The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

30. Missed Chances

!

Elene had an aghast look on her face, and Savannah knew she was really in trouble now. So, the only thing she was considering now was how to proceed with all this. Should she just break that neck and be done with it? Kai would understand if she explained it to him later. Or so she thought… Would he really understand? After all, although the attraction was undeniable, they still didn’t know each other too well. They planned to learn everything, but they weren’t there now. Would it truly be okay to dispose of her mate? And here of all the places…

“Savvy!” Zack gurgled, and she wanted to slam him into the wall.

“Say…” She at least wanted to get the rejection accepted, while Zack’s face was already crimson red. He owed her that much.

“Put him down!” Elene growled, and for the first time since she came here, she felt a wave of power coming from the Northern Princess, which surprised her more than it should have. After all, Elene was a royal Lycan as well, and that came with some perks.

However, she was still undecided about what to do. Knowing Zack, he could run away fast, and she would spend months again trying to hunt him. Without their stupid bond, she would be free. She could be free now, and then maybe Kai and she could …

“If you kill him, you will hurt kai and the Northern Lycan Kingdom,” Elene crossed her hands on her chest and watched the scene unfolding before her. This was something new, and Savannah felt like it was some kind of a test.

“Or I will do them a service,” Savvy slowly moved her eyes from Zack to the Northern Princess

“He is here on a diplomatic mission. If he ends up dead, all Kai’s efforts will go in vain.”

Her mate desperately tried to release himself from her grasp, and, rolling her eyes, Savvy released her grip on his neck. Morgan collapsed to the floor and gulped for air a few times in some sort of panic until he was able to steady his breathing.

Savannah looked down on him. Every physical attraction for him was blurred out now. She just wanted him gone from her life. Out for good. She contemplated whether to tell the King’s sister who that pathetic man was to her. Zack would definitely mention it somewhere. In all honesty, he could do that now to try and ruin things for her. So, it was best to get it off her chest. She would prefer to tell Kai first. Herself. But the situation called for action.

“He is my….” She started speaking, but Elene waved her off.

“I know very well that he is the traitor of the West,” the Princess snapped. “It’s not an excuse. You want to be the Queen here. You should know better. We have to deal with people we don’t like all the time.”

“And you are setting just a great example there,” Savannah scoffed, and Elene wanted to reply something, but at the last moment, the door that led to the main hall opened, and Astrid’s head poked in

“Oh, I am sorry to disturb you,” she giggled innocently. “Princess Elene, everything is ready, and everyone is looking for you.”

“Very well,” the youngest Fionnlagh responded lightly as if nothing happened here. “Let’s go, ladies. Alpha Morgan, you can join us or retreat to the room we provided for you.”

“I wouldn’t miss an event like this for the world!” Zack chuckled, adjusting his suit jacket. And Savvy thought that she should have killed him after all. The smug smile on his face told her everything went just the way he wanted…

***

All the twelve Luna Trial contenders were standing in two rows on the stairs in their beautiful sparkling gowns. Each looked like a queen already.

And also there was Petra.

Claude, who were nodding in unison each time she spoke. Savannah tried to listen to them, but the buzz of the rest of the guests was making

look at Astrid, who stood behind her. A little smirk formed on

you needed a little help there,” she whispered, and Savvy nodded. This was nice of her, considering she was very close to getting rid of a

belt. For some reason, the other Northerners didn’t like the pink-haired she-wolf much, and Savannah noticed how Petra lowered her head as if she

light, reassuring squeeze. “Someone like you would look amazing wearing anything. You came here to fight for the position of a Luna. A true Luna always holds her

great outfit for the interviews,” Petra said quietly, and Savvy

you know who not to listen to,” Naya snorted as she stood on the other side of

said without looking at them. “It is a gorgeous outfit, whatever everyone else thinks. Things like this will make you stand out among other women. It’s a trick we

long time, and only his obsession with Savvy’s sister-in-law put an end to this. However, the white bear knew very well how to stand out among

wanted more of Brigit’s story, but the woman in

of Petra’s hand as Elene was already walking in their

the chatter of the guests. All the attention was now on the Northern Princess. She had a tablet in her hands and a gracious smile was curling her lips. Someone’s eyes gleamed in the crowd, and Savvy knew without looking it was Zack. He was watching

with a smile. “The content of answers matters the most, but we also look at the body language and tone, confidence and attitude, consistency

pause, looking around the hall and pretending to ignore

cameras.

points for her interview and her final score at the moment is forty points.” A round of applause emerged as Penelope stepped forward, bowed and then moved to the

had a slightly less impressive score, but her overall score is now the same as Penelope’s,” Elene said calmly. “Savannah Stormhold receives twenty points and has forty points

astonished by the fact that she scored this high. She was sure that Elene and

nudged her gently. Savannah placed her hand to her heart with a smile on

as if they had been best friends for many years. Which

reciprocated with a grin. “Congratulations

was easy,” the brunette giggled, and Savvy thought that maybe Elene had given her friend the list of questions beforehand. However, something was strange. Why didn’t they sabotage her again? She loved their tactics. It was

received twenty points for the interview and is currently ranking third with

top. Soon Inga and Celia followed, receiving twenty points each but scoring slightly below Astrid. Then Naya and Mikaela earned fifteen points each,

Mikaela traced Naya’s curves with her eyes and smirked. 1. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, dear,” the silver-haired contender replied, “Yes, your outfit today could have been better, but ugly is not the word. Mediocre is.” They both hissed at each other and

were left standing at

she decided to leave on her own terms and did not give an interview.” Elene was smiling, but her tone was ice cold. “Salome Gray, you are the first to leave the Luna Trials. It was

the witch curtsied slightly mockingly and stepped down to join the quests. Waves of whispers rippled through the room,

points during the interview and overall performance. Autumn Bern, please step down. It was an honour to have you here …” Elene clearly wanted to say something else, but the little fox with red hair rushed away quickly, covering her eyes as

so low?” Savvy whispered to Astrid, and she tilted her head slightly. “She said she didn’t believe in Fenrir,” the

say whatever you like, but

her friend with her elbow. Now only three girls were standing at the bottom, and Savvy

low, and one of you will leave as well. Unless the King or the people of the North save you.

take it from there. The blonde siblings turned to the cameras and started explaining how people could cast a vote. And apparently, they could

was probably her fault since she cornered them into following that tradition in the first

***