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?”

did not answer. It seemed even she couldn’t

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

the royal throne.”

could have died had her wolf

did 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 into the forest without the protection

exactly what happened,”

Lena bowed.

each other. Neither seemed pleased

happened tonight.

evening of supposed celebration,” the King said.

she will be

said. All eyes looked to the

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

the rest of this

Lena scurried to obey the Luna’s command, scrambling from the room.

King rubbed his forehead. “What an

the publicist as he hurried closer. “Great news! The public has now approved

selection. They applaud you for making the choosing of Piper

fine.” The

new open space. “We need to move into the

area?” I whispered to

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

that sounded very appealing at the moment, knowing the King and Queen specifically

send me

Nicholas should have

himself having stuck his neck out to

said. If I was there, I would certainly

party.

shook his head.

wanted me to stay?

now, just like

a simple request.

I said.

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 shot, moving one by one through the fifteen, until every girls‘ name

completed, we waited as a group while hors d’oeuvres were served, as the

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

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

was escorted away

be available to talk after the King has had his

more forcefully on the

The servants guided me to a