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?”

It seemed even

she said. “I only ever wished to

the royal throne.”

“Piper could have died had her wolf

from finishing the contest. I had no reason to believe that this girl would wander alone into the forest without the protection of a prince.”

is exactly what happened,” Nicholas said.

Lena bowed.

each other. Neither seemed pleased by this revelation,

had happened tonight.

celebration,” the King said. “We will handle this matter privately later.”

will be reprimanded?” Nicholas

the King said. All eyes looked to the

Lena, see yourself out and send in your

of this

obey the Luna’s command, scrambling

forehead. “What an absolute mess.”

Majesty,” called the publicist as he hurried closer. “Great news! The public

you for making the choosing of

that’s fine.” The King pushed him

filled the new open space. “We need to move into the second area

whispered

as soft. “You’ll get more camers time and a personal audience with the

the moment, knowing the King

send me

i was doing here, Nicholas should

here I was, one of the 15 remaining girls, with Nicholas himself having stuck his neck out to

maybe I should duck out for the night,” I said. If I was there, I would certainly bring down the

party.

his head.

me to stay?

found that now, just like three years ago, I had trouble

a simple request.

well,” I said.

I were separated as we were led into the ballroom. The servants directed me to join the line of remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up to record a long

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

an orchestra was setting up. In the other corner, a water station

to come over to speak with me, twice he

was escorted away

the King has had his

more forcefully on

turn to face the King. The servants guided me to a familiar sitting room