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."

I left no room for argument. If someone wanted to disagree with me on this, I would fight them. Susie's pregnancy did

timeline of their romance forward somewhat, but

and Susie were for

one really argued with me. Not even Lilliana or Olivia, who I suspected would argue with me the most. Instead, they turned their

said. "You may be the only contender now

out as well." "Don't be jealous," Jessica

Olivia snapped taller in their chairs. Lilliana's face went

someone whose prince hasn't been seen for weeks," Lilliana snapped. "What happened to

it was time for Jessica to turn pale. Her cheeks stayed white

Her expression scrunched

talking about," Jessica huffed. "You could

lifted her chin, so that she had to look down her nose at Jessica. "Try it. My family would never

"Where is Prince Joyce? That's no cause

sunk down slightly in her chair. I tried to catch her eye and

herself up, but I couldn't talk to her about it in front of all these people. For now, I bit my tongue. At least

however, I

trouble," I said, "But he is still a prince. And Jessica will

me, but they

is marrying a Beta," Lilliana said, and they returned the subject to something more familiar, and

and the wolves for a walk out in the yard beyond the gardens. Elva was laughing,

I followed

that voice again?" Nicholas asked. "The one you heard

But I haven't tried shifting again

try. See if

had been alarming and unnerving the last time I had heard it. It was much easier to pretend now that I hadn't heard

best way to handle the situation. Just because I ignored it didn't mean it would simply go away. It would be like

Something could be wrong with me. It was better to know now rather

with the wolves. "Stay

going anywhere. You know that. I'll always be at your side, for

always need him, but I didn't want to get