The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0625

"Have you ever heard anything like this?" I asked. "I can feel Miracle. I know she's there. But she's not speaking to me and she's not coming forward to help me shift."

Nicholas's brow crumpled as he considered my question.

"I've never heard of anything like this specifically," Nicholas said. "But it does sound like how it feels when a wolf first begins to manifest. It can be unpredictable. But I've never heard anything like that happening to someone with an established wolf."

*Could it be because I was separated from my wolf for so long?" I asked.

"I don't know. It seems strange that it would only happen now, after you've been reunited with your wolf for weeks without this kind of issue. If this was part of the process of Miracle returning to you, then it should have happened before now."

These weren't the answers that I wanted. I had hoped that Nicholas had solutions that I lacked. But it seemed he was equally as confused.

"Perhaps we should speak to Veronica," he said. "Maybe she knows."

"Could it have to do with the ritual? From the island?" I asked. Was that what he was alluding to?

"We can't rule anything out," Nicholas said.

The Oracle could have been clearer about the side-effects of the ritual. I would have still gone through with it of course, but it would have been nice to know what giving up some of my life force would entail on my body and my future.

"But I've shifted since then," I said. "And that's when I heard the voice.."

Nicholas frowned. He inched closer to me, and our arms brushed together. The heat of his skin seared pleasantly against mine.

"Try not to worry," he said. "We'll figure it out. Miracle is still there. We'll find a way to reach her."

I wanted to believe him but he didn't know any more than I did. Yet even so, his quiet confidence gave me

strength. Yes, maybe, so long as he was by my side, I would find a way to survive this - just as we had survived everything else.

wolves perked up, turning their ears and faces toward the woods. Their stances went still and alert. A bit a fear slithered down my spine. "Elva," I called. "Come stand near

my side. The wolves

sense?" I

sense and smell things from a farther distance than I could.

that shouldn't

it?"

"I can't tell."

Night grumbled and chuffed.

with

through grumbles and barks. "Protect your mate and the pup." My heart leapt into my throat. They had called me Nicholas's mate. For wolves to recognize me as such... I couldn't think of that right

into a fist. It looked like he wanted to argue. He wanted to go forward

"Very well," Nicholas said.

into the woods. They disappeared in a flurry of fur

inside," Nicholas said. "Now. I

we hurry toward

"I need to speak to the

"Sir?" the guard asked.

push her forward until we were well away from

"Mommy?" Elva asked.

honey. Just keep

*Mommy, I'm scared."

her voice gave me pause. As we reached one landing of the stairs, I stopped her. I dropped to my knees and pulled

"Nicholas and the wolves are going to protect

out there," Elva said.

better than I ever could. If she said she could sense their fear, then

though. What on earth would be enough

something.." Elva sniffed.

my mistake. I tried to lower my voice back into calm. "I'm sure it's nothing. The wolves would be enough for

a gentle lie for the sake of

differently. They wouldn't be able to understand each other in their wolf and bear forms. For two, bears were physically stronger than wolves. If the wolves stuck to their pack, they could overtake a bear. But if it