The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0104

I pushed the horse as fast as she could go. My wolf was here, I could feel it.

But then, suddenly, it felt further away. It was leaving me!

In the driveway beyond the house, a car started to drive away. I pulled at the reins, guiding the horse in

that direction.

Faster, faster. We were going to lose it!

The horse huffed with each heavy exhale. Its hooves clattered against the concrete driveway. We followed the car as it pulled out onto the road, slipping straight through the rod–iron gate that had opened

for the car.1

Julian was right behind me. He’d stopped calling for me and instead now followed my lead.

We chased that car. The windows were tinted, I couldn’t see inside. But I knew my wolf was there. It was

so close, I could have cried.

But then the road reached a straight stretch, and the car accelerated to a faster speed than my horse

had any chance of matching.

The distance expanded, adding yard after yard, until the car was on the horizon line, and my horse was

slowing from exhaustion.

I watched the car go, even long after it was out of sight. Inside my chest, the tether between me and my

wolf stretched and stretched, until it finally snapped and was gone.

Julian dismounted quickly beside me. “We have to get off the road.”

As I stood there in shock, he grabbed the reins of my horse as well as his own, and led both away from

the road and into the forest brush alongside it.

I was numb. I couldn’t move.

For one brief moment, I had felt my wolf again. Now, as before, I was empty.

Julian, a man determined, carefully guided our horses deeper into the woods. He didn’t say a word the

entire time

He could have been mad at me, I wasn’t sure. Whenever I had seen Julian mad in the past, typically at

Nicholas, he had lashed out with a sharp smirk and barbed insults. This silence was something new.

In the depths of the forest, we reached a small grassy patch. Julian stopped, and the horses began to

“Can you get down?” Julian asked me. “We need to let the horses rest for a few moments. We pushed them pretty hard.”

I understood and slowly dismounted the mare.

expression was unreadable. He looked so much like Nicholas in that moment; it

felt your wolf,” he said. “In that

sorry, I shouldn’t

that you might react that way. I could only imagine what it

be

explained it even if I tried. Instead, I hooked my fingers together and sunk in on myself

carved out, hollow

with his phone, but he seemed

signal out

we lost?”

secret if I can’t coordinate with Brian. We’re way off the prepared route, and I don’t dare go back that way. Those

cause trouble. I just… I felt a pull, and I

it, Piper. Really.” He ran a hand down his face and then

for

“What’s plan B?”

He winked.

“Julian.”

“Trust me, Piper.”

manipulative, always watchful, always

and through.

Nicholas,” I

his

arms, unwilling to admit how this banter

my trust yet.”

back to his usual self. “I’m likely the most untrustworthy

Chapter 0105

then we began the slow ride back to the palace

whose palace was that?” I tried asking, hoping he might surprise me with an

trust between us,” he said, evasive

I sighed.

“You won’t believe me, but I’m only not telling you

this further before

wished I had my phone, or any access to the internet, so I could just look it up. As it was, I was at the mercy of whatever information Julian wanted to share.

neared the palace,

to text

try to be sneaky. His phone

we walked our horses toward the paddock, a camera crew rushed toward us as if they had been waiting for our return. Cameras pushed straight into our faces. The producers shouted

questions.

about your

risk, breaking the rules to see the

what you’ve done is fair

his arm around my shoulders. “Come now, guys.

is my favorite?”

been blindsided by the cameras and

absurd lie?

grin that seemed to say, Play along.

that true? Are you

a good liar. “…

against my cheek. It took everything I had not to rear away

I

but this was too close,