The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0600

"Oh." Susie's eyes widened. "I suppose you wouldn't have known." She hung her head a little. "Tensions with the Bear People have more or less exploded. Mark says more and more soldiers are being sent to the northern border. War seems imminent."

I didn't want to believe that. "Surely there's something to be done to keep the peace?"

*The Bear People have made demands but those demands are impossible to fulfill."

"What are they?" I asked.

Before us, out on the lawn, Elva sat on the grass with the two wolves, Night and Silver, in sitting in front of her. They were all looking so intently at each other, it was like they were having a conversation. I wondered what they were saying.

Focusing on that was less heartbreaking than thinking of the reality of war.

*They want their princess back," Susie said. She made it sound like I should know what she's talking about.

My brow drew together. "We have their princess?"

Susie tilted her head. "You don't know the story of the lost bear princess?"

I shook my head.

Susie hummed thoughtfully. She tapped her chin with a finger. "Oh. It was something like twenty years ago, I suppose. One of their princesses was stolen away as an infant and believed to be brought across the border into werewolf territory."

I couldn't believe my ears. A stolen princess? "Why haven't I heard of this?"

"I'm not sure," Susie said. "Though I imagine the royals wanted to keep a lid on the whole thing. I don't remember ever seeing anything about it on television. It was only ever discussed in gossip groups. I remember my mom talking about it sometimes."

life of anyone I knew about back in my regular life.

among the bears own people. They

believed them, why wait

know," Susie admitted. "There might be more going on behind the scenes in their own nation. But whatever the reason for it, the bears want their princess back. They said that if she isn't returned, they would come into our country and retrieve

like an invasion, even if their intentions were only

killed the princess. Even if they hadn't, surely her

have likely spoken up by now, or had someone speak for her.

not before,

at the Academy.

an entire generation.

Babies would

Susie said, looking at

I asked, returning to the

look you have... the empathy... not just for royals, or even the soldiers, but for every person that will be affected by the war.

sad kind of smile. I never really considered feeling so much for so many to be one of my finer

the hard choices no matter who it hurt? So long

my heart

now laying down with the wolves. She

so peaceful. I wished that I could keep them safe, away

us. Susie smiled at him, but I jumped. I had forgotten how quickly and quietly

Mark?" I asked when I recovered

Nicholas is waiting for you in his personal office," Mark said. "He has finished his meeting with his parents and

course," I said,

take you there,"

disturb her. She was resting so peacefully with the wolves she'd

her," Susie said. "Between the wolves and me,