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.

checking her notes with Chloe and Claude, who were nodding in unison each time she spoke. Savannah tried to listen to them, but the buzz of the rest of

quick look at Astrid, who stood

you needed a little help there,” she whispered, and Savvy nodded. This was nice

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 was

gave it a light, reassuring squeeze. “Someone like you would look amazing wearing anything. You came here to

be a great outfit for the interviews,” Petra said quietly,

to,” Naya snorted as she stood on

now,” Brigit 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.

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 many beautiful girls. She did that during

more of Brigit’s story, but the woman

and let do of Petra’s hand as Elene was already walking

was curling her lips. Someone’s eyes gleamed in the crowd, and Savvy knew without looking it was Zack. He was watching her even now when his best course of action should be to run as

the body language and tone, confidence and attitude, consistency of a contender and last, but not least, appearance. After all, we are choosing the Luna of the North, and our land

pause, looking around the hall and pretending to

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 higher level of the stairs. The contenders moving forward had to stand above the ones

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

She was sure that Elene and the

and Naya nudged her gently. Savannah placed her hand to her heart with a smile on her lips as if she wanted to thank everyone present and then joined Penelope

if they had

with a grin. “Congratulations to

this 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

points for the interview and

Then Naya and Mikaela earned fifteen points each, bringing them to thirty points. The two cats were happy with the results but not happy about having to stand not far from each

silver-haired contender replied, “Yes, your outfit today could have been better, but ugly is not the word. Mediocre

left standing

received zero points as she decided to leave on her own terms and did not give an interview.” Elene was smiling, but her

witch curtsied slightly mockingly and stepped down to join the quests. Waves of whispers rippled through the room, but it looked like Salome

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

head slightly. “She

“You can say whatever you like, but Fenrir and the

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

“Your scores are low, and one of you will leave as well. Unless the King or

then motioned for Chloe and Claude to take it from there. The blonde siblings turned to the cameras and started explaining how people could cast a vote. And apparently, they could do that once from a registered mobile phone number in the system.

she cornered them into following that tradition in the first

***