parents.

I kiss her and say bye to the pups and Elise and Rhea before heading to my office.

Hannah visibly relaxes when Lyric touches her shoulder before I leave while Ezra keeps watching every doorway in the room carefully.

“meeting in my office now” I link Hunter, Jace, Logan and Elias.

Something is going on and it’s affecting more than just our kingdom.

First Dark Valley. Now gifted pups from the Western Kingdom appearing at our borders terrified and alone. None of this feels random anymore.

I’m not sure if this has anything to do with Dark Valley but there are too many questions and not enough answers.

And for the first time since the scouts returned from Dark Valley, I have the sinking feeling that whatever is coming is already spreading beyond one kingdom.