The Luna Choosing Game

The next day, during the barbecue held in the gardens, Elva finally got her wolf ride. Nicholas helped her up onto the massive wolf Night, who then trotted slowly around the field under Nicholas’s watchful eyes.

Confined to my wheelchair, I stayed on the patio, not wanting to take my chair into the grass on the chance of getting stuck. It had been embarrassing enough yesterday, having Nicholas haul me around. I didn’t want a repeat performance.

It was a little lonely so near the door, while everyone else was out in the gardens, but I was happy to

watch from afar.

Eventually, Silver came over to see me. She let me scratch the top of her head, and licked.

“Thank you, Silver, for yesterday,” I told her. “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you.”

my hand.

She chuffed at me. I wished I knew what she was trying to say. She didn’t seem to mind, though. She just lowered her big wolf head into my lap and made herself comfortable.

“Interesting how the only person who can’t talk to wolves is the one who made the best friend of one.”

Julian sauntered toward me, moving slowly like he hadn’t a care in the world. I had parked myself near a stone bench in case anyone wanted to chat with me. He plopped himself down there now.

She closed her eyes. “I’m

friend.”

other girls standing in the garden. Their companion wolves had all mostly abandoned them. Instead, they played amongst themselves out in the grassy field.

Susie had deigned to join them, enjoying the company of the wolves more

colleagues.

saw their wolves as mere tools, not as living breathing creatures with their own

thoughts and opinions.”

you have everything, you

never been ultra–rich or popular, but I remembered what it had been like in my academy days.

my fingertips, it had been

“You are

not what you are used to.

glanced at me sideways. “I’m not so

glanced in our direction. His face

glared.

knew Nicholas had warned me about Julian being

broken bow,” Julian

“What?”