The Luna Choosing Game

Holding Elva, Nicholas winced as he bent his right wrist. He had tried to hide it, and maybe would have been successful if I had been anyone other than his ex–girlfriend.

He’d told me the story himself, when we had been dating.

Nicholas had excelled for his age. His werewolf abilities were some of the strongest in the entire

kingdom, even when he’d been a child.

Because of this, when a war had broken out in the north between the Werewolf Kingdom and the Bear

People, Nicholas had been sent to the front lines. He’d only been 11 at the time.

Though his talent was immense, he lacked the years of training that other soldiers had.

He fought hard and well. He felled many foes. But his inexperience too often led him into situations he

might have otherwise known to avoid.

Once, he followed an enemy deep behind their lines, and straight into a trap.

sacrifices of so many others, was he able to escape, but not without

wounds had

to suppress the pain. It didn’t always bother him. But

I had laid awake after hearing his story, imagining an 11 year old version of the boy I loved fighting in a shifter war.

new, different angle. Nicholas, a prince, had been sent to war, Weren’t

I knew his injury pained him. Since he hated me now,

him to hurt himself

get back to our room,” I

I

do take Elve from him, but she buried her nose against his

most stubborn girl in the kingdom, when she

mind to it.

kindness and generosity were not lost on me. It wouldn’t hurt to make nice with him, for Elva’s sake if

you,” I

Elva’s back. The girl had fallen asleep in his arms. He seemed pleased with the words,

“She’ll be safe here. I will

say, other than, “Thank you, Prince Nicholas.” I tried another smile. “I’ll try to