Moon String

Chapter Eighteen :No Longer A Rogue

Chapter Eighteen : No Longer A Rogue

The first thing I heard was shouting. "Move!" someone yelled, followed by another voice shouting, "She's losing too much blood!"

Then someone else yelled for the healer, and suddenly I realized that something was very wrong.

My body felt like it belonged to someone else. I couldn't move it, and I couldn't open my eyes. I felt like I was floating above myself, unable to remember how to breathe without consciously thinking about it.

OMG.

Am I dead?

Then I heard another voice. "Where is she?" Valeric. His voice was low, but there was something underneath it that I'd never heard before.

Fear.

"She's in the healer's wing, Your Highness," someone answered.

"How long?" Valeric asked, his voice becoming colder. "She was brought in moments ago." His response came immediately. "Then why are you standing here?"

The footsteps that followed were fast enough to shake the floor. The door burst open, and I heard Valeric call my name.

"Lyra." His voice was closer now, and I wanted to answer him, but I couldn't.

"Move," he ordered. Someone immediately protested, telling him he needed to let them work.

"I said move," Valeric repeated, his voice dangerously calm. "She's already lost too much blood," the healer warned.

Silence filled the room.

Then Valeric's voice dropped. "Will she survive?" The healer didn't answer immediately, and somehow, that silence was enough.

Valeric inhaled sharply. "She will survive." It wasn't a question. It was an order, as though he could simply command death to stay away from me.

The healer sighed. "We're doing everything we can." Valeric's answer was immediate.

"Do more." I would have laughed if my body had remembered how, because even with me lying there half-dead, this man was still giving people orders.

Some things apparently never changed.

I felt something warm against my hand. A hand. Valeric's fingers closed around mine, and his thumb moved slowly across my knuckles.

"Lyra," he whispered. "Wake up."

Something inside me stirred. Not my body, but something deeper, as a strange warmth spread through my chest. Then I heard another voice.

"Wake up."

I froze.

The voice was soft and female. It sounded close, too close, almost like someone whispering directly inside my thoughts.

"Wake up, Lyra."

I tried. My eyelids fluttered, but the voice disappeared, leaving the pain to rush back through me.

I heard the healer gasp. "Your Highness." Valeric immediately answered, "What?" The healer's voice trembled slightly as he said, "Her pulse."

"What about it?" Valeric asked. "It's getting stronger." He fell silent, while the healer moved closer.

"This doesn't make sense," the healer muttered. Valeric's voice became firm. "Explain." The healer hesitated before saying, "She should be weakening."

"She's not," Valeric said.

"No." The healer sounded almost frightened. "She is recovering." I felt Valeric's eyes on me, even though I couldn't see him.

"Then keep treating her."

The healer hesitated. "There is something else." Valeric immediately asked, "What?" The healer answered, "Her blood."

Valeric's grip tightened around my hand. "What about it?" The healer took a breath. "I've never seen blood like this." Valeric reminded him that I was a werewolf, but the healer simply answered,

"Yes."

Then he paused.

"Except... she doesn't seem entirely like one."

Silence filled the room. My heart thudded, and even through the fog in my mind, I heard every word.

"What are you saying?" Valeric asked.

"Her blood is extremely rare," the healer explained. "Her body is reacting differently to the healing process. It's almost as if..." He stopped, and Valeric immediately demanded, "As if what?"

"Almost as if part of her isn't werewolf."

Valeric went quiet. I couldn't see his face, but I could imagine it: cold, controlled, dangerous.

"What does she need?" he asked.

The healer hesitated. "Her mate."

Silence.

Valeric's hand went still. "What?"

"She needs her mate," the healer repeated. "You're certain?" Valeric asked, and the healer answered,

"Yes. The mate bond may strengthen her body's ability to heal."

"And if her mate isn't here?"

The healer's voice softened. "Then I don't know if she'll recover." A chair scraped against the floor, and I heard Valeric sit down.

"I'll stay."

"Your Highness—"

"I'll stay."

The healer sighed. "As you wish."

The room became quiet. For a long time, neither of them spoke, until Valeric finally whispered,

"You have to wake up."

I wanted to tell him that I was trying. That would have been a great moment to say something sarcastic, but unfortunately, my body had chosen unconsciousness as its preferred lifestyle.

"I can't lose you."

My mind went still. I'd never heard Valeric sound like that before, not angry or commanding, but simply afraid.

His thumb brushed over my hand again. "I don't understand what you're doing to me." There was a pause before he whispered, "But I know I don't want you gone."

Something warm spread through my chest. It was the same strange warmth I'd felt before, and then the female voice returned.

He needs you.

I frowned internally. Who was this woman?

Wake up.

I tried again. My fingers twitched, and Valeric immediately noticed.

"Lyra?"

My eyes remained closed, but something had changed. The darkness didn't feel as heavy anymore, and I could hear his heartbeat, steady and close.

Strangely comforting.

The healer checked my pulse again. "She's responding." Valeric asked, "To what?" The healer looked at him and admitted, "I don't know."

But I did.

Or at least... I thought I did.

Whatever was happening between Valeric and me, it wasn't normal. And I had a feeling I was going to have a lot of questions when I finally woke up.

Valeric's POV

I couldn't believe what had just happened. Who would want Lyra dead? I understood that she was annoying, extremely annoying, but trying to kill her was beyond extreme.

I swore I would make her attacker pay. My wolf had made that promise before I even realized I'd made it myself, and whoever had caused Lyra this pain would answer for it.

The pack healer's report about Lyra's blood kept replaying in my mind. It reminded me of the background check I'd ordered on her weeks ago, when I'd discovered something unexpected.

Lyra wasn't simply a rogue.

