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!”

hug her. Over

Nicholas,” I said, using his formal title. I hadn’t done that in

schooled it back into a warm smile, when Elva pulled away

him.

says I can be in the play?”

a very special role, just for you.”

do it

think we can get Bridget to help show you. If that’s okay with your mom?” Nicholas looked at me.

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

done.

was no actress. I wasn’t even a movie buff. Elva deserved a chance to

real life honest–to–goodness professional.

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

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lonely heart ached. They looked like a family

held the other. Together, they hed her to her starting spot, then walked with her across the stage, showing her the route she would take when she threw

hear their words, but Bridget was bright and energetic and she was making Elva laugh

down to my stomach.

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,

it off.

hear about your

I said. Though, in hindsight, I really didn’t need to clarify that. It wasn’t any of Julian’s business.

why couldn’t you sleep?”

even with him. I wasn’t

The rejection

wanted a family. He just didn’t want it

careful. If I got pregnant, the entire

away together. Nicholas would never turn