The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0425

My wolf cowered inside of me, hurt crashing in on all sides. Rejection. It seeped into every pore and every bone.

I knew I shouldn’t feel that way. Nicholas was pragmatic and cautious. He wouldn’t want to have a baby out of wedlock with anyone, even me.

But my wolf’s reaction is visceral, as if I had been directly rejected by my

mate.

It took every sliver of willpower I had to keep from whimpering and pulling myself into the fetal position. I bury it all down deep, right there alongside

dream I secretly held of making a family with Nicholas.

any

When he glanced at me again, he found me just as closed off as he was.

Slowly, I began to slink out of bed.

“Piper? Where are you going?” He sat up in the bed, watching me as I gathered my clothing off the ground and shimmied back into them.

“I’m going to head back to my room.”

A bit of hurt flashed through his eyes. I tried to ignore it.

“You can stay here the night. Sneak back in the morning,” he said.

“It’s safer if I go now,” I said.

Safer for who? That was the question left unanswered. My heart was already cracking. If I stayed, it might implode into dust.

I slipped out of Nicholas’s room, thinking I might find comfort in the solitude of the hallway. Instead, I only felt emptier somehow.

The walk back to my room felt even longer than usual, and I wasn’t even particularly careful. It was by pure luck that I returned to my room without being seen.

At rehearsals the next day, I avoided Nicholas as much as possible. It was difficult to do with Elva in tow. I wouldn’t deny Elva from spending time with her Nick–lass, even when I’d rather not see him. So I wasn’t terribly shocked when five seconds into entering the ballroom, Elva made a B–line straight for Nicholas.

“Nick–lass!”

was bright for my little girl. “Elva.” He kneeled down to hug her. Over her head,

said, using his formal title. I hadn’t

back into a warm smile, when Elva pulled away

him.

in the play?” she

critically. “It’s a very special role, just for you.”

I do it

If that’s okay with your mom?” Nicholas looked at me. Elva

okay,” I said, even though my insides were all twisted up. I’d rather keep Elva far, far away from Bridget. But that was unfair. Elva wanted a part and Bridget

done.

I wasn’t even a movie buff. Elva

a real life honest–to–goodness professional.

led my daughter away, up onto the stage that was fully completed now, to where Bridget waited. Bridget seemed

2/5

my sad, lonely heart ached. They looked like

then walked with her across the stage, showing her the route she would take when she threw the

hear their words, but Bridget was bright and energetic and she was making Elva laugh and smile. Elva was entirely charmed.

heart sunk down to my stomach.

make that face,” Julian said, suddenly appearing beside me. He could have sneaked up on me, or just walked up while I was so enamored with the others on the stage, I

off. “I didn’t sleep much last

need to hear about your exploits

really didn’t need to clarify that. It wasn’t any

couldn’t you sleep?”

it, not even with him. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready. The hurt

The rejection

just didn’t want it

the hurt talking. I tried to remind myself, Nicholas was just being careful. If I got pregnant, the entire royal house of cards

run away together. Nicholas would