She came from a royal family, and her pack was called Mooncrest. That left me with one question: had someone from Mooncrest followed her here?

Perhaps one of her enemies had come looking for revenge. Whatever the motive was, I would find the person responsible, and until I did, Lyra would be protected.No matter the cost.

---

Two Weeks Later

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the ceiling. Not particularly impressive. I'd seen better ceilings.

I blinked once, then twice, before trying to move. Pain immediately reminded me why that was a terrible idea.

I woke up to a delicious scent coming from that arrogant lycan king .He sat on the edge of the bed,one hand on my hip and the other on the bed.His eyes locked on my face with shock.

Why was he looking at me like that? Don't tell me he's not happy seeing me recover

And suddenly the air around us thickened.His gaze dropped to my lips.He leaned in closely as though giving me every chance to turn away. I didn't. I couldn't .

His lips finally brushed mine it was careful—too careful—just the lightest press of lips, as if he were testing my strength.His hand slid into my hair, tilting my head.

The second kiss was deeper, hungrier, his tongue stroking into my mouth like he'd been starving for the taste of me.

I arched toward him without thinking, body still weak, and the movement pressed my chest against the hard plane of his. A low growl vibrated through him made me gasp into his mouth.

I gasped but this only made him kiss me harder.One of his hands slid down, spanning my waist, thumb brushing the soft skin just beneath the hem of the thin hospital shirt.

The touch was barely there, but it sent a jolt straight through me. I trembled. He felt it. His grip tightened for a second—possessive, almost desperate—before he forced himself to ease back.

We broke apart breathing hard.His forehead rested against mine. His eyes were dark, pupils blown wide.

A muscle jumped in his jaw as he fought whatever instinct was telling him to climb onto the bed and finish what we'd started.

I can't believe I just kissed the arrogant lycan king.

This meant nothing right??

"Don't move."He ordered

I looked at him closely.His hair slightly disheveled, his clothes rumpled, and dark shadows beneath his eyes.

He looked exhausted.

I stared at him for a moment before saying, "You look terrible." His eyebrows lifted, and for a second, neither of us spoke.

Then the corner of his mouth twitched.

"You've just woken up after being unconscious for two weeks."

I swallowed. "For two whole weeks?"

He stared at me. "And that's the first thing you say?"

I nodded weakly.

"I'm consistent."

He stared at me before shaking his head. "I've missed that." My expression softened.

"You missed me?"

He looked away. "Don't get excited." I smiled weakly.

"Too late."

He almost smiled again, but his expression quickly became serious.

"Someone attacked you."

I frowned. "I remember."

He asked if I knew who had done it, and I shook my head.

"Did you see anything?"

I thought back. A hood. A blade. A ring.

"That."

I tried to lift my hand, but Valeric immediately caught it.

"Don't move for now"

"The attacker had a ring." I answered

His eyes sharpened.

"What kind?"

"I don't know. There was a symbol on it."

"What symbol?"

"I couldn't see it properly."

He nodded slowly. "We'll find them." I looked at him.

"You sound like you're planning someone's funeral."

"Perhaps I am."

I swallowed. "Remind me never to make you angry."

"You've already failed at that."

Fair.

"But why are you so concerned about me" I asked

"Because you saved my life back then in the forest"

So that was it?? What was I even expecting to hear. But why did this hurt? Hearing he's only concerned about me because I saved him or not because of anything else

The healer entered the room , interesting my train of thoughts .He stopped when he saw my eyes open. "She's awake."

I smiled weakly.

"Unfortunately."

The healer smiled. "That's a good sign." He checked my pulse and examined my wound, but his expression became increasingly confused.

"What?"

He looked at Valeric. "She has recovered far faster than she should have." I frowned.

"Is that good?"

"It should be impossible."

"Well, I do enjoy being impossible."

The healer ignored me. "Your blood is unlike anything I've encountered." I glanced at Valeric, who was watching me carefully.

The healer continued. "I don't believe you're entirely werewolf." I stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know yet."

That answer was becoming increasingly annoying.

"Wonderful."

He continued examining me before saying, "There is another matter." I looked at him.

"What now?"

He glanced at me and asked "Do you have a mate."

My stomach twisted. Valeric went completely still.

The healer looked between us. "Your recovery accelerated when he remained close to you." I stared at Valeric, and he stared back.

Neither of us spoke.Then the healer said quietly, "I believe proximity to the king is helping you recover."

My heart skipped.

I didn't know what to say. Before I could think of anything remotely intelligent, the female voice whispered inside my head.

Mate.

My eyes widened.

There it was again.

I looked around the room. Nobody had spoken.

"Did you hear that?"

Valeric frowned. "Hear what?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Nothing.

The voice was gone.

I shook my head. "Nothing." The healer gave me a strange look but didn't question me.

Valeric stood. "There is something else." I looked at him as he took a breath.

"As of today, you are no longer a rogue.

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me."

He stepped closer. "You are officially a member of this pack."

For once, I had no sarcastic response. Not even one. I simply stared at him.

"But... why?"

His gaze softened. "Because you belong here."

My throat tightened. I'd spent so long being called a rogue that I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to hear someone say otherwise.

I looked down at my hands, then back at him.

"So I'm officially not a rogue?"

"No it has already been announced to the pack members,from now you're one of us."

I thought about it.

"Do I get a badge?"

Valeric stared at me. The healer coughed suspiciously into his hand.

I smiled weakly. "Just checking."

Valeric shook his head. "You are impossible."

I smiled.

"Apparently that's my thing."

Then the female voice whispered again.

He is yours.

My smile disappeared.

I stared at Valeric.

He was looking at me too.

I didn't know why, but somewhere deep inside me, something had changed. And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.