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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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.‘

think I even woke up until I was halfway to the dining room. When I realized what had happened,

a snapped rubber band. So he was with her instead of

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

felt miserable.

not like you to be late for anything,” I

with an old

believed it. I didn’t

don’t be angry,” he

“I’m not angry.”

tilted his head, considering me. His eyes narrowed, he didn’t believe me. He shouldn’t

practice, okay?” he asked. It felt like an olive branch, and I was eager to take it. The last

“Okay,” I said.

tried to teach me how to

hurt me,” he

I

be okay,” he replied.

was an Alpha,

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“Okay,” I said.

pay attention. As he blocked my attacks, punch after punch, he moved with such grace that it seemed like he was dancing. Thinking of him dancing, reminded me of last night, of seeing him and Bridget in the

became

to dodge one. “Uh, Piper. You are going

another wild punch, putting everything in it that

we should

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 adrenaline, with nowhere for it to go.

I was shifting in

wide, shocked. In the next instant, he shifted

me, an Alpha wolf to my smaller

I felt the command deep

down, he was

without my meaning to. Slowly, I laid

back, his growl

at the

was breathing hard, staring up at an Alpha wolf. Though it wasn’t long

“Piper…”

I whispered.

“Are you better…?”