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.

so much like Nicholas in that

your wolf,” he said. “In that

shouldn’t

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

be

even if I tried. Instead, I hooked

felt carved out,

again. Julian fiddled with his phone, but he seemed

signal out here.”

lost?” I asked.

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

sorry. I truly hadn’t meant to cause trouble. I just…

ran a hand down his face and then sighed dramatically. “I suppose we’ll have.

settle for Plan B.”

“What’s plan B?”

He winked.

“Julian.”

“Trust me, Piper.”

far too manipulative, always watchful, always scheming. And

and through.

trust Nicholas,” I said.

a hand over his

to admit how this banter helped me feel a bit

my trust yet.”

see him back to his usual self. “I’m likely the most untrustworthy man you will ever meet.”

Chapter 0105

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

was that?” I tried asking, hoping he might surprise me with an actual response

have established great trust between us,” he said, evasive

I sighed.

“You won’t believe me, but I’m only not

before I reveal

wished I had my phone, or any access to the internet, so I could just look it up. As it was, I was at the mercy of whatever information

palace, Julian suggested we once

he began to text

sneaky. His phone service returned

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

questions.

about

breaking

you’ve done is fair to the other –”

shoulders. “Come now, guys.

Piper is my favorite?”

totally froze. I’d already been blindsided by the cameras and

an absurd

cocksure grin that seemed to say,

Is that true? Are you Julian’s favorite?”

good liar. “…

cheek. It took everything I had not to rear away