The Luna Choosing Game

I pushed the horse as fast as she could go. My wolf was here, I could feel it.

But then, suddenly, it felt further away. It was leaving me!

In the driveway beyond the house, a car started to drive away. I pulled at the reins, guiding the horse in

that direction.

Faster, faster. We were going to lose it!

The horse huffed with each heavy exhale. Its hooves clattered against the concrete driveway. We followed the car as it pulled out onto the road, slipping straight through the rod–iron gate that had opened

for the car.1

Julian was right behind me. He’d stopped calling for me and instead now followed my lead.

We chased that car. The windows were tinted, I couldn’t see inside. But I knew my wolf was there. It was

so close, I could have cried.

But then the road reached a straight stretch, and the car accelerated to a faster speed than my horse

had any chance of matching.

The distance expanded, adding yard after yard, until the car was on the horizon line, and my horse was

slowing from exhaustion.

I watched the car go, even long after it was out of sight. Inside my chest, the tether between me and my

wolf stretched and stretched, until it finally snapped and was gone.

Julian dismounted quickly beside me. “We have to get off the road.”

As I stood there in shock, he grabbed the reins of my horse as well as his own, and led both away from

the road and into the forest brush alongside it.

I was numb. I couldn’t move.

For one brief moment, I had felt my wolf again. Now, as before, I was empty.

Julian, a man determined, carefully guided our horses deeper into the woods. He didn’t say a word the

entire time

He could have been mad at me, I wasn’t sure. Whenever I had seen Julian mad in the past, typically at

Nicholas, he had lashed out with a sharp smirk and barbed insults. This silence was something new.

In the depths of the forest, we reached a small grassy patch. Julian stopped, and the horses began to

“Can you get down?” Julian asked me. “We need to let the horses rest for a few moments. We pushed them pretty hard.”

I understood and slowly dismounted the mare.

finally looked at me, but his expression was unreadable. He looked so much like Nicholas in that moment; it was clear they

felt your wolf,” he said. “In that car.”

I shouldn’t have

you might react that way. I could only imagine what it

be

have explained it even if I tried. Instead, I hooked my fingers together

felt carved out, hollow

there in silence again. Julian fiddled with his phone, but he seemed

out here.”

we lost?” I

if I can’t coordinate with Brian. We’re way off the prepared route, and I don’t dare go back that way. Those at the mansion will be looking

cause trouble. I just… I felt a pull,

get it, Piper. Really.” He ran a hand down his face and then sighed

settle for

“What’s plan B?”

He winked.

“Julian.”

“Trust me, Piper.”

Couldn’t. Julian was far too manipulative, always watchful,

through and

trust Nicholas,” I

his heart. “You wound

crossed my arms, unwilling to admit how this banter helped me feel a bit better. “You haven’t earned

my trust yet.”

nice to see him back to his usual self. “I’m likely the

Chapter 0105

until the horses were rested, then we began the slow ride back to the

whose palace was that?” I tried asking, hoping he might surprise me with an

great trust between us,” he said, evasive as

I sighed.

I’m only not telling you for your

this further before I reveal too

phone, or any access to the internet, so I could just look it up. As it was, I

we neared the palace,

began to text

sneaky.

the moment we walked our horses toward the paddock, a camera crew rushed toward us as if they had been waiting for

questions.

about your

the risk, breaking the

think what you’ve done is fair

arm around my shoulders. “Come now, guys.

Piper is my favorite?”

froze. I’d already been blindsided by the cameras and questions, and now Julian

an absurd lie?

cocksure grin that seemed to say,

true? Are you

a good liar. “…

plum. Julian nuzzled against my cheek. It took everything