The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0624

The next morning, I headed down to breakfast with Elva per usual. Today, all of the girls were even more animated than usual, their voices quick and cheerful with the latest gossip, their expressions bright.

*Susie and Mark are engaged!" Tiffany said, repeating what the others have said but louder and with bigger hand

movements.

*They must have met here during the competition," Olivia reasoned. "She broke the rules by paying attention to anyone other than the princes. She could go to jail for this."

"No one is going to send her to jail," Bridget said. "Nicholas wouldn't let that happen." For once, I agreed with Bridget.

*A Beta, though?" Lilliana scoffed. "She is a lady of good upbringing. She had the opportunity to marry a prince. Why on earth would she settle for someone of lesser stock?"

*She loves him," I said. I helped Elva into her chair and then sat in mine. Susie's was empty on the other side of me, and would now stay empty for the rest of the competition.

While I would certainly miss her - I did already - I was happy that she had found someone that she loved who loved her. She would find her happiness.

I wished now that I could find mine.

At least most of the other girls seemed happy for Susie too. Tiffany, Veronica, Jessica and even Bridget thought the match acceptable.

"What does it matter if she lowers herself slightly? A love match is a beautiful thing," Jessica said.

"You would think that," Lilliana said, "Since now you have no competition for Joyce's affections."

Jessica's face went a bit red. "I wasn't saying it just because of that. Susie is a nice person. Let her have what she wants."

"I bet she's pregnant," Lilliana said flatly.

Olivia gasped, even as a smile crossed her face. "How scandalous. That would explain why her parents would be so acceptable to the match."

marrying for love," I said flatly. I left no room for argument. If someone wanted to disagree with me on this, I would fight them. Susie's pregnancy did not negate

romance forward somewhat, but that was

and Susie were for

who I suspected would argue with me the most. Instead, they turned their sights on

sure if I should be congratulating you or pitying you," Lilliana said. "You may be the only contender now for Prince Joyce's affections, but he's not exactly a

"Don't be jealous," Jessica snapped. She lifted her head up high. "You two

and Olivia snapped taller in their chairs. Lilliana's

"What happened to Prince Joyce anyway? After he was determined to be a liar

time for Jessica to turn pale. Her cheeks stayed white for only an

Her expression scrunched

prince of the kingdom you are talking about," Jessica

to look down her nose at Jessica. "Try

Olivia said. "Where is Prince Joyce? That's

chair. I tried to catch her eye and smile at her, but she

in front of all these people. For now, I bit my tongue. At least in

girls berating Jessica, however, I wasn't going to

a prince. And Jessica will

at me, but

can't believe Susie is marrying a Beta," Lilliana said, and they returned the subject to something more familiar,

walk out in the yard beyond the gardens. Elva was laughing,

I followed along

asked. "The one you heard the last time you

haven't tried shifting again

should try. See if it comes

the last time I had heard it. It was much easier to pretend now that I hadn't heard it at

because I ignored it didn't mean it would simply go away. It would be like ignoring a medical symptom just

it. Something could be wrong with me. It was better to know now rather than ignore the problem until it was too

Elva played with the wolves. "Stay near me. Just in case something

I'll always be at your side, for as

but I didn't want to get into