The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0622

The butler showed me to Susie's room, and then quickly excused himself outside of her door. When he was gone, I knocked.

"Go away!" Susie called in a watery voice. She was crying.

I knocked more insistently as I pushed open the door.

*I said -* she started, cutting herself off she say me. "Piper?"

"Hi, Susie," I said.

"Oh, Piper!" She was sitting at her desk, the tears running down her cheeks. As I entered the room, closing the door behind me, she jumped from the chair and ran to me.

We shared a hug. Relief flooded through me.

I stepped back after a moment, to look her over. She didn't seem too worse for wear. Other than the crying, she didn't show any signs of abuse or neglect.

"What are you doing here?" Susie sniffed. "I'm sure word has gotten around by now."

*Rumors don't matter. Come back to palace."

*If you've heard the rumors, you know why I can't."

"Everyone will forget, the moment you appear. They'll all just think it's gossip and it won't matter," I say. "Since Jessica is the only other contender for Joyce, you wouldn't even have to face elimination."

*Piper," she sounded so sad. "I can't come. It's just not rumors. My parents... They know the truth about me."

*How could they?" I asked. She wasn't showing yet. Sure they might suspect, but to have real proof?

"I told them," Susie said.

I startled, speechless.

"I didn't want to lie anymore about any of it," Susie said. "I don't want to have to pretend to have feelings for Joyce, when the only one I really want is Mark."

pocket near doubled, and I regretted holding it back

sitting room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes

If your parents wouldn't have let him inside,

a little

always does, that his arrival at your door might open the way. My presence was required for this. It is,

"True."

who I

"I talk about you

I pulled her into another hug. How grateful I was to be in her life! Though how much it hurt to hear she had such a hard time getting friends. She was so

told me to give you this." I held my

at it

says it's overdue," I told her. "He

inspect it. She touched it

pure awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next,

for it," she said. "And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to me, Mark would be throwing his whole life away with this. He can't be

get it to work. If this is what you want, Susie,

at the ring

see him," she

headed for the doorway. With Susie leading, we didn't need the

finger. I couldn't help my

Prince Nicholas, as I've consistently said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself

*Susie..." her mom said.

on her. Then his gaze dropped to her hand, where she'd already put on

said, the word

stepped forward, moving closer to Susie's

said, dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow

parents both went

with your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot live

know of her

quicker. She touched her husband's arm. "He

Mark confirmed. "The baby is mine. And I would raise it as my

"He is my Beta and a loyal man besides. He will