Moon String

Chapter Nineteen:The Voice In My Head

Lyra’s POV

I was scheduled to be discharged today by the pack healer.He had already checked my vitals and decided that I was strong enough to leave.

That was a relief.

I would finally stop having the king checking up on me like I was some disabled person. I would finally have some alone time without him constantly asking if I was okay.

Although, if I was being honest, a small part of me was going to miss it.Just a very small part.

I still couldn't believe we actually kissed.It still seemed like a dream to me.

I could still remember the feeling of his lips against mine, and every time I thought about it, my stomach did something incredibly stupid.

I shook my head.

Nope.

I wasn't doing that.

I wasn't going to sit here thinking about the Lycan King like some lovesick i***t.

“Mate.”

The gentle female voice suddenly spoke inside my head.I froze.There it was again.I slowly looked around the room.

Nobody.

My eyebrows pulled together.

“Ok, who the hell are you?” I asked out loud.

The nurse immediately looked at me.

“Who are you talking to?”

I blinked.

“Um…”

I had forgotten she was there.

“I'm tired of listening to you,” I muttered.

The nurse's eyebrows rose.

“But I didn't say anything.”

I stared at her.

She was right.

I hadn't even been talking to her.

“Is everything alright, young lady?” she asked, looking bewildered as she glanced around the room.

“Oh, never mind,” I replied quickly. “I was just excited to go home.”

The nurse gave me a strange look before walking away.

I waited until she was gone.

Then I whispered, “Okay. Who are you?”

Silence.Absolute silence.I waited.Nothing.

“Because I'm starting to think I'm going crazy.”

Still nothing.

“Great.”

Apparently, my near-death experience had come with complimentary insanity.I quickly changed out of the gown I was wearing and hurriedly took a bath.

When I came out of the bathroom, I saw a fresh pile of clothes sitting on the bed.They were probably brought in by one of the maids.I quickly put them on and left.

This time, I made sure I wasn't wearing the inside of my clothes.I had suffered enough humiliation for one lifetime.

I rushed blindly into the hall, wanting to go see Liora.Unfortunately, I didn't make it very far.I tripped over someone.We both fell backward.

“Ow!”

“I’m sorry!” the maid apologized immediately as she stood up.

“No, I'm sorry. I'm the one at fault.”

She looked at me strangely.

“Oh?”

“So, what's your name?” I asked.

She stared at me.

“What?”

I frowned.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

She pointed downward.

“Um… you're still on the floor.”

I looked down.She was right.I immediately jumped to my feet and straightened my dress.

“Oh.”

I cleared my throat.

“The floor seemed cosy.”

The girl stared at me for a second.

“You're weird.”

Her eyes widened immediately.She covered her mouth.

“I'm sorry! I didn't mean to insult you. It's my first day here. Please don't report me.”

I couldn't help laughing.

“Oh, that's okay. I'm actually weird.”

She laughed too.

“So, what's your name?” I asked.

“My name is Gabriella, but you can call me Gabby.”

“Gabby.”

I nodded.

“Nice name.”

A long silence ensued between us.She stared at me.I stared at her.Neither of us said anything.Finally, she broke the silence.

“Has anyone ever told you how awkward talking with you is?”

I burst out laughing.

“And yet we're still talking”

She shrugged.

“I mean…”

She laughed again.

“So, we could hang out sometimes, right?” I asked.

“Sure. My lunch break is almost over, though. I have to get back to work.”

She started walking away before turning around.

“I stay at Room 19. You can come see me sometime.”

“Oh, my name is Lyra,” I called after her. “And I'll surely see you soon.”

She waved goodbye and disappeared down the hallway.I smiled.Maybe making a friend here wouldn't be so bad.I continued toward my room.

The castle felt strangely peaceful today.Almost too peaceful.As I reached my door, I stopped.Something felt wrong.I couldn't explain it.I slowly pushed the door open.

“Liora?”

No answer.I stepped inside.Then I froze.My mouth fell open.What I saw in front of me left me utterly speechless.I couldn't believe my eyes.

“Liora…”

She slowly turned around.There were paintings everywhere.Some were scattered across the floor. Others were leaning against the walls.But that wasn't what shocked me.

One painting was moving,the animals inside it were all alive and moving freely. Another painting was actually glowing.I stared at it.

“What the hell is going on?”

