The Lunar Queen

Lyric POV

I wake up already tense.

Not because of the alarm—

but because of what today means.

My alarm goes off at 5 a.m. sharp, and I groan, rolling over to shut it off.

“You’re so cranky in the mornings,” Nova snickers in my mind.

I ignore her, but the tight feeling in my chest doesn’t go away. It lingers, low and uneasy, like something is waiting for me on the other side of this day.

Because today isn’t just another day.

Today, Mason Lane turns eighteen.

And if everything goes the way it’s supposed to—

my life is about to get a whole lot worse.

I push myself out of bed and head for the shower, trying to shake the feeling, but it clings to me anyway.

“I hope you’re ready for a week of chaos,” my best friend Winter links me.

Of course she is.

“What do you mean?” I link back, stepping under the hot water.

“Seriously, Lyric? Besides the fact that the pack is about to be crawling with visiting packs for the ball on Saturday?” she says.

Right.

The ball.

The mating ball.

My stomach twists slightly as everything stacks on top of itself.

Mason—future Alpha.

Hunter—my brother, future Beta.

Both turning eighteen this week.

Hunter’s birthday is Thursday. Mason’s… today.

And even though the mating ball isn’t until Saturday, Mason will be able to scent his mate today—even if she isn’t eighteen yet.

A sharp, uncomfortable feeling settles in my chest.

“Don’t remind me,” I mutter, scrubbing at my skin like that will somehow wash the tension away. “But what does that have to do with me?”

“Well,” Winter says, her tone shifting slightly, “Summer already walks around like she’s the future Luna… and now today we find out if she actually is.”

Of course.

Summer.

My twin sister.

I let out a quiet breath, pressing my palm briefly against the shower wall.

And just like that, the unease in my chest sharpens.

We may have been born at the same time, but that’s where the similarities end.

I’m 5’0, caramel skin, thick and curvy no matter how much I train. Copper red hair, green eyes.

Summer looks like she belongs in a completely different family—olive skin like our mother, pale blue eyes, 5’7, slim, perfect.

Everything I’m not.

And somehow… that makes me the easier target.

To everyone else, she’s sweet. Untouchable. The perfect future Luna.

But behind closed doors—

She finds every way possible to remind me exactly where I stand.

“Please tell me you’re almost ready. Training starts in fifteen minutes,” Winter links again.

“I’m getting dressed now,” I reply, stepping out of the shower.

I move quickly, pulling on leggings and sneakers, throwing on a sports bra and cropped tank. My hair refuses to cooperate, so I twist it into the closest thing to a bun I can manage.

“You’re trying too hard,” Nova says, amused.

I roll my eyes and ignore her, grabbing my things.

“Meet me in the dining room,” I link Winter.

The halls are quiet this early, but the moment I step into the dining hall—

everything shifts.

Mason is already there.

Sitting at the table with Hunter, Lucas, and Micah.

His eyes lock on me instantly.

Like he felt me before he saw me.

My stomach flips—sharp, sudden—and I immediately look away, my steps faltering for half a second before I force myself to keep moving.

I don’t have time to think about that.

I don’t want to think about that.

“Good morning, Mary,” I say, stepping into the kitchen.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” she says warmly, her eyes scanning over me. “How are you today?”

“I’m fine,” I reply quickly. “Do you need help with anything?”

“No, sweet girl. I’ll see you after training.”

I nod and turn, resisting the urge to glance back toward the table as I head out.

Winter is already waiting.

“Finally. We’re already late,” she says, grabbing my wrist and pulling me along.

“I’m coming,” I say, letting her drag me.

By the time we reach the training grounds, the energy is already building—warriors gathering, voices low, tension thick in the air.

Before I can even settle—

a link comes through.

“Lyric, the Alpha and I would like to use you for a demonstration today,” Delta Sam says.

My shoulders tighten.

“Why me?” I link back, irritation creeping in.

“Because you’re the only one who knows how to do the move properly.”

Of course I am.

“Fine,” I say.

“What was that about?” Winter asks.

“I’m being used for a demonstration,” I mutter.

“It’s going to be okay,” Nova says.

“I’d rather stay in the back where I belong until I can get out of here,” I reply.

“You are not meant to be in the back, Lyric,” she says softly.

I huff.

“Tell that to Summer.”

“Good morning, everyone,” Delta Sam calls out.

The field quiets instantly.

“Today we’ll be practicing offensive moves useful when fighting in both human and wolf form. We’ll start with a demonstration.”

I already know where this is going.

“Our Gamma will be demonstrating with Lyric.”

And just like that—

all eyes are on me.

Including Mason’s.

Including Summer’s.

Great.

I walk forward anyway, forcing my expression neutral as I step beside Gamma Jake.

“Lyric will be on offense. Jake will attack first—human form, then wolf form.”

My heart starts pounding—not from fear of the fight…

but from the weight of being watched.

“Begin!”

Jake moves fast.

A swing aimed for my ribs.

I sidestep, my body reacting on instinct, and drive my fist into his side. The impact lands solid, knocking the air from him as he stumbles back.

He recovers quickly, dropping low for a leg sweep.

I jump back just in time, my pulse spiking.

Then he lunges—

arms wrapping around my waist.

A sharp breath catches in my throat, but I twist with the movement instead of fighting it, using his momentum. My legs wrap around his hips, arms locking around his neck as I shift my weight.

One turn—

and I’m on his back.

Before he can react, I drive my elbow into the back of his head.

“Time!”

I drop down, stepping away, my chest rising and falling as adrenaline floods through me.

A grin breaks across my face before I can stop it.

That felt good.

Too good.

And then—

I look up.

Mason is staring at me.

Not casually.

Not like before.

His gaze is locked on me, heavy with something I can’t name.

Something that makes my stomach twist.

Something that sends a chill down my spine.

And for a second—

I forget how to breathe.