The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0400

The next morning, Nicholas and I had previously arranged to spend time training together. So at first light, I headed to the gym.

I wasn’t sure he would remember. Maybe he made other plans and forgot to tell me about it. He had been so busy with Bridget lately, I had rarely even seen him, let alone spoken two words to him.

I had a sinking feeling in my chest, telling me I’d find the gym empty. Maybe the lights would be out. The door locked. Or maybe the room would be filled with guards training, if Nicholas had forgotten to claim the room for the day.

Just outside the door, I stood and inhaled a deep, long breath. Then I let it out.

Gathering my strength, I reached for the gym door and pulled. It opened. It wasn’t locked.

Okay. So far so good.

I stepped inside. The lights were on.

Two things going good. I followed a familiar pathway down the corridors of the gym to the weight room where the mats were set up for sparring and training.

That door was unlocked too, and as I stepped inside, the room was empty. No stray guardsmen or women around.

For a moment, relief flooded me. Maybe he didn’t forget after all. A second later, a sense of dread hit me instead.

If Nicholas hadn’t forgotten, then where was he? Why was I now alone in this room?

I checked my watch. I was a few minutes early. So I set down my gear and decided to wait.

I waited until the time we were supposed to meet. Then I waited fifteen more minutes. Then twenty.

At a full hour past, my heart felt so tender it might shatter. So I gathered my gear, bit back my tears, and headed for the door.

At the very same moment, Nicholas rushed through it.

“Piper, I –”

He nearly ran straight into me, but stopped abruptly. He looked down at me in

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15

surprise. When he saw the tears in my eyes, his face crumpled.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he said. “Were you waiting long?”

“A half hour.‘

knocking on my door so early and wanted to have breakfast together. I don’t think I even woke up until I was halfway to the dining room. When I realized what had happened, I left at once. I don’t

sound of Bridget’s name cracked through me like a snapped rubber band. So

least he was able to pull himself away to be here now. That had

felt

to be late for anything,” I said.

just so nice to catch up with an

nodded, not sure if I fully believed it. I didn’t trust

be angry,” he said.

“I’m not angry.”

me. His eyes narrowed, he didn’t believe me. He shouldn’t have, I was lying through my

he asked. It felt like an olive branch, and I was eager to take it. The last thing I wanted to hear

“Okay,” I said.

squaring off at each other. Nicholas had earlier tried to teach me how to throw a punch and now he wanted me to practice by trying

won’t hurt me,” he

I reminded him.

be okay,” he replied.

an Alpha, after

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“Okay,” I said.

toward him. He blocked my hit. He gave me a few pointers. It was difficult to pay attention. As he blocked my attacks, punch after punch, he moved with such grace that it seemed like he was

punches became wilder.

one. “Uh, Piper. You are

threw another wild punch, putting everything in it that I had. I

should

I had held my jealousy back for so long that now it was swelling into rage. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I had too much energy, too much

was shifting in my wolf form.

In the next instant, he shifted

me, an Alpha wolf to my

growled low and steady, demanding dominance. I felt the

he was

It was even without my meaning to. Slowly, I laid down and he walked over me.

growl said now.

shivered at the order.

up at an Alpha wolf. Though it wasn’t long before Nicholas shifted too, and he was staring down at me.

“Piper…”

sorry…” I

“Are you better…?”