Liora's face went pale.

“I can explain, Lyra.”

I slowly walked toward her.

“Then start explaining.”

She swallowed.

“I think something happened to me.”

“What kind of something?”

She glanced at the painting.

“I don't know.”

She reached toward it.I grabbed her wrist.

“Don't touch it!”

She looked at me.

“Why?”

“Because the last time something mysterious happened to me, I ended up in a coma.”

She stared at me for a moment.Then she laughed.I didn't.

“I'm serious.”

“I know.”

Her smile disappeared.She looked at the painting again.

“When I painted this, it wasn't supposed to look like this.”

I stepped closer.

“What did you paint?”

“The royal garden.”

I looked at the picture.The flowers inside the painting were moving.My eyes widened.

“Liora…”

“I know.”

“How are the flowers moving?”

“I don't know.”

“You're telling me you don't know?”

“I woke up yesterday feeling strange. I picked up my brush, started painting, and then…”

She pointed at the canvas.

“…that happened.”

I stared at her.

“So…”

I swallowed.

“You have powers?”

Liora looked at me.

“I think I do.”

For once, I didn't have a joke.Something about the situation felt different.

Important.

And then I heard it.

“Mate.”

The same female voice whispered inside my head.I stiffened.Liora noticed.

“What?”

I slowly looked at her.

“She spoke again.”

“Who?”

“The voice.”

Liora's expression changed.

“What did she say?”

I hesitated.

“Mate.”

Liora stared at me.

Then she looked toward the glowing painting.

“What?”

“I don't know.”

She stepped closer.

“Lyra, what if the voice isn't trying to hurt you?”

I frowned.

“Then what is she trying to do?”

Neither of us had an answer.Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.We both jumped.

“Lyra?”

The king's voice.My eyes widened.Of course.Because apparently, I couldn't have one peaceful day.Liora looked at me.I looked at the door.Then the female voice whispered again.

“Mate.”

I closed my eyes.

“Not now.”

“Who are you talking to?” Liora asked.

“That's exactly what I'd like to know.”

The knocking came again.

“Lyra, are you alright?”

I sighed.

“I guess we'll find out.”

I opened the door.

The king stepped into the room and immediately noticed the strange expression on my face.

Then his eyes moved to Liora.

Then to the glowing painting.

His eyebrows furrowed.

“What happened?”

I pointed at Liora.

“She has powers.”

He looked at Liora.

“I know.”

My mouth dropped open.

“You know?”

He nodded.

“It's complicated.”

“Of course it is"

I swallowed.

The mysterious voice suddenly echoed inside my head.

Mate.

My eyes widened.

“That voice…”

The king's expression changed.

“What voice?”

I hesitated.

“I've been hearing a woman's voice in my head.”

Liora looked at me.

The king's eyes narrowed.

“What has she been saying?”

I stared at him.

“Mate.”

The room became completely silent.

The king looked at me for a long moment.

Then he said quietly,

“That isn't a random voice.”

My heart began pounding.

“Then who is she?”

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked directly into my eyes.

“She's your wolf.”

I blinked.

“My… wolf?”

“Yes.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“But I don't have a wolf.”

His expression became unreadable.

“That's what we need to figure out.”

“Then why can't I hear her properly?”

“Because she's only beginning to awaken.”

I frowned. “Awaken?”

He nodded.

“Why now?”

He didn't answer.I took a step closer towards him “You're hiding something from me.”

His eyes met mine.

“The bond is becoming stronger.”

My heart skipped.

“What bond?”

He remained silent.I stared at him for several seconds before my eyes widened.

“Wait…”

He said nothing.

“Are you talking about a mate bond?”

His silence was answer enough.

I swallowed.

“You're my mate?”

The king finally nodded.

“Yes.”

For a moment, I couldn't speak.Then I laughed nervously.

“You've got to be kidding me.”

“I wish I were.”

I stared at him. I was really trying to wrap my head around all this. First I discover I have a wolf, then I also discover my Mate too. I really didn't know how to react to this. Should I be happy that I've finally gotten my wolf or sad that my Mate knew but didn't say anything.

"Yes.”

“And you knew?”

“Yes.”

My mouth fell open.

“You knew we were mates and didn't tell me?”

His expression darkened.

“There were reasons.”

I crossed my arms.

“Oh, I'm definitely going to need those reasons.”