The Luna Choosing Game

The Luna audibly gasped. Some of the girls around me started screaming. Guards quickly moved in to usher them from the room. I was urged forward.

“End the program,” the King shouted. “Now.”

The cameras immediately shut off.

Before I could reach the staircase and earn my favor from the prince of my choice, my path was blocked

with a very angry King and Queen,

“Nicholas!” the King shouted.

“What have you done?” the Luna cried.

Nicholas quickly came down the staircase to join me at my side. I stared at him, bewildered.

“You heard the public,” he said. “This is what they wanted, even if you were too bullheaded to see it.”

“Careful,” the King said.

“Piper won the people’s favor. More, she won the game by the rules we’d assigned.”

“I can do one better than that, even,” Julian said, jumping down from the stage. He carried

my broken

bow in his hands. Where had he gotten it? Had his Beta kept it hidden for him?

He threw it down into the space between the King and Queen, and me and Nicholas.

“She excelled even when our own staff tried to have her killed,” Julian said.

“Our staff?” the Luna gasped.

“Who?” the King demanded.

Julian and Nicholas both shifted their gazes to where Lena was tucked in the Queen’s shadow.

Her face went pale.

Julian smirked, “Anything to say, Lena?”

She seemed set, like she had no intention of moving. The Queen herself motioned her forward.

“Is this true?” The Luna motioned to the broken bow. “Is this your doing?”

lowered her head. She did not answer. It seemed even

for your forgiveness,” she said. “I only ever wished to

the royal throne.”

Nicholas said. “Piper could have died had her wolf not stepped in.”

not intend her physical harm. I only wished to keep her from finishing the contest. I had no reason to believe that this girl would wander alone

exactly what

Lena bowed.

at each other. Neither seemed pleased

had happened

King said. “We will

she will be reprimanded?” Nicholas pressed.

the King said. All eyes

she uttered, “Yes. Lena, see yourself out and send in your successor.

the rest of this evening.”

scurried to obey the Luna’s

rubbed his forehead. “What an absolute

called the publicist as he hurried closer.

selection. They applaud you for making

yes, that’s fine.” The King pushed

“We need to move into the second area now, Your Majesty, if

I whispered

Nicholas replied, voice just as soft. “You’ll get more camers time and a personal audience with the

of that sounded very appealing at the moment, knowing the King

send me home

doing here, Nicholas should have sent me home,

with Nicholas himself having stuck his neck out to save me. I didn’t begin to know how to thank him, or why

maybe I should duck out for the night,” I said. If I was there, I

party.

his

me to stay?

But I found that now, just like three

simple request.

I

directed me to join the line of remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up to record a long shot, moving one by one through the fifteen, until every girls‘ name and face

that was completed, we waited as a group while hors d’oeuvres were served, as the King’s servants pulled each girl one by one for her personal

an orchestra was setting up. In the other corner, a water station was prepared beside a table of champagne bottles

come over to speak with me, twice he got no farther than, “Piper,

he was escorted away

available to talk after the King has had his time to speak

more forcefully on the second.

long, it was my turn to face the King. The servants guided me to a familiar sitting room