THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 7 Episode 24

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.”

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“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.”

*They are 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 from the fact that the two loved each other very much.

Maybe it did press the timeline of their romance forward somewhat, but that was all it did.

Mark and Susie were for life. The end.

No one really argued with me. Not even Lilliana or Olivia, who I suspected would argue with me the most. Instead, they turned their sights on Jessica.

*I’m not 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 prize.”

Olivia hummed thoughtfully. “Perhaps the others had the right idea, Jessica. Maybe you should back out as well.” “Don’t be jealous,” Jessica snapped. She lifted her head up high. “You two will lose to Piper and Bridget, but I’m a shoe-in contender.”

Lilliana and Olivia snapped taller in their chairs. Lilliana’s face went pale.

*You talk a big game for someone whose prince hasn’t been seen for weeks,” Lilliana snapped. “What happened to Prince Joyce anyway? After he was determined to be a liar and a traitor?”

Now it was time for Jessica to turn pale. Her cheeks stayed white for only an instant before her face went red

instead. Her expression scrunched up in rage.

*That is a prince of the kingdom you are talking about,” Jessica huffed. “You could be charged for treason for talking like that.”

Lilliana lifted her chin, so that she had to look down her nose at Jessica. “Try it. My family would never stand for that.”

*She only asked an innocent question,” Olivia said. “Where is Prince Joyce? That’s no cause for treason.”

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As Jessica continued to sputter, Veronica sunk down slightly in her chair. I tried to catch her eye and smile at her, but she seemed determined to avoid everyone’s gaze.

I didn’t want her to beat 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 in terms of building Veronica’s spirits.

When it came to the girls berating Jessica, however, I wasn’t going to sit by and stay silent anymore.

*Prince Joyce may have had some trouble,” I said, “But he is still a prince. And Jessica will make the best princess consort out of anyone here.”

Lilliana and Olivia frowned at me, but they didn’t press the subject.

“I can’t believe Susie is marrying a Beta,” Lilliana said, and they returned the subject to something more familiar, and far less treasonous.

That afternoon, I joined Nicholas, Elva, and the wolves for a walk out in the yard beyond the gardens. Elva was laughing, chasing Silver through the tall grasses.

Nicholas and I followed along behind.

“Have you heard that voice again?” Nicholas asked. “The one you heard the last time you shifted?”

“No. But I haven’t tried shifting again either.”

“Maybe you should try. See if it comes back.”

I wasn’t sure that I wanted to hear the voice again. It had been alarming and unnerving the last time I had heard it. It was much easier to pretend now that I hadn’t heard it at all.

Though I knew that wasn’t the best way to handle the situation. Just because I ignored it didn’t mean it would simply go away. It would be like ignoring a medical symptom just because I didn’t want to face it.

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

“Okay,” I said. “But…” I side-eyed where Elva played with the wolves. “Stay near me. Just in case something happens.”

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“Piper,” Nicholas said in seriousness. “I’m not going anywhere. You know that. I’ll always be at your side, for as long as you need me.”

I’d always need him, but I didn’t want to get into that right now.

I sucked in a deep breath, closed my eyes, and reached for my wolf.

Odd. I couldn’t quite reach far enough to find it.

“Miracle?” I tried calling for her.

She didn’t answer.

It was so strange. I could feel her. She was definitely still a part of me, somewhere. But she was evasive. The harder I tried to pull her forward, the more she avoided me.

“Are you… going to shift?” Nicholas asked, his voice full of hesitant pauses.

“I’m trying,” I replied.

I tried harder, but I felt as if I was chasing Miracle around in my head. She was always a step ahead.

*Miracle, please answer me. What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

She remained silent. My insides twisted up into knots.

Was something wrong with me?

“Nicholas…” Worry crept into my voice. When I opened my eyes, I saw that same worry reflected back at me through Nicholas’s eyes.

“What is it?” he asked me.

“I was trying to shift,” I said. “I… can’t…”

Nicholas’s eyes went wide. He stepped closer to me. I appreciated his closeness, taking comfort in his presence

and his warmth. I leaned into him. I couldn’t touch him in public like this, where anyone could see. But his nearness still helped.

It didn’t stop the tears from rising in my eyes, however.

“Nicholas,” I said. “I can’t reach Miracle.”