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.

Nicholas in that moment; it was clear they were

wolf,” he said. “In that

I shouldn’t have

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

to be reunited.”

even if I tried. Instead, I hooked my fingers together and

I felt carved out,

there in silence again. Julian fiddled with his phone,

out here.”

lost?”

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

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

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

settle for Plan

“What’s plan B?”

He winked.

“Julian.”

“Trust me, Piper.”

Julian was far too manipulative, always watchful,

and through.

Nicholas,” I said.

a hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

arms, unwilling to admit how this banter helped me feel a bit better. “You

my trust yet.”

good instincts then.” He smirked. It was nice to see him back to his usual self.

Chapter 0105

then we began the slow

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

between us,”

I sighed.

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

into this further before I

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

neared the palace,

to text with Brian.

be sneaky.

as if they had been waiting for our return. Cameras pushed straight into our faces. The

questions.

about your secret

breaking the rules

what you’ve done is fair to the other

shoulders. “Come now, guys.

Piper is

been blindsided by the cameras and questions, and now

absurd lie?

grin that seemed to

Are you

wasn’t a good liar. “…

nuzzled against my cheek. It took