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.

looked so much like Nicholas in that moment; it

your wolf,” he said. “In

sorry, I shouldn’t have

have calculated that you might react that way. I could only

to be reunited.”

tried. Instead, I hooked my fingers together and sunk in on myself

carved

again. Julian fiddled with his phone, but he seemed

out

lost?” I

back from here, but it won’t be so secret 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 for us

hadn’t meant to cause trouble. I just… I felt

down his

for Plan

“What’s plan B?”

He winked.

“Julian.”

“Trust me, Piper.”

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

and

trust Nicholas,” I said.

put a hand over his heart.

how this banter helped me feel a bit

my trust yet.”

him back to his usual self. “I’m

Chapter 0105

a bit longer, until the horses were rested, then we began the slow ride back to the palace

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

we will have established great trust between us,” he said,

I sighed.

me, but I’m only not telling you for your own protection. I

further before I reveal too

to the internet, so I could just look it up. As it was, I was at the mercy of whatever information Julian

the palace, Julian suggested we

he began to

try to be sneaky. His phone service returned

we walked our horses toward the paddock, a camera crew rushed toward us as if they had been waiting for our return. Cameras pushed straight into our faces. The producers

questions.

Julian! Tell us about your

the risk, breaking

you’ve done is fair

slid his arm around my shoulders. “Come now, guys. This is no

Piper is

blindsided by the cameras and questions, and now Julian was

an absurd lie?

wide, cocksure grin that seemed to say,

true? Are you Julian’s

good liar.

cheek. It took everything I had not to