The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0386
My fierce blush gave me away, but still I hushed Susie. I leaned closer to her to admit, “We’ve fooled around but I wouldn’t say we’ve had sex…”
“Oh?”
“In the woods, I think was ready to, but he’s such a gentleman. He wanted to wait until we could do so more comfortably.”
Susie nodded. “I’m not surprised he’s so romantic, especially with you.”
I didn’t ask her what she meant. She was one of the few who was invited into our
collective fold. She was privy to the truth of Nicholas and my affections for each other.
“The truth is…” A bit of pink dusted Susie’s cheeks. “I’m no longer a virgin.”
My eyes went wide. “You and Mark?”
I supposed I shouldn’t be so surprised, but it did so go against the competition’s rules, I would have thought they would wait until Susie either left the competition willingly or was eliminated. Going against the rules is dangerous, especially when the person she slept with wasn’t a prince.
Mark wasn’t exactly in a position to defend Susie should the rules catch up
her.
to
I would keep the secret for her to my death bed, if necessary. Though hopefully when the competition would end, the two would be able to find a way to be together for real.
“He was so gentle,” Susie said, a bit of starlight in her eyes. “I felt so safe.” She smiled and it was so honest and pure, my heart did a little dance in her honor.
“I’m happy for you,” I said. Too soon, my caring heart gave way to worry. “Be careful though. If you are caught…”
Susie nodded seriously. “That’s partially why I didn’t want to wait. If we get separated…” She brought her hands to her heart. “I wanted him to be my first. I wish he could be my only.”
I had to speak to Nicholas. Surely there was some way we could bring the two together and keep them there. I couldn’t assuage that fear now, however, so I just nodded in earnest companionship.

We continued walking toward the dining room. When we arrived, I reached for
174
+15 BONOS
the door and yanked.
The door ripped straight off its hinges. I looked at it in surprise as I held it in my
hand.
Susie’s wide-eyed expression mirrored my own. “Piper…”
“Uh… sorry…” I set the door down against the wall. Several ser vants looked from it to me and back again. “Guess I don’t know my own strength,” I said, and chuckled a little. They didn’t know that I was being serious.
It had been so long since I’d had a wolf. I supposed the merging wasn’t going quite as smoothly as I would have liked.
Susie continued to give me worried glances, even as we made our way into the dining room and took our seats.
My stomach growled. I felt ravenous. The serv ants brought out plates, and I ate my first. Then my second. Then a third.
The other girls watched me, stunned, as I continued to eat and eat.
“Are you… feeling okay, Piper?” Susie asked.
“I’m so hungry,” I said, and asked for fourths.
“You are acting like you haven’t eaten in days,” Tiffany said from across the
table.
“Let her eat,” Veronica said. She was the only one at the table who didn’t seem bothered by the sheer amount of my food consumption. Granted, she was the only one who really knew what was going on with me. She knew the process of restoring wolves better than I did, even.
I ate my fourths. I could have probably had fifths, but everyone was looking at me so strangely, like I was some kind of attraction on display at the carnival. So I stopped myself from eating more.
As the meal came to a close, I rushed to join Veronica before she could get too far. When I was at her side, I whispered, “What is happening to me?”
Veronica placed a finger to her lips and then led me to a sitting room where we could speak privately.
“Your body has been without a wolf for so long, it will take time to acclimate yourself to having one again,” Veronica said. “The process is similar for those who claim someone else’s wolf.’
“But this is my wolf,” I said. I was feeling slightly indignant. Miracle had already
been my wolf once. Why was this process the same as if I had never had one?
+15 BONOS
“Your body will adjust, likely quicker than those who never had a wolf,” Veronica said. “But it will take time. It’s not a process that can be rushed. You’ll have to relearn to control yourself. This includes your strength, your hunger, and your… other impulses.”
I frown. “What other impulses?” At Veronica’s hesitation, I pressed, “Please, Veronica. I need to know what I’m up against here. I don’t want any more surprises.”
Veronica seemed reluctant only a moment more, before she inhaled a deep breath and answered, “If your wolf recognizes someone as its mate, you are going to feel very strong feelings for that person. Romantic. Possessive. And sexual. Very strong sexual feelings.”
Oh. “That should be fine,” I said. “I don’t have a mate.”
Veronica gave me a flat look. “Are you so sure about that?”
Why wouldn’t I be?