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.

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

he said. “In that

shouldn’t

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

to be

couldn’t have explained it even if I tried. Instead, I hooked my fingers together and sunk in on myself

I felt carved

silence again. Julian fiddled with his phone,

signal out

lost?”

but it won’t be so secret if I can’t coordinate with Brian. We’re way off the prepared

truly hadn’t meant to cause trouble. I just… I felt a pull, and I

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

settle for Plan

“What’s plan B?”

He winked.

“Julian.”

“Trust me, Piper.”

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

and

Nicholas,” I

his heart. “You

how this banter helped me feel a bit better.

my trust yet.”

good instincts then.” He smirked. It was nice to see him back to his usual self. “I’m likely

Chapter 0105

bit longer, 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

have established great trust between us,” he said, evasive as ever.

I sighed.

I’m only not telling you

this further before I reveal too much.”

just look it up. As it was, I was at the mercy

neared the palace, Julian suggested

he began to text with

be sneaky. His phone service

camera crew rushed toward us as if they had been waiting for our

questions.

Julian! Tell us about your secret rendezvous!”

it worth the risk, breaking the rules to

you’ve done is fair to the other –”

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

is my favorite?”

the cameras and questions, and now Julian

an absurd lie?

grin that seemed to say, Play along.

true? Are you Julian’s favorite?”

wasn’t a good

plum. Julian nuzzled against my cheek. It took everything I